However, the final destination or reference point should not be visible from the trail until users reach the trail exit. This ensures that users will not leave the trail surface, taking shortcuts across and possibly damaging the natural environment. In these instances, the exit should be in sight of a parking lot, picnic area or other reference point the users can identify upon leaving the trail. In some cases, signing may be necessary. However, if a trail appears to need better signing, it may indicate that the trail was poorly designed.
People tend to move toward the right when given a choice.
When the terrain permits, this tendency should be reinforced by designing loop trails with a right-hand, or counterclockwise, traffic flow. Gentle curves to the right at the trail's beginning will prompt users to move in the appropriate direction. With their vision focused to the right, it then becomes possible to tie the end of the loop back into the trail without making it appear as an alternative direction to follow. A reverse curve, in which an angle greater than 90 o is used to tie the exit back to the trail, reinforces this effect. Note in Figure 10 that when the trail end might be visible from the trail head, physical objects, such as stones and vegetation, can be used to create a psychological blockade.