Building a road on a mountain slope

[Ocean2026]

Can a gravel road be built to run 1350 ft starting at 200ft altitude -elevation and ending at 700ft up? What about a walking path? This is approximately a 37% slope.. the tract is about 300ft wide.. The ground is forest land Washington State (just North or Oregon).

If it was doable, what would be the cost if you were building either the road or a. walking path?

thanks photo isnt exact location but its the same type of. terrain--no trees in the way

 

[LouNY]

Yes it can be done, start off diagonally make a turn, run diagonally make a turn and repeat till you reach your desired location.

 

[/pine]

Switchbacks...

mountain road switchback - Google Search

 

[AchingBack]

Your biggest challenge will be drainage, and erosion. Be sure to find a qualified contractor willing to show you similar roads he's constructed.

 

[goeduck]

Your biggest challenge will be drainage, and erosion. Be sure to find a qualified contractor willing to show you similar roads he's constructed.

Agree with this ^^^^^

For the record, Oregon is south of Washington. Washington is not north of Oregon.

In Washington we do not take a backseat to a State that names college football teams Ducks and Beavers.

Joking of course, I like Oregon. :thumbsup:

 

[Code54]

Yep. -as stated above it can be done fairly easily if you have the correct eqpt. For a walking trail a Sutter will do the trick.
Sutter 3 Single Track Mini Trail Dozer - The Ultimate Trail Building Machine
Not sure if they have them for rent anywhere locally (read build your own walking path for under a grand) but a trail building contractor may own one.

 

[Ocean2026]

Thanks for all the comments..I've read the mini trail dozer costs. $62k. Its been around a while is it still best for trails?

 

[Jchonline]

We still use the mini dozers in Colorado all the time for trail building...still cant beat the portability and maneuverability. Lots of Toros here.

 

[EddieWalker]

I own a dozer, but I don't live in mountainous terrain. While I was in New Zealand, I asked about what they did to build roads and I was told that they use excavators to dig out the dirt as they go. I asked why they didn't use dozers, and I was told that they are too slow. You only use a dozer afterwards if you want to smooth it out. They didn't have an excavator with a blade, but if I was looking to buy a machine to build a road into the side of a hill, I can't think of anything that would work better then an excavator with a blade.

 

[Big Barn]

II asked why they didn't use dozers, and I was told that they are too slow. You only use a dozer afterwards if you want to smooth it out. They didn't have an excavator with a blade, but if I was looking to buy a machine to build a road into the side of a hill, I can't think of anything that would work better then an excavator with a blade.

I can’t imagine NOT using an excavator for efficiency