Trail School 2026: More Work, More Fun Than a Walk in the Park

By Lauren Cnare

It was a perfect week to hit the trails - even if it meant carrying in shovels, marking flags, Pulaskis and McCleods instead of a saddle bag picnic lunch or a backpack.

That’s what 10 students at Wisconsin Horse Council’s 2026 Trail Master Certification Course did May 13-16 at Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit to learn and practice trail design, maintenance and construction. Students leave with a certification in trail design, construction and maintenance, and crew leadership.

Trail School brings together park professionals, trail riders, bikers & hikers to learn how to properly plan a new trail or re-route; repair an existing trail segment suffering from wear and tear, and construct new simple and complex trails.

After learning all about water movement, soil types, contours and human nature, students always comment: “I’ll never look at a trail the same way again….”

Because so many trails are managed by volunteers groups (horseback rider trail associations, city, county and state park friends groups, Ice Age Trail groups, and off-road bicycle clubs), students also learn critical and practical “crew leader” or volunteer management skills through hands-on practice and creative role play.

According to Mike Riter, owner of Trail Design Specialists and course instructor, “All trail systems benefit from community partnership and engagement. Trail maintenance volunteer days connect people to each other and their favorite trails and activities.

When volunteer days are thoughtfully planned and safely run, people leave with more skills and more enthusiasm to be part of caring for trails - and that’s critical as outdoor recreation continues to grow and professional staff are called on to do more in their own roles.”

In a mix of indoor lecture and outdoor action, students worked on a 50-foot section of a horse trail, installing a rolling grade dip to guide water off the trail and prevent erosion. They also re-routed a 100-yards segment of the Ice Age Trail moving the path of fragile areas of a hillside.

Many thanks to the South Kettle Moraine Horse Trail Association for welcoming and feeding the weary crew with a catered pasta dinner, and spending time with the students to share their own trail support strategies and gratitude for the work.

Trail Master Certification Course is offered annually in early- to mid-summer by the Wisconsin Horse Council. The location rotates around the state, focusing on an area that includes horse trails.

Look for details on the next class at the WHC website https://wisconsinhorsecouncil.org/trailsin late 2026 or early 2027.

This course is sponsored and supported by a grant from the Wisconsin DNR and the Wisconsin Horse Council.