Guidelines for blazing trails in Big Canoe

Use vertical, 2 x 6 inch metal blazes, painted with gloss outdoor paint in the color assigned to your trail. The blazes have a small hole at the top and at the bottom for nails. When estimating how many blazes you need remember to count the return hike blazes too

• Blazes should be nailed leaving a half inch gap to allow the tree to grow

  • Renew every 3 years or as needed

• The beginning and end of a trail is marked with just one blaze

• Only use 2 blazes to indicate a sharp change in direction, like a 90˚ corner that would otherwise not be obvious to the hiker (see below for how to place these blazes)

  • Use logs and straight limbs 2” in diameter or greater and rocks to line the trail if possible instead of using more blazes

  • Do not use blazes on switchbacks since they are obvious

• It’s ok to use extra blazing at intersections, for clarity

• Blaze in one direction at a time before turning around at the end of your trail

• Space blazes well apart and not necessarily at constant intervals

  • Fifty to 100  yards apart is a good working minimum. Where the trail is obvious fewer blazes are needed. For instance, if the trail is very steep and no treadway is possible except for the existing trail no blazes are needed. 

  • Blazes in one direction should be placed in a leapfrog manner to blazes in the opposite direction

    • Do not put a blaze for each direction on the same tree

  • Only one blaze should be seen at a time when you look down the trail

  • Most trails are over-blazed

• Choose live, conspicuous trees close to the trail on the right side

• Place blazes at eye level

• Do not put blazes on both sides of the same tree

• Trim back any foliage that blocks the view of the blaze

  Using 2 blazes

  For the most part, two blazes are rarely needed. But if the trail has a sharp turn that is not obvious at all, then use 2 blazes. 

Note that the blazes do not cross an imaginary line vertically between them nor horizontally.