20 Must-Have Tools for Trail Builders | DIY Trail Building Essentials

The Bare Minimum

The Basic Starter Kit

Advanced Builders Kit

Heavy Duty (not affiliate links)

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[rynoman]

Lots of good info here Seth!


Some basics that we try to use here in KS where I build trails is any post type object must be in the ground at min of 16" and be set in concrete. This is just a rule of our local parks and rec folks.
We also use nothing thinner than 2x6 planks and cedar if possible due to its resistance to rot.

We tend to assemble everything with decking screws with the t-25 or similar type head so folks won't try to tear our structures apart with common hand tools due to boredom or just wanting to be destructive.


If you ever need to sift rocks out from dirt get some 2x4's and chicken wire and build a box and lean it against something. It works great to get that small aggregate out of your dirt for packing.


Westar Energy or Evergy donates the wood to us that is recycled from their high-line poles and trusts. So for you other folks check with your local power company to see if they will let you use \ have their old poles and lumber to recycle for trail building.


Evergy has a green team so if you are in the KS\MO area definitely reach out to them to see what they can offer.

[digvt]

As a professional trail builder here are some other suggestions:
In the basic tools I would definitely add something with a hoe edge whether that be a McLeod, Pulaski, or gardening hoe to pull organic matter off and move dirt around. Also the hatchet could be substituted for a machete or folding saw.
For advanced tools I would add a sledgehammer since they work wonders for compacting soil around rocks if you are building any rock gardens. With the whippersnipper I would also recommend getting a blade as well as you can clear out light brush with it a whole lot quicker than with any saw. Also safety gear, a good forestry helmet will keep your eyes, ears, and head safe when using power equipment and chaps wouldn't be a bad idea with the chainsaw.

[creativeexperience]

I love this! I was just waking up to go build some single track

[samvilla]

Dude I just got a rogue hoe ar70 and I’m so excited to be able to get out there and get building. I’m going out today actually and I’m so excited

[nick_john]

I live on 27 acres in Western PA and have built 2+ miles of mostly downhill singletrack and here’s my arsenal:
DR Brush Mower
Troy-Bilt Rear-tine rototiller
Stihl Pole Pruner/Line Trimmer
Ryobi Hedge Trimmer
Rogue Tools Travis 7” Hoe
Fiskars Machete

I use the tiller to break up field grass and turn over the dirt, but it’s real value is loosening up enough dirt to create berms in flat sections.

[ShakespeareCafe]

Shovel, rake, chainsaw, loppers, pry bar and mattock and the vision to get it done. I built a hiking trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains during Covid. Build a trail during the wet Winter season because it makes cutting into the earth easy. Summer it's like concrete.

[TGormania]

Great information. I use to use a reciprocating saw to start a trail route but a viewer of my channel sent me a Sandvik. Now I use that 100% of the time. Great tool (no batteries needed) for initially clearing a potential route. Highly recommend them.

[HillsberryMTB]

I'm a MTB trail cutter in south west Florida and one of my most used tool is a heavy duty 19"concrete placer. Great for moving dirt, shaping berms, and scraping sandy areas during the dry winter months.

[mtbbusiness]

Just purchase our first house in NC and the planning process has begun on some Backyard Trail Builds and Frontyard too. This video was super helpful in making a Lowe's to get list. Enjoying all the videos.

[thekhronohs]

As a contracter/handyman and hobbyist mechanic, I highly appreciate and LOVE Milwuakee battery tools! I have found nothing more reliable than them. Also, my wife is selling Stihl equipent as part of her job, and I must say that nowadays, they are hard to beat as well! Heavy Duty stuff!
You make me proud, man!
You also make me wanna build trails ALL over my community! 😬👍

[diaryofanoldwimpymountainb]

Thank you, never heard of a McLeod or Pulaski before. I obviously have lived a sheltered life

[bodinseeley]

a little tiller is a dream when trying to loosen dirt and carve landing or anything out of the hill side

[Jerdasniper]

Would love to see more trail build tutorials like this

[bikeninja]

Nice video. For me, for 90% of the stuff I do, it's as follows: I go in with Echo leaf blower, sketch out the line, it's great because it get's all the overburden out from behind rocks/roots etc. vs. rake. Then I go in with a sawzall and 3/4" diam fiskers and cut all the semi large stuff (1"-3" diam) Then I hit all the large stuff with my 14" EGO chainsaw, then finally take out all the smaller stuff (under 1/2"diam) saplings and brush with a brush cutter, then trim it bald with a string trimmer. Usually 3-4' wide path. I can do a few hundred feet/day this way. If the traffic is heavy, they will burn in really quickly and will be permanent, worse case, if traffic is light, they just need a quick trim once a year...

[endurotruckererniedesjardins]

I use a still 170 chainsaw. They go on sale in Canada for 199.99 bucks all the time. My saw is about 8 years old. I use this saw almost every day, I drive logging truck, I'm trimming my loads with it daily and on the weekends it comes with me on my atv rides.

[handsformaps]

I think I have equal time building/maintaining as I do riding my bike this year! Big fan of making trails better for the masses

[operationreciprocity]

McLeod is a formidable tool. If you use a hand file, you can get a razor edge across the straight edge, and the heft a good quality forest service rated tool will chop through nearly a 2 inch branch at an angle.

[Cob_luke]

My go to tools: rake, normal shovel, and wheelbarrow. Yep that’s all you need.

[variousartists]

This is a great list for small trail builds
Then I saw the chainsaw

[vtspd]

The number one tool you need, is yourself. :) Get out there and build!!! Nice work Seth