Water Trail Signage

The simplest definition of a water trail is a series of access sites along a waterway, tied together by signs at each site to form a trail.

Rivers, by their very nature, are trails. Unlike land-based trails, rivers with a flow or current are one-way trails for most users. Stillwater canals, man-made channels, and lakes allow travel in two or more directions. In either case, the sites and signs designate the trail.

All water trail signs should be made of durable materials, such as UV resistant Lexan laminated to aluminum, and feature the water trails logo, which provides a common theme for all informational material.

Trailhead signs, located at or very near a put-in, should include a trail map accurately identifying:

the river;
safety information;
the put-in;
the take-out;
river miles;
dams and other distinctive features, such as portages, tributaries, riverside communities, major road crossings, county boundaries, other established boat launches and landings, disabled access sites, and natural area inventory sites;
a north arrow, and
a legend.

A good-sized trailhead sign measures approximately 36" x 24".

Trail markers, consisting primarily of the water trail logo, should be located on or near the riverbank every three to five river miles, usually near a take-out. They may also depict the name of the take-out site, the river mile, or the words "take-out". Respectably sized trail markers span about 18" x 30".

Placed upstream from a dam or other important feature, such as shallow water or a difficult channel, directional signs indicate the location of a portage or the best pathway for canoes and kayaks. Directional signs may be fixed to stationary posts or buoys, where appropriate, and should assume a size that provides the greatest visibility.

Portage signs should occur alongside the entrance to a portage trail, on the upstream side, and measure about 18" x 30".

Bridge signs label road, railway, and other bridge crossings, aiding navigation along the water trail, and need only be visible from the water upstream of the bridge. The minimum size for these signs should be 12" x 48" with 5" letters. (A better size is 16" x 60" with 5 1/4" letters).

Roadway trail markers should appear before a bridge (in both directions), distinguishing water trails from street level. These should measure no smaller than 12" x 18".

Pedestrian trail markers, measuring roughly 8" x 8", make the trail known to pedestrians and cyclists.

At water’s edge near put-ins, depth markers indicate waters too shallow to paddle without difficulty and too great to cross safely. They should be fabricated from lightweight, flexible, weatherproof, and vandal-resistant materials.

Another useful option for river information is a map, more or less identical to the one on the trailhead signs, that can be easily folded to fit a paddler's pocket. These should be offered at the trailhead, downloadable from a Web site, or available by mail from a designated agency.