ORLEANS—The Monon South Trail is a 57.9-mile trail currently under development in Southern Indiana. Much of the trail, which connects major trail communities, will be constructed of finely crushed stone aggregate.
Whether it’s a trail to school in an urban area or a core loop of your open space trail system, crushed stone trails provide a user-friendly, all-season surface for all types and ages of visitors. If built properly, crushed stone trails can meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines. Accessible trails often service an incredibly diverse range of visitors, including hikers, bikers, runners, strollers, mobility impaired, visually impaired, and wheelchairs.
Many parks and open space areas are constructing accessible, soft-surface trails into their trail systems. In areas with long periods of rain or snow and clay or silt-based soils, park infrastructure trails often surface with concrete or crusher fines to minimize muddy trail conditions and reduce facility maintenance. The crushed rock contains the original rock cement and binders within the rock dust. Combined with water and then compacted with a vibratory roller or plate compactor, these binders should produce a solid, compacted surface that resists significant deformation from hiking boots and mountain bike tires.
