Erosion and trail building: A case study of the East Tennessee State University trail system

Natural and accelerated erosion from trail users affects the sustainability of trail systems. Designing and building sustainable trail systems will greatly decrease the effect that erosion has on a trail. Trails that allow multiple types of users, such as hiking and mountain biking, must be able to sustain both groups. At East Tennessee State University the trail system was originally designed for hiking. Mountain bikers have become the main user group on the trail system leading to erosion problems on certain areas of the trail due to trail design flaws. The study seeks to identify the problem areas of trail and make recommendations towards correcting the trail in order for the trail system to adequately sustain both hikers and mountain bikers on the East Tennessee State University trail system.