What symbol represents trails on the map?

• A. Single dash line
• B. Double dash parallel lines
• C. Double parallel lines
• D. Dotted line

Answer: (A)

Understanding map symbols is about what the legend uses to show different features. For trails, a simple dashed line is used to indicate a footpath or non-paved route. The repeated short dashes are light enough not to overwhelm solid features like roads, yet clear enough to follow the path across the map. This distinction helps hikers know they’re following a route designed for walking rather than a hard surface road.

Other line styles often indicate different things—double parallel lines can point to railways or boundaries, a dotted line might mark a proposed or intermittent feature—so they don’t represent trails in the same way. The single dash line best conveys a walking path on most standard maps.