Trailhead
Trailhead: The place at which a trail begins.
Trailhead
The Guidelines define Trailhead as follows:
The place at which a trail begins.
- INDICATORS: Marked by a sign or information board; might be located near outhouses.
INCLUDES: Sites on non-federal public lands, i.e. state, county, local parks, and recreation sites
DOES NOT INCLUDE: Trailheads without signs, unauthorized trails, private trails, trailheads located on federal lands managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management.
What is a Trailhead?
A Trailhead is defined as a place where a trail begins.
Where can I find authoritative lists of Trailheads?
Trailhead information can often times be found on municipal, county, or state sites. State, county and municipal tourism websites can also have some trail and trailhead information that is considered authoritative.
Check out our Authoritative Sources List for more on the types of sources that are acceptable.
What address should be given for Trailheads?
Since trailheads do not have an address, it is okay to include the closest road name or to leave the address field blank.
How do I name a Trailhead?
Try to find the official name of the trailhead from an authoritative source (trail, park, or recreation area website), or from signage seen at or near the trailhead or parking lot. Trailhead names can vary greatly but should include the word "Trailhead" as we are specifically collecting trailheads, not trails, parks, or recreation areas. Trailhead names generally have the format: <park or recreation area name> <Trailhead>, for example: North Table Mountain West Trailhead. As long as the name matches the one listed by an authoritative source, includes the word “Trailhead”, and accurately represents the structure being collected, it is acceptable. Remember to use one word “Trailhead”, as “Trail Head” is not acceptable formatting. Check out our Name and Address Formatting guide for more on how to properly name trailheads.
