Cutting trails on a slope

big bubba · Feb 23, 2016

"If you are working with soil and not rock and gravel it's pretty difficult to build a road bed that won't just wash out. Any place you build a switchback will likely need some drainage pipe or big-O to prevent rain erosion." trials

do you have an elevation map of the area? contours? how long is the run? to me it's all about water drainage on the slope as much as equip to do the job. if you want it to look as good as the 1st pass on the trail in 5 years time, look at drainage and plan accordingly. culverts part of the plan? just as your tractor, it's all about hydraulics....having said that, lets hope for moisture in the upcoming season.....bb

airbiscuit · Feb 23, 2016

big bubba said:
"If you are working with soil and not rock and gravel it's pretty difficult to build a road bed that won't just wash out. Any place you build a switchback will likely need some drainage pipe or big-O to prevent rain erosion." trials

do you have an elevation map of the area? contours? how long is the run? to me it's all about water drainage on the slope as much as equip to do the job. if you want it to look as good as the 1st pass on the trail in 5 years time, look at drainage and plan accordingly. culverts part of the plan?

Times 2 on drainage and erosion control.

pwright · Feb 23, 2016

There was a thread a few months back about side hill trail cutting that addressed a lot of these issues. Probably worth reading.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/346232-cutting-side-hill-trails.html

I posted this diagram of proper bench sizes for a given slope.

444215d1445094594t-cutting-side-hill-trails-usfs-typical-cross-sects-gif

I recommend that you spend some time walking your desired route and getting some actual slope measurements.

12Bravo · Feb 23, 2016

airbiscuit said:
Times 2 on drainage and erosion control.

Great! Now I will have to buy an excavator once this tractor is paid for...:shocked:

12Bravo · Feb 23, 2016

pwright said:
There was a thread a few months back about side hill trail cutting that addressed a lot of these issues. Probably worth reading.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/346232-cutting-side-hill-trails.html

I posted this diagram of proper bench sizes for a given slope.

I recommend that you spend some time walking your desired route and getting some actual slope measurements.

I look through the other thread, read some, will read it all tomorrow.

I downloaded the picture and will compare to my property. What I will say, I have somewhere between 20-50% grade and some that are less. It is steeper than I think it is, I am not comfortable on an ATV sideways in some areas more less a tractor. Where I am putting the trail I should be around 20% most the way or less with one area higher than that.

I will measure the slope with a 60" board and level just to see what it actually measures out to be. I will post my finding with pictures in the coming week.

big bubba · Feb 23, 2016

me thinks you have the tools & know how to do the job. wise posting here for info.
doing your homework always pays off... (sorry, am a retired shop teacher)

MF283 · Feb 23, 2016

After watching the video, i want a excavator & i don't even have a hill or mountain on my place

Ronnie

newbury · Feb 23, 2016

OP -
If you want detailed help post a location and we can look it up on USGS, Google Earth, etc. and determine the slope. Without detail we are just throwing out suggestions based on our own experiences and it's the classic 6 blind men and the elephant story.

Also, there are generally 3 things to deal with - time, money, manpower/equipment. Enough of one can overpower the other two.

Reading so far you have not mentioned time nor money, but your manpower/equipment seems limited.

How soon does this NEED to be done? What's the approximate length? 100 yards? 1,000 yards, 1 mile?

Are there trees to be cleared? Are there trees for cribbing and erosion control? What's the soil? Are there streams or drains to cross?

There's a wealth of info on the web about trail building, but having done only a little myself I know there is a lot to deal with.

I'm in a similar situation, wanting to cut a trail to the backside of my property, which straight line is about a half mile (on Google Earth). I know it's going to take me many hours, but I've the time.

So give us some more info and we will enjoy advising you how to spend your time and money. But if you want it done soon try and find someone to cut you a logging road that you can maintain.