It takes time to know the land and make decisions about trail siting, design and use. Observation and inventory of the land takes place over an entire cycle of seasons. An area that is dry in August may be wet in April, with implications for trail siting and design. A variety of people and groups may need to be involved in the inventory and making decisions about the trail. Contact with adjacent landowners is helpful because they have valuable information about the land based on years of experience and observation.
Time allows people to develop their relationships with each other and with the land.
We may consider the words of the conservationist Aldo Leopold. A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. With proper planning and learning, we can create trails that benefit people and take into consideration natural ecosystems. At their best, trails protect wildlife and their habitat while allowing us to enjoy the natural world.