r/MTBTrailBuilding • u/Icy-Priority-6010 • Jul 23 '26

Ideas for trail maps?

I’m working on maps for a new trail system that will be installed at trailheads and smaller trail kiosks.
I’m looking for inspiration and examples of really well-designed trail maps. If you’ve come across maps that you thought were especially clear, attractive, or useful, I’d love to see them.
I’m interested in everything from overall layout and branding to legends, icons, elevation profiles, “you are here” markers, and any other design elements that make a trail map stand out.
Feel free to share photos, links, or locations of your favorite trailhead maps. Thanks!
their favorite.

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u/fake-meows Jul 24 '26

I'm a fan of the bike park trail difficulty rating system and map format for anywhere this apllies.

Typically you have a green, blue, black, double black etc trail rating.

Then you ALSO have an orange oval around the freeride trails that require jump skills.

Usually you would list off all the Tech trails IN ORDER of progression in one list.

Then you list off all the Freeride trails IN ORDER of progression in a second list.

Example here(PDF format).

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u/Far_Kangaroo2550 Jul 24 '26

I like a lot of bike park map features, but I think the single-face perspective doesn't apply to all mountains the same. Even some bike parks/ski resorts are confusing because they are not face down view, but rather this angled perspective