published Apr 1, 2020

Thinking of Hitting the Trail During COVID-19? Answer These 5 Questions First.

by Mike Passo with American Trails

Before you go on any outdoor adventures you need to ask yourself these questions to confirm if your plans are safe and appropriate.

published May 18, 2020

Get the Right Gear for Summer Trails

With summer coming up fast now is the time to make sure you are prepared for the trail. Here are some suggestions from the American Trails staff on gear we love.

published Apr 13, 2020

Five Reasons Trail Research Matters

by Taylor Goodrich with American Trails

Trails are invaluable assets to any community, and when it comes to procuring funding, building coalitions, providing the best trail access, and more, trail research is one of the best tools available for showing that worth.

published Mar 18, 2020

The Respite of Trails and Outdoor Recreation

by Mike Passo with American Trails

America’s incomparable system of national scenic, historic, and recreational trails is the perfect way to sustain your mental and physical health, while maintaining the social distancing that is required in these challenging times.

published Jan 1, 2008

A Descriptive Examination of the Most Frequently Used Activity Settings in 25 Community Parks

The purpose was to examine 9 adult activity settings in 25 community parks to determine the most and least frequently used by gender, physical-activity (PA) intensity, and ethnicity.

published Apr 5, 2014

Use and Nonuse of a Rail Trail Conversion for Physical Activity: Implications for Promoting Trail Use

The purpose was to examine 9 adult activity settings in 25 community parks to determine the most and least frequently used by gender, physical-activity (PA) intensity, and ethnicity.

published Oct 31, 2019

Engaging the Health Community

by Taylor Goodrich with American Trails

Trails are shown to improve health both mentally and physically, yet the healthcare industry and the trails industry rarely work together. There are many reasons for this, such as logistics, bureaucracy, and communication issues. We asked some leading experts how we can begin bridging these gaps.

published Oct 1, 2019

New Report Outlines How Active Transportation Transforms America

by American Trails Staff

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) released a report this week detailing how investing in active transportation positively impacts communities.

published Jun 20, 2019

Counting Trail Users

by Matt Ainsley with Eco-Counter, Inc.

Until recently, user count data was collected manually through an annual volunteer effort. In 2017, however, a program in Pennsylvania took their count program to the next level by rolling out 17 automated Eco-Counters in all four corners of the state.

published May 14, 2019

The State of Latino Green Space

by Salud America!

Green space initiatives that take community concerns, needs, and desires into consideration may be most effective at improving Latino physical and mental well-being. Green spaces support public health in many ways—they filter air, remove pollution, attenuate noise, cool temperatures, replenish ground water, mitigate stormwater, and can provide food [53, 54]. Beyond these benefits, however, are the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of green space, as discussed below.

posted Feb 25, 2020

Trails Move People

Creating a strong, cooperative, and unified voice for a diverse trails community

posted Feb 20, 2020

Trails Are Transportation

Trails are critical infrastructure and, as such, they should receive the financial and human resource allocations necessary to maintain their critical role.