We have sourced 2 trail marker options:

Option 1

Ready-made, cost-efficient trail markers with a distributor on Amazon.

Pros: Low cost and relatively quick delivery.

Cons: They are not very reflective – therefore, in low light, they may be difficult to see.

We are also unsure of the durability since there is no guarantee or warranty with the purchase.

Option 2

Specifications

  • Size: 3″ x 3″ square
  • Nail hole: 1 x 3/16″ diameter drilled about 1/2″ from a corner. This will allow the marker to hang naturally in a diamond orientation, making it highly visible and resistant to being bent by snow buildup.
  • Backing material: aluminum, approximately 1/16″ thick
  • Top lamination material: 3M Diamond Grade Orange. This material is retro-reflective like highway signs. Nighttime visibility is actually better than in the daytime – up to 100m with a typical headlamp.

Cost

The printer can provide quotes depending on your desired quantity.

Supplier

Tran Sign, a trail marker supplier and sign printer based out of Victoria, BC, provides high-quality aluminum markers with 3M diamond grade reflective orange sheeting.

Contact Tran Sign for a quote.

Application Tips

Use stainless steel deck screws so they can be backed off as the tree grows and expands. Some of the older markers can and do get sucked in and swallowed by trees after 20 or so years, and even steel ones get folder over.

The screws should be at a slight downward angle to allow the marker to slide back against the tree, instead of drooping off the nailhead untidily and having ice build up behind it. Leave about ¼” to ½” out of the tree to compensate for the inevitable tree growth.

And in case you’re wondering why the hole is in the corner, it’s because the markers need to be left “loose” on the tree, not pounded right up against the bark. If the hole is in the centre (which we used to do), the weight and leverage of the snow/ice buildup over the winter will gradually fold the marker over, or even pop it off the nail. Having the hole in the corner, far enough from the edge so the marker doesn’t break, allows the marker to hang on the tree without snow and ice getting behind it. And it also ensures the marker is always hanging vertically. Neatness counts!

(Thanks to Alex Wallace for the tips.)