Topic: Bench cut 101

[Forum Manager]

Some of our trail building days require the need to have people volunteer to do bench cuts into the side of hills, mounds, and pits.  A bench cut is the result of cutting a section of tread across the side of a hill. If you look at the side profile of this cut it looks like a bench, hence the name. The following links offer  visual, and text, descriptions of how this is properly done with a backslope and angled trailbed just right so minimum erosion problems pop up later.  We do bench cuts from time to time at Boyette and Alafia, so anyone wanting to help, take an opportunity to paruse through the links and see what the final product should look like.

Great rides to all.

Garry



IMBA Resources: Trail Building and Maintenance: Build Contour Trails With Full Bench Cut And Outslope


Singletrack Classroom- Online trail building guide


Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook, 0023-2839-MTDC, Trail Foundation