| What it is | A short dead-ending side trail |
| Leads to | Viewpoint, water, camp, summit |
| Travel | Out and back to the feature |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
A spur trail is a short side trail branching off a main trail, usually leading to a specific feature — a viewpoint, water source, campsite, or summit — and then dead-ending. Hikers take a spur out and back to reach the feature, then return to the main trail to continue.
How it works
You leave the main trail, follow the spur out and back to reach the summit or viewpoint, then rejoin the main route — watch for the junction, often marked with a blaze or sign.
Frequently asked questions
What is a spur trail?
A spur trail is a short branch off the main trail that leads to a particular destination — such as a viewpoint, spring, campsite, or summit — and usually dead-ends there. You walk it out to the feature and back to rejoin the main route.
What's the difference between a spur trail and a side trail?
They're largely the same; 'spur' emphasizes a short stub leading to one feature, while 'side trail' is the broader term for any trail branching off the main one. Both connect you to something off the primary route.
Do spur trails loop?
Usually not — a spur typically dead-ends at its feature, so you return the way you came (an out-and-back). A side path that reconnects to the main trail would form a loop or alternate rather than a true spur.
Sources
- Trail navigation — American Hiking Society