Trail Skills Institute
Build your skills.
Protect our trails.
Want to learn how to monitor, maintain, and build trails more effectively? Whether you’re new to trail work or a seasoned steward, the Arizona Trail Association’s Trail Skills Institute (TSI) offers hands-on trainings to expand your skills and confidence.
What is the Trail Skills Institute?
In partnership with Raven Trails, TSI equips volunteers with practical skills in the core principles of sustainable trail work. Led by professional builders with decades of field experience, these outdoor, hands-on trainings cover everything from hydrology and rock work to trail design and restoration.
2025-2026 TSI Schedule
Locations are based on project needs and may change.
- October 4-5 Trail Structures & Rock Work (Passage 29 – Mormon Lake)
- November 22-23 Trail Construction (Passage 5 – Santa Rita Foothills)
- December 6-7 Trail Obliteration & Restoration (Passage 5 – Santa Rita Foothills)
- January 17-18 Trail Construction (Passage 5 – Santa Rita Foothills)
- February 21-22 Trail Obliteration & Restoration (Passage 5 – Santa Rita Foothills)
Trail Skills Institute Series
The Trail Skills Institute Series offers stand-alone, hands-on courses in sustainable trail work. Take them in any order based on your interest and availability— or complete the full series to earn a Certificate of Completion and a well-rounded toolkit for trail stewardship.
Trail Assessment & Maintenance
- Erosion and deposition, which forces are at work
- Identifying problems and causes
- Documenting trail condition
- Reopening the trail corridor (brushing, log outs, rock obstacles)
- Slough, berm and tread
- Drainage (dips, knicks, reversal, checks, waterbars)
Trail Design & Layout
- Why, who, what of trail design
- Design factors (use, site conditions, climate and weather)
- Construction design criteria (Trail Management Objectives)
- Control points (positive and negative)
- Trail corridor identification (GIS and visual assessment)
- Tight flagging & construction prescription
Trail Construction
- Corridor clearing
- Tread and backslope
- Climbing turns and switchbacks
- Retaining Structures
- Drainage
- Rehabilitation and finishing
Trail Obliteration & Restoration
- Closing trails (why, when, how)
- Decompaction and scarification
- Reestablishing hydrology
- Closing sight lines
- Seeding and organic material
Trail Structures & Rock Work
- Why build structures?
- Principles of dry stone masonry
- Moving, splitting shaping and stacking stone
- Steps, walls, rock armoring (tread and drain pans)
- Drainage structures
- Technical trail features (TTFs)
Sawyer Crosscut Certification
- Crosscut Sawyer Bucking Certification Instruction and Evaluation
- USFS Developing Thinking Sawyers Curriculum
Other integrated topics include: event planning, tool care, leadership, volunteer engagement, and user experience.
Online Learning
Can’t attend in person or want to learn more before joining a course? Explore our Online Trail Skills Institute to learn the basics at your own pace.
Registration & Cost
- $150 – General Registration
- $85 – ATA Stewards (discounted rate for current Arizona Trail Stewards)
Includes: professional instruction, four meals, hands-on learning, and plenty of fun.
If the registration cost is a barrier, scholarships may be available. Contact volunteer@aztrail.org for details.
➡️ Select your registration type and course date in the form below. You’ll be redirected to PayPal to complete payment.
If a session is full, email volunteer@aztrail.org to join the waitlist.
