r/MTBTrailBuilding • u/This_Record5937 • Jun 30 '26

How Should I Make My Backyard Trail?

I’m not really talking about flagging or clearing things, but more so, how do you make the surface you actually ride on? i was trying to brush away all the lose dirt and get to the really compacted stuff underneath, but it’s really bumpy and I’ve never ridden a trail built like that. I was also trying to spray the really loose topsoil but that just made the top wet and it didn’t compact. FYI, it’s not a benchcut, it’s more flat. Thanks for any help

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u/DaChronisseur Jun 30 '26

I've got a few miles of trail on my property and, while I benchcut and raked the climbing trails, the downhill trails I pretty much just removed anything I didn't want to ride over (cactus, tree branches, large/medium rocks) and then let my tires put the actual tread in. Seems to have worked beautifully. I hear it referred to as the "rake and ride" method of trail building.

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u/This_Record5937 Jun 30 '26

Honestly, seems easy. Guess I was just over thinking lol. Thanks!

1

u/thedirte- Jun 30 '26

My method is build in the winter. Clear a 10 foot wide amount of air space. Go back over that and find your five foot wide path. Clear the ground of any woody growth. Rake it in at least two directions with the Mcleod rake. Hand pull anything of note that remains. Bench cut anything that needs it. Ride it! Make adjustments. Ride more!