Social Trails and Environmental Messaging in a Neighborhood Context

Stacey Schulte (University of Colorado Program in Environmental Design)

Social, or undesignated trails, create wildlife disturbance, visual impact, erosion and other degradation. Because natural areas are typicallyunmonitored, land managers need techniques to effectively discourage social trail use. Studies in backcountry settings indicate that signs with an educational message are effective at deterring social trail use. This study used a combination of digitally collected data and surveys to understand change in use of social trails under two sign conditions. Using a neighborhood trail in Boulder County, CO we placed signs at the entrance to four social trails. One sign simply requested user stay off the social trail and the other sign contained information about the ecological impact of traveling on the social trail. The results indicate that sign messaging does not affect trail use and that other untested factors may be stronger indicators of trail use in a neighborhood context. In addition, surveys were conducted with users which indicate a high place dependence. In a neighborhood context, where a creek and riparian ecosystem is residents’ “backyard”, deterring social trails use needs a more complex approach than in a backcountry setting.