A GIS Application for Trail Suitability within

Bale Mountain National Park, Ethiopia

Initially each map was developed to indicate the specific parameters for a trail that is user friendly, and will provide the hiker with a positive experience of Bale Mountains National Park and Ethiopia.  We researched that a positive vistas are elevations above 3000m, see the Map of Elevation.  There are many contours within this area which could inhibit great views.  In order appeal to a greater audience of travelers we chose to develop a trail system with moderate difficulty so people can hike comfortably and avoid extreme topography.  We found that a moderate slope for hiking is less than 15 %.   If trails to Tullu Deemtu, (the second highest peak in Ethiopia at 4,377m) are currently established or need to be developed it would be advisable to include them in the trail network.  BMNP is a park that has various vegetation and land-use areas; therefore our goal was to avoid areas of cultivation.  These areas were avoided in order to not disturb agriculture and communities.  Another reason to avoid cultivated areas is to portray the interesting and diverse endemic species of Ethiopia.  It would be ideal for hiking and camping areas to be near water sources, hence the addition of rivers to the final map.  Lastly, for accessibility, resources, and safety precautions the towns and roads were added.  It would be ideal for camping sites and hiking trails when developed to be near water sources, however certain parameters should be considered.  Camp sites should not be located within 60m of a water source. Trails should be at least 15m from a water source in order to avoid erosion or disturbance to a riparian zone.

After analyzing the results of the newly created map we can conclude that there are areas more suitable for new trail construction than others.  These areas are located in the northern region of Bale Mountain National Park.

We believe final trail building decisions should be made by a knowledgeable person who is familiar with the details of the park, its topography, and natural history.  In addition, many trails most likely already exist in some of these areas, it would be advisable to use and define existing trails in order to minimize impact on such a fragile ecosystem.