Smaller switchbacks or trail stairs?

2026-01-14 17:22 UTC

Howdy all. I have a 33% avg grade, highly overgrown slope (~450’ length, ~160’ elevation change) at the edge of my property that was originally used by a railroad company 130 years ago to slide trees down to where they were building railroad ties. It is now exclusively a deer path (the poo on my knees can attest to that) and I had to scramble at several points to get up. If you were in my deer poo covered shoes (and assuming I had cleared all the brush and fallen trees), would you build trail stairs, e.g. or a small set of switchbacks (space is tight as I have like 30’ of width to play with), e.g. orrrrr would you just clear it out well and deal with sprawling for a few steeper parts? (my least favorite option as I would like to hike this several times a week when it’s done) I’m concerned with long-term maintenance but am willing the put in the upfront work! TIA

Replies (2)

@kersploosh@sh.itjust.works 2026-01-14 18:07

I think stairs are the way to go if you have the time and motivation to build them. It's a lot of effort up front but once you make the steps you shouldn't have to touch them for many years. Switchbacks can have erosion and drainage issues if you don't put significant effort into their design, and maintain them over time. A straight scramble up the hill is going to get annoying really fast, and also have erosion issues. Edit: There are some great trail building guides online if you hunt for them. Though they usually focus on trails open to the public that will get substantial use. If this is your private path then they are probably overkill for your needs. [https://www.americantrails.org/resources/basic-elements-of-trail-design-and-trail-layout](https://www.americantrails.org/resources/basic-elements-of-trail-design-and-trail-layout)

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@evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 2026-01-15 16:45

Like kersploosh said, erosion can be an issue, so it's best to use a standard design if you can. The best option depends on climate (and soil type) which is probably part of why certain options are more common in certain areas. For example, a trail that travels straight perpendicular to the contour lines will become a stream in heavy rains, while a trail that travels parallel to contour lines will cause water to pool up. Somewhere typically dry and sandy (like the picture of Zion) that experiences monsoon rains does well with switchbacks because water will drain off the path after rains without pooling for too long. Somewhere wet, clayey, and boggy on the east coast, however, you want the trail to facilitate draining.

Open ##1837656