Other Trail Structures

A variety of simple structures can add significantly to the enjoyment and use of your trail. Benches located at key resting points such as vista openings or nature study areas offer both rest and a chance to ponder the surroundings from a different perspective. On barrier free trails, benches should be located at approximately 150-foot intervals. Benches can have four posts for support, or be as simple as two posts with a log rail connected to the top of each post. Posts should be well buried for support and security.

Railings have been mentioned for bridges and other crossings, but they should also be considered where trails are adjacent to possible hazards such as the edge of streams, steep sinkholes or pits, or cliff overlooks (which are rare, but not absent, in Florida).  Railings can also provide a partial barrier for protecting endangered plants or portions of the trail that you might be rehabilitating. Most rails should be 30 to 36 inches high and secured to deeply buried, pressure-treated posts.

Stiles come in many acceptable designs, all with the purpose of allowing hikers to cross over, or walk through, a fence without breaking it or defeating its purpose. A ladder stile (See Illustration) consists of two vertical posts along the fence line (usually a wire fence), with steps nailed to the posts on both sides of the fence. A step stile resembles two ladders leaning against each other at the top of the fence. Rail stiles are triangular ladders leaning against fence posts with the widest step at the bottom. Different length posts or poles can also be partially buried along a fence to provide a series of  "stepping stones" on both sides of a fence.

Narrow openings in a fence, with two short fence sections forming a sharply-angled V at the opening, will allow hikers to walk through the sharp V at the opening while preventing animals from doing the same.  (See Illustration)

Trails can be marked with both signs and blazes to assist hikers following the trail or using it for nature study. Signs should generally be placed on pressure-treated posts and backs, and not nailed to trees. Signs can be created by routing and painting lumber such as redwood, or by printing information on material that is waterproofed with plastic, lacquer or other laminates. Large signs, such as at a trail entrance, are often mounted vertically between two posts. Other locations for signs include warnings near features that might be safety hazards, such as sinkholes and road crossings, and trail junctions (to identify trail destinations and distances).

On more primitive (less developed) trails, tree blazes are often used to clearly identify trail location. Blazes should be the same size and color throughout the trail, although colors may be varied for different trails within a larger trail system. Rectangles, approximately 2 x 6 inches are scraped on the bark of live, trail-side trees and painted with oil-based or other boundary marking paints. Place blazes on both sides of the tree at eye level. The distance between blazes depends on the nature of the trail. A good rule of thumb is that hikers should never walk more than 100 paces without being able to see a blaze in front of, or behind, them. Another is that as a hiker passes one blaze the next blaze should be in view.