Mountain Bike Trail Systems on Singletracks

We’re constantly refining how we organize mountain bike trail information here on singletracks and one question we get often is, “What to do with very large trail networks and multi-segment trails?” For example, the IMBA Epic Buffalo Creek trail system consists of dozens of miles of singletrack and several named trails within the system. Up …
By Jeff Barber
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trail_system_map_sample

We’re constantly refining how we organize mountain bike trail information here on singletracks and one question we get often is, “What to do with very large trail networks and multi-segment trails?” For example, the IMBA Epic Buffalo Creek trail system consists of dozens of miles of singletrack and several named trails within the system. Up until now we’ve listed popular loops separately but there are problems with that approach.

For one thing it’s confusing, especially if you’re searching for the trail system name and don’t know the individual trail names. Separate listings can be inefficient – in some cases you may need to piece together half a dozen different listings to get all the info you need. We’ve also run into problems with “duplicate content” when members add information about individual trails even though a system listing already exists.

This summer we’ve started linking individual trails within larger systems to a “master” listing to address some of these issues. The system trail listing links to individual trails and each individual trail links back to the master system listing (see screen shot below). In the future this will allow us to serve trail system maps with labeled, individual segments while simplifying the US trail map and state trail listing pages.

sub_trail_sample

If you’d like to add a listing (and photos, reviews, etc.) for a trail within a larger system, use the “Add a Trail” form and choose “Yes” to the question just below the trail length field. Then start typing the name of the larger system and select the trail from the list – easy.

add_trail_system

We’ve always been trail data junkies and we’re excited to collect even more detail about mountain bike trail systems around the world with your help!

 
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