Assessment of Trail Characteristics and Invasive Species Prevalence of an Alternative Border Crossing Route for the A2A Trail

Abstract

The A2A (Algonquin to Adirondacks) Trail was proposed in 2014. Upon completion, it would be the first multi-national long distance trail in North America. Part of the proposed plan is an alternative border-crossing route, which would see trail users first travel from Cape Vincent to Kingston by existing ferry system, and then from Kingston back to main route of the A2A Trail through the K & P Trail and the Cataraqui Trail. Without studies done on either of the trails, feasibility of the alternative route was unknown. As a result, the research project has been completed to investigate environmental/ecological feasibility of the alternative route of the A2A Trail by assessing key trail characteristics (such as trail grades) and invasive plant species prevalence along the K&P Trail and the Cataraqui Trail. It is found that the alternative route is not feasible as both trails lead to establishment of invasive plant species, and suffer from trail degradations due to issues in trail design and maintenance. Further studies and works on both trails are needed in order to improve the feasibility of the alternative border-crossing route for the A2A Trail.