The key to excellent hiking trail design is that it seems completely natural, unmade by human hands. All of the intent and effort that goes into designing hiking trails are best appreciated when they go unnoticed.
Enjoy this fascinating look into the mind of trail ecologist Jeff Marion, Ph.D. who pulls back the curtain on the carefully made design language of angles, alignment, and materials that keep hiking trails enjoyable for generations.
Among Dr. Marion’s papers published to The United States Geological Survey, I found his research investigating the influence of trail layout on three core types of degradation using a dataset from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to be particularly interesting READ HERE.
Jeff Marion grew up exploring the woods, streams, and caves of Kentucky, developing strong interests in nature study and high adventure outdoor activities. One of four Eagle Scouts in his family, he served for five summers at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, teaching backpacking and climbing skills.
Coursework in biology, ecology, and geology at Wittenberg University led to a B.S. in Biology (1979), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Recreation Resources Management from the University of Minnesota (1982/84). Graduate studies focused on recreation ecology research, combining strong personal interests in the ecological sciences with his continuing passion for outdoor recreational pursuits, particularly backpacking, climbing, caving, and canoeing.
His doctoral research measured camping-associated environmental impacts in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to investigate relationships between biophysical impacts, amount of use, and plant community, soil, and ecological classifications.
Professional Experience
- 8/97-2001 – DOI, U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Title: Research Biologist Duties: Unit Leader for the PWRC Virginia Tech Field Station. Conducted recreation ecology research to evaluate visitor impacts to protected natural areas.
- 11/94-7/97 – DOI, National Biological Survey, Div. of Cooperative Research, Blacksburg, VA Title: Research Biologist Duties: Unit Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit. Conducted recreation ecology research.
- 6/85-10/94 – DOI, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Region Title: Research Biologist Duty Stations: 1) Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, VA and 2) Delaware Water Gap NRA; Milford, PA Dates: 1) 10/89-10/94 2) 6/85-9/89 Duties: Unit Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit (when at VT). Conducted recreation ecology research.
- 12/84-5/85 – University of Wisconsin, Park, Recreation & Resource Management program, River Falls, WI Title: Assistant ProfessorÂ
Education and Certifications
- Ph.D. Recreation Resources Management, 3/82-7/84, Univ. of Minnesota – Forest Resources
- M.S. Recreation Resources Management, 9/80-3/82, Univ. of Minnesota – Forest Resources
- Environmental Science, 9/79-6/80, Duke University – School of the Environment (transferred)
- B.A. Biology, Â 9/75-6/79, Wittenberg University
image from USGS