When designing and building our trails, the sky is the limit. We offer design and build services for almost every type of soft-surface trail conceivable — from hand-cut single track to machine-built masonry, our work celebrates and elevates nature for an unparalleled client and user experience.
A natural surface trail is a multi-dimensional, versatile trail that utilizes native mineral soil for its final surface. Natural surface trails employ full “bench cuts” that follow the contours of its terrain, and typically follow mellow grades. This trail designation encompasses a wide range of trail types to serve a wide range of user groups. Typically, natural surface trails range from 18-inch wide singletrack to 5-foot wide doubletrack, depending on user type. User groups for these trails include: hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrian riders.
A crushed stone trail features a crushed stone surface such as decomposed granite. It is a beautiful all-weather trail, free of obstacles and polished to finish. This type of trail is often featured at museums, botanical gardens, or other high profile facilities. A preferable alternative to concrete or asphalt trail, a crushed stone trail it is more aesthetically appealing while offering the same versatility. It even makes an ideal surface for ADA-certified trail! User groups for these trails include: trail runners, hikers, people with disabilities and equestrian riders.
This type of trail is the epitome of purpose-built singletrack trail for mountain bikes. “Flow trails”, as they are commonly called, are heavily textured natural surface trails that incorporate berms, rollers, and constant undulation to create a roller coaster-like experience. As with traditional singletrack trails, flow trails follow the contours of the land, have moderate grades, and are sustainable.
a smooth surface trail with rollers, berms, jumps, drops and some wood or stone features. Typically four to eight feet wide, these trails can provide thrilling experiences for beginner to expert level riders.
A more advanced trail with many of the same features, only more extreme! Tighter and steeper, navigating gnarly rock gardens and becoming airborne is a mandatory experience. Both trails are also commonly “one-way” downhill and usually have vehicle shuttle access, chair-lift access or return trails to the top.
A motorcycle/atv trail is a distinct, purpose-built trail for dirt bikes and all terrain vehicles. Due to these vehicles’ high speeds and impact, this type of trail is built much differently than most soft surface trails. A motorcycle/atv trail is typically 5-6 feet wide, follows steeper grades and contains more technical rocky sections when possible. The tread of these trails offer a much rougher finish, and often include jumps, rollers, and berms.
A natural surface trail is a multi-dimensional, versatile trail that utilizes native mineral soil for its final surface. Natural surface trails employ full “bench cuts” that follow the contours of its terrain, and typically follow mellow grades. This trail designation encompasses a wide range of trail types to serve a wide range of user groups. Typically, natural surface trails range from 18-inch wide singletrack to 5-foot wide doubletrack, depending on user type. User groups for these trails include: hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrian riders.
A crushed stone trail features a crushed stone surface such as decomposed granite. It is a beautiful all-weather trail, free of obstacles and polished to finish. This type of trail is often featured at museums, botanical gardens, or other high profile facilities. A preferable alternative to concrete or asphalt trail, a crushed stone trail it is more aesthetically appealing while offering the same versatility. It even makes an ideal surface for ADA-certified trail! User groups for these trails include: trail runners, hikers, people with disabilities and equestrian riders.
This type of trail is the epitome of purpose-built singletrack trail for mountain bikes. “Flow trails”, as they are commonly called, are heavily textured natural surface trails that incorporate berms, rollers, and constant undulation to create a roller coaster-like experience. As with traditional singletrack trails, flow trails follow the contours of the land, have moderate grades, and are sustainable.
A smooth surface trail with rollers, berms, jumps, drops and some wood or stone features. Typically four to eight feet wide, these trails can provide thrilling experiences for beginner to expert level riders.
A more advanced trail with many of the same features, only more extreme! Tighter and steeper, navigating gnarly rock gardens and becoming airborne is a mandatory experience. Both trails are also commonly “one-way” downhill and usually have vehicle shuttle access, chair-lift access or return trails to the top.
A motorcycle/atv trail is a distinct, purpose-built trail for dirt bikes and all terrain vehicles. Due to these vehicles’ high speeds and impact, this type of trail is built much differently than most soft surface trails. A motorcycle/atv trail is typically 5-6 feet wide, follows steeper grades and contains more technical rocky sections when possible. The tread of these trails offer a much rougher finish, and often include jumps, rollers, and berms.
A bike park is a purpose-built park tailored specifically to bikes. Five key amenities, listed below, create a full-scale bike park experience. Though full-scale bike parks are ideal, parks may include all or just a few of these amenities! Dependent on clients’ needs and opportunities, each amenity provides a different experience and builds a different skill set. When combined, they encourage levels of progression that enable riders to build skills at their own pace. Because of their distinctive ability to engage riders, the demand for bike parks is now growing rapidly. We work to meet this demand by building unique, innovative, and sustainable progressive-based parks with risk management and maintenance in mind.
Slopestyle courses are rhythm and flow oriented, downhill trails built with a variety of man-made features. These courses feel very similar to downhill flow trails in style, but span much shorter runs in open, smaller areas. Features of these courses include: berms, rollers, jumps, drops, and a variety of man made features like wall rides and whale’s tails. Slopestyle courses range from 4-8 feet in width, and from 200-3000 feet in distance. Course difficulty levels include beginner, intermediate, and expert lines with features increasing in size and technical challenge.
Session zones enhance dirt jump parks, adding man-made features to dirt jump lines. Session zones may also include other skill-building areas, like a drop zone. This zone typically consists of 3 lines for beginner, intermediate, and expert riders. Drop zones encourage riders of all levels to learn and enjoy jumping their bikes in a more controlled environment.
Slalom courses divide into two subcategories: dual slalom and four-cross. Both feature short (1000-2000 feet) downhill courses with multiple rollers, jumps, drops, and berms to navigate. A dual slalom course is a downhill course featuring two identical tracks that run parallel to each other, making it ideal for head-to-head competition. Distinct from the dual slalom, a four-cross course is a singular, wide course similar to a downhill BMX track. These courses allow four riders to compete.
Pumptracks are closed circuit tracks consisting of rollers, mounds and berms shaped and spaced to allow riders to generate and maintain speed without pedaling. Pumptracks are designed in the configurations that promote creative line choices, transfer choices, and pumping skills. They are built in flat areas and typically range from 5,000 – 15,000 square feet. We offers custom dirt-based designs for pumptracks. Please refer to the Progressive Bike Ramp catalog for modular pumptracks.
Skills courses are playground-like facilities comprised of a variety of elevated features such as “ladder bridges” and “skinnies,” designed to teach balance and technical handling skills. They are commonly constructed in flat, open areas and range in size from 5,000 – 50,000 square feet. Along with pumptracks, they are the core beginner amenities that promote basic biking skills before progressing to more advanced features. Refer to the Progressive Bike Ramps catalog to review our full line of modular bike features.
Slopestyle courses are rhythm and flow oriented, downhill trails built with a variety of man-made features. These courses feel very similar to downhill flow trails in style, but span much shorter runs in open, smaller areas. Features of these courses include: berms, rollers, jumps, drops, and a variety of man made features like wall rides and whale’s tails. Slopestyle courses range from 4-8 feet in width, and from 200-3000 feet in distance. Course difficulty levels include beginner, intermediate, and expert lines with features increasing in size and technical challenge.
Session zones enhance dirt jump parks, adding man-made features to dirt jump lines. Session zones may also include other skill-building areas, like a drop zone. This zone typically consists of 3 lines for beginner, intermediate, and expert riders. Drop zones encourage riders of all levels to learn and enjoy jumping their bikes in a more controlled environment.
Slalom courses divide into two subcategories: dual slalom and four-cross. Both feature short (1000-2000 feet) downhill courses with multiple rollers, jumps, drops, and berms to navigate. A dual slalom course is a downhill course featuring two identical tracks that run parallel to each other, making it ideal for head-to-head competition. Distinct from the dual slalom, a four-cross course is a singular, wide course similar to a downhill BMX track. These courses allow four riders to compete.
Pumptracks are closed circuit tracks consisting of rollers, mounds and berms shaped and spaced to allow riders to generate and maintain speed without pedaling. Pumptracks are designed in the configurations that promote creative line choices, transfer choices, and pumping skills. They are built in flat areas and typically range from 5,000 – 15,000 square feet. We offers custom dirt-based designs for pumptracks. Please refer to the Progressive Bike Ramp catalog for modular pumptracks.
Skills courses are playground-like facilities comprised of a variety of elevated features such as “ladder bridges” and “skinnies,” designed to teach balance and technical handling skills. They are commonly constructed in flat, open areas and range in size from 5,000 – 50,000 square feet. Along with pumptracks, they are the core beginner amenities that promote basic biking skills before progressing to more advanced features. Refer to the Progressive Bike Ramps catalog to review our full line of modular bike features.
At Progressive Trail Design, we aim to reconnect schoolchildren to the outdoors — and the active lifestyle it fosters. Our latest project, the Progressive Playground, offers purpose-built bike amenities designed with children in mind. These amenities provide kids with an alternative form of recreation that challenges, builds skills, inspires confidence, fosters independence, and creates a whole lot of fun! Three components make up the Progressive Playground: Pumptrack, Skills Course, and Gateway Trail.
A pumptrack is a closed circuit track consisting of rollers, mounds and berms shaped and spaced to allow riders to generate and maintain speed without pedaling. They are designed in the configurations that promote creative line choices, transfer choices, and pumping skills. They are built in flat areas and typically range from 5-15k square feet. Progressive Playground pumptracks are entry level, smaller versions of our full-size pumptracks.
A skills course is a playground-like facility comprised of a variety of elevated features such as “ladder bridges” and “skinnies”, designed to teach balance and technical handling skills. They are commonly constructed in flat, open areas and range in size from 5-50k square feet. Along with pumptracks, they are the core beginner amenities that promote basic biking skills before progressing to more advanced features. For the Progressive Playground, our skills courses are also entry level, smaller versions of our full-size offerings.
A gateway trail is a designation coined by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). These trails are designed specifically for beginner level riders and youth cyclists as an introduction, or “gateway”, to mountain biking. Gateways incorporate a variety of entry level features often found in mountain bike trails such as rollers, berms, low lying board walks, and log rides. They are often developed in conjunction with multi-use paved greenway trails and in pocket parks, and are ideal for urban areas with limited land use opportunities. The concept is also gaining ground at schools and recreation facilities with small, adjoining parcels of undeveloped land. Gateway trails provide a safe and controlled environment for developing cycling skills. For the Progressive Playground, we adapt our gateway trails to encourage even the youngest riders to give biking a try!
A pumptrack is a closed circuit track consisting of rollers, mounds and berms shaped and spaced to allow riders to generate and maintain speed without pedaling. They are designed in the configurations that promote creative line choices, transfer choices, and pumping skills. They are built in flat areas and typically range from 5-15k square feet. Progressive Playground pumptracks are entry level, smaller versions of our full-size pumptracks.
A skills course is a playground-like facility comprised of a variety of elevated features such as “ladder bridges” and “skinnies”, designed to teach balance and technical handling skills. They are commonly constructed in flat, open areas and range in size from 5-50k square feet. Along with pumptracks, they are the core beginner amenities that promote basic biking skills before progressing to more advanced features. For the Progressive Playground, our skills courses are also entry level, smaller versions of our full-size offerings.
A gateway trail is a designation coined by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). These trails are designed specifically for beginner level riders and youth cyclists as an introduction, or “gateway”, to mountain biking. Gateways incorporate a variety of entry level features often found in mountain bike trails such as rollers, berms, low lying board walks, and log rides. They are often developed in conjunction with multi-use paved greenway trails and in pocket parks, and are ideal for urban areas with limited land use opportunities. The concept is also gaining ground at schools and recreation facilities with small, adjoining parcels of undeveloped land. Gateway trails provide a safe and controlled environment for developing cycling skills. For the Progressive Playground, we adapt our gateway trails to encourage even the youngest riders to give biking a try!
Pump tracks are closed-circuit bike tracks consisting of rollers, mounds and berms shaped and spaced to allow riders to generate and maintain speed without pedaling. Pump tracks are designed to promote creative line choices, transfer choices, and pumping skills. They are built in flat areas, and typically range from 5-15k square feet. We offer a variety of pump track services including dirt, hard surface, and modular materials for your next project!
Soft surface dirt is the original, lowest cost option to incorporate a pump track into your project. Dirt is an ideal choice for those who demand higher affordability, maximum design flexibility and the freedom to make changes. Dirt pump tracks do require a higher level of maintenance than any other material, so be sure to include proper maintenance measures into your project goals.
Hard surface pump tracks offer a smoother riding surface than dirt, require very little maintenance and offer a lower cost of ownership. Though their designs are less flexible and their upfront cost is higher, they are ideal for cities, municipalities, and urban areas looking to keep maintenance investments low while offering maximum enjoyment to the community.
Modular pump tracks are pre-fabricated features designed for installation on any flat surface. While design variety is limited, these types of pump tracks can be moved anywhere, and are ideal for repurposing underutilized surfaces. Installation and maintenance costs are minimal, and prices are variable based off size and configuration.
Soft surface dirt is the original, lowest cost option to incorporate a pump track into your project. Dirt is an ideal choice for those who demand higher affordability, maximum design flexibility and the freedom to make changes. Dirt pump tracks do require a higher level of maintenance than any other material, so be sure to include proper maintenance measures into your project goals.
Hard surface pump tracks offer a smoother riding surface than dirt, require very little maintenance and offer a lower cost of ownership. Though their designs are less flexible and their upfront cost is higher, they are ideal for cities, municipalities, and urban areas looking to keep maintenance investments low while offering maximum enjoyment to the community.
Modular pump tracks are pre-fabricated features designed for installation on any flat surface. While design variety is limited, these types of pump tracks can be moved anywhere, and are ideal for repurposing underutilized surfaces. Installation and maintenance costs are minimal, and prices are variable based off size and configuration.
