Several years ago my wife and I quit our jobs, bid adieu to our family and friends, and packed our lives into the back of a Subaru Outback. For two years we were employed by a non-profit organization and traveled around the United States and Canada, spending every weekend at a different location to help local trails clubs and land managers design, construct, and maintain singletrack trails. During that time we drank sweet tea, ate Cincinnati Chili, talked with a New England accent, camped in a hurricane, saw armadillos and Cottonmouth snakes, and ran, hiked, and biked the most beautiful trails I can imagine. The best part was meeting inspiring people who welcomed us into their homes and shared with us their passion for the environment and for the health of their communities. I knew that I loved trails, but I didn’t so many other people out there who also loved trails, too. It is my passion to help them realize a world where trails are an integral part of their daily lives.
Chris Bernhardt has managed natural-surface trail projects in 35 states, three provinces, and Singapore, Tasmania, and Israel, with a focus on building bicycle-friendly multi-use trails. His planning project experience includes team management of transportation, land use, environmental, and legal disciplines, and extensive work in trail advocacy and stakeholder involvement. Chris presents and has been published on the topic of sustainable, riskmanaged innovative bicycle trails, and has worked with the Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, and over one hundred state and local jurisdictions.
Recent Projects
- Wissahickon Valley Sustainable Trails Initiative, Philadelphia, PA
Re-designed 60-mile urban trail system to better accommodate hikers, runners, mountain bicyclists, equestrians, bird watchers, education groups, and fishermen. Implemented significant field projects to initiate improvements. - Galena Lodge Trails Master Plan, Sun Valley, ID
Designed 45-mile summertime trails system to compliment winter trail activities on National Forest land. Trails included interpretation of extensive cultural sites in alpine environment. - Technical Mountain Bicycling Risk Management Plan, Design, and Construction, Lake Tahoe, CA
Created risk management plan and subsequent design parameters to redevelop technical mountain bike/off-road motorcycle trail. Trained field crews on implementation. - Seven Streams Trail and Habitat Reconstruction, Hood River, OR
Relocated popular non-motorized multi-use trail away from sensitive stream habitat that contained endangered native cutthroat trout. Restored stream bed and banks to improve habitat. - Sandy River Gorge Trails Master Plan, Mt. Hood, OR
Designed 25-mile mountain bicycle trail system that will accommodate beginner through advanced cyclists.