Walkway

Walkways are for personal enjoyment of a wetland, and for educational purposes. Without a walkway, it can be difficult to get near the real action of all the inhabitants.

A walkway may be made of wood and fastened to poles or posts over the water, as a dock in a lake. Or, it may be a rock or wood chip trail along the edge of the wetland. A combination of trail and wooden walkway is ideal.

An important consideration for the walkway is that it afford a closer look at part of the wetland, but at the same time, doesn't take all privacy away from wildlife. For that reason, the walkway should be used in only a small portion of the wetland.

In planning the walkway, consider aesthetics, the high and low water levels anticipated, the effects of freezing and thawing, the likely vegetation near the walkway, and the anticipated use.

A wooden walkway may be essential for the physically impaired, for instance. If classrooms will use the wetland for learning about the outdoors, a trail will make visits much easier. A trail leading to an observation blind will probably lead to more use of the blind.

Anticipate regular maintenance and take safety precautions, particularly if the walkway extends over deeper water.

Walkways may be as simple as wood chip trails or as complex as this wooden above-water walkway. 

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Walkways (144K) may be as simple as wood chip trails or as complex as this wooden above-water 

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