Beneficial Designs The Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP)

The Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) objectively documents the actual conditions in outdoor, natural environments. The UTAP is a tool that land managers, agencies and individuals can utilize to learn about, monitor, improve and use any outdoor path of travel.

Benefits of UTAP

The UTAP can be used to:

• provide Trail Access Information to users

• document and monitor trail conditions and the environmental impact of the trail

• identify and prioritize maintenance, access and construction needs

• create detailed logs of signs, bridges and other facilities

• increase user safety and enjoyment by enabling informed trail choices

• gather interpretive information about the trail environment

• enhance trail access and use for a wide variety of users, including older adults, inexperienced users, families and people with disabilities

• track changes in trail conditions over time

• determine trail compliance with design standards

• create trail maps, signs and other information products

• accurately budget for trail maintenance activities

• provide detailed reference information for search-and-rescue plans and activities

Tool Kit

Our Universal Trail Assessment Tool Kit includes a complete array of inexpensive and easy-to-use devices that will enable you to assess your trail accurately while keeping your costs down.

Each kit includes:

a Suunto compass to determine the trail bearing;
a Suunto clinometer to measure the average grade between two points of the trail;
a digital SmartTool inclinometer to measure trail sections for maximum grade and maximum and average cross slope in percent, degrees, or rise:run
a Rolatape to measure the trail length and the positions of trail features and points of interest.
Also included in the tool kit is a good old-fashioned tape measure to measure tread and clearance widths and the magnitude of obstacles, two clipboards to hold data sheets, preprinted marking flags, a roll of marking tape, a dictaphone and cassettes, a 2-3 person First-aid Kit, master copies of the Trail Data Forms, a permanent marker for writing on flags, and a backpack for carrying essentials. All items fit into a sturdy carrying bag, with plenty of room left for granola bars and rain gear.

The above items can be purchased separately or as a kit. The Minimum Kit includes all of the above items for one low price, and the Preferred Kit includes a second compass and inclinometer.

For purchasing information, contact paxproducts@beneficialdesigns.com

Click here for a printable version of the UTAP Order Form in Portable Document Format (.pdf) . You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file. You can download the free Acrobat Reader here.

Trail Assessment Training Manual

The Universal Trail Assessment Coordinator Training Manual teaches you how to assess a trail for access, mapping, and maintenance information. Illustrated step-by-step instructions show how to use each assessment tool, how to accurately measure grade, cross slope , width, and obstacles and how to describe surface type.

The manual includes tips for putting together an effective trail assessment team, checklists for organizing a trail assessment, slope conversion tables (percent:degrees:run/rise), and both the Access Board's and Beneficial Designs' proposed design standards for outdoor recreation access routes and trails.

The Training Manual also teaches you how to correctly complete each line on the Trail Data Form and record trail descriptions. The Training Manual includes examples of obstacles, trail features, points of interest, maintenance issues, and other descriptive information.

Although the Training Manual offers detailed instruction for conducting a Universal Trail Assessment, there's no substitute for hands-on training. We strongly recommend that before you conduct a Universal Trail Assessment, you participate in a Universal Trail Assessment Coordinator Training Workshop.