Contemplating and gathering
Trail
national parkbiological reserveurban parkpilgrimage routecampus
A narrow path for walking through forest, mountains or along the coast. It can be of earth, of stone or a boardwalk raised above fragile ground.
What it solves
It guides a slow pace and concentrates footsteps so the rest of the ground and vegetation are preserved. Walking among trees rests the mind and is one of the oldest ways of meeting oneself and others.
Today
Lay out the trail following the contours of the land, with cross drainage so rain does not turn it into a channel. Provide rest stops with benches and accessible stretches. Let signage explain the place without intruding on it.
Common mistake
Opening straight trails straight down the slope, which erode with the first downpour and push people to cut shortcuts.
Tomorrow
Boardwalks made of prefabricated pieces let water and wildlife pass underneath and can be repaired section by section. Closing some sections seasonally lets the forest rest during nesting periods.
Fact On the accessible trail of Santa Rosa National Park there are rest stops every 100 m and slopes under 10%.
Where it comes from
- 1Inca Qhapaq Ñan Andes, from Colombia to Argentina, 15th century, on older roads
A network of some 30,000 km of roads linked towns, production centers and places of worship along the Andes. - 2Kumano Kodo Kii Mountains, Japan, since the 11th and 12th centuries
Pilgrimage trails linking mountain shrines, walked today as much for faith as for walking. - 3Forest bathing Japan, since 1982
Japan promoted shinrin-yoku, walking slowly in the forest, as a way to lower stress in a highly industrialized society. - 4Protected wild areas Costa Rica, 21st century
Thirteen protected areas have accessible sections, such as the universal trail at Carara with a tactile map, braille and ramps.
Masters
- Dimitris Pikionis Paths around the Acropolis and Philopappos Hill, Athens, Greece, 1957
He designed paths and steps with roughly finished marble pieces that look irregular but follow a precise order, among local plants. He teaches that a trail can guide the step and the gaze toward the landscape without competing with it.
Appears in the routes
See also
Also in Contemplating and gathering
Diagrams and texts by LDB Arquitectura. They are shared under the CC BY 4.0 license, which allows them to be used and adapted with credit to the source.