The premier opportunity for the worldwide trails community
Every two years American Trails sponsors the International Trails Summit (formerly Symposium) to bring together trail and greenway advocates, managers, planners, and users, as well as tourism and business interests.
The Summit is the largest gathering of all trail interests— professionals, managers, and users who believe their combined voices are the best way to strengthen trails for everyone.
American Trails is a certified provider and can offer the following learning credit opportunities: AICP CM, LA CES, NRPA CEU Equivalency Petition, and Other CEU/PDH Equivalency Petition.
American Trails (AT) and the Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA) will host the 2025 International Trails Summit in Madison, Wisconsin April 14-17, 2025. The combined, high-impact event convened a diverse trail and outdoor community to learn, build relationships, and find solutions to the challenges of developing and elevating outdoor recreation opportunities for all.
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Each symposium is home to the Advancing Trails Awards Program, recognizing the tremendous contributions of volunteers, professionals, and other leaders who are working for the betterment of trails.
You can’t talk about the history of American Trails without going back to long before the organization existed, to the first ever National Trails Symposium in 1971.
American Trails and the Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA) are leading an effort to bring together the thought leadership of the trails and outdoor recreation communities. Since 2013, American Trails and PTBA have worked together on conference efforts but fully partnered for the first time for the 2023 International Trails Summit.
We were proud to feature for a third Symposium the Professional TrailBuilders Association’s (PTBA) Sustainable Trails Workshop Series, Legacy Trail, and Technical Track. This was an inspiring and educational conference as we came together as a trails community.
We were proud to feature for a second Symposium the Professional TrailBuilders Association’s (PTBA) Sustainable Trails Workshop Series, Legacy Trail, and Technical Track. This was an inspiring and educational conference as we came together as a trails community.
We were proud to feature the Professional TrailBuilders Association’s (PTBA) Sustainable Trails Workshop Series, Legacy Trail, and Technical Track.
The 21st American Trails International Trails Symposium was held at the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Hotel & Conference Center near Fountain Hills, Mesa, and Scottsdale, Arizona
The 20th American Trails National Trails Symposium was held November 14-17, 2010 along the Tennessee Riverpark Greenway in downtown Chattanooga.
The 19th American Trails National Trails Symposium was held November 15-18, 2008 along the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock, AR.
The 18th American Trails National Trails Symposium was held October 19-22, 2006 in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois.
The 17th National Trails Symposium was held in Austin, Texas, October 21-24, 2004 on the shores of scenic Town Lake along the 11-mile Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail.
The 16th American Trails National Trails Symposium was held November 10-13, 2002, at the Coronado Springs Hotel in central Florida near Orlando.
The 15th American Trails National Trails Symposium was held in Redding in northern California, with the theme of "Trails and the American Spirit - 2000 and Beyond."
The 14th American Trails National Trails Symposium was held November 13-17, 1998 in Tucson, AZ; featured speakers were Royal Robbins, Tom Whittaker, and John Horsley.
