Since 2017 we have been designing, building, and creating trails for mountain bikers, hikers, ohv, and multi-use trail users in the Pacific Northwest.
Our Mission
To provide high quality trail projects and trails that can provide years of enjoyment for its users.
Services we offer
Creative Trail Designs is licensed with the Contractors Construction Board, is fully-insured to industry standards (e.g., Workers’ Compensation), and is bonded within the state of Oregon. Creative Trail Designs is able to offer a large suite of services that involve specialty equipment and specialized skills and training. Specifically, the team at Creative Trail Designs offers the servics below for Mountain biking, Hiking, OHV, and other multi-use trails:
Project feasibility assesment consulting
Trail layout, design, project consulting and construction services
Non-profit trail organization consulting
Partnering with non profit clubs volunteer labor and Youth Corp partners to meet project and financial objectives and opportunities
Metal and/or wood Man Made Techical Features for freeride, downhill, skills park and enduro mountain bike trails
Techniques and Equipment used
• Aerial rigging techniques and the equipment employing grip hoists and Lewis winches to safely import logs or rock material into uneven or steep terrain
• Operation of excavators and mini excavators
• Hybrid SWECO and excavator trail construction
• On-site repairs of machinery onsite to reduce delays in construction
• Walk-behind and ride-on rock buggies (e.g., Canycom, Honda Power carriers, etc.)
Trail construction including mechanized or hand built trail construction
Trail construction include natural surface or improved surfaced trails ie. crushed gravel surfacing tread
Construction of trailhead structures including kiosks, buildings and wayfinding signage
Natural wooden stringer bridge construction
Trail maintenance including wood removal, drain clearing, remediating prior work, trail flow improvments
• Fork lifts, including off road and shooting boom forklifts
• Skid steerers
• Mini track loaders
• Rock hammers
• Chainsaw Alaskan Mills and trailer-mounted, portable bandsaw mills to make planking and dimensional lumber for bridges or wooden structures
• ST240s
• Front end loaders
“Joy is building a trail....Happiness is experiencing that trail”
Additional Qualifications
Creative Trail Designs owner, Eric Emerson, has a comprehensive educational background that focuses on environmental sustainability, trail design and construction, safety, and public recreation. Specifically:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Soil Science from The Ohio State University (2009)
• Wilderness First Aid Training from NOLS (2017)
• On-site training courses at Alsea Falls from several IMBA trail builder training programs, specializing in building jumps, berms, trail design and layout, advanced mechanized trail building, trail care crew (2013-2015)
• Attended the 2014 IMBA World Summit in Steamboat Springs, CO
• OSHA Certificate (2009)
• Class B Feller Chainsaw Certification from the Northwest District BLM (2017)
• Excavator training and ST240 training from IMBA staff (2014)
