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posted Sep 22, 2023

Foundations of Sustainable Trails: A Trail from Start to Finish (Online Training)

This five-part course discusses what it means for a trail to be sustainable. It describes the lifecycle of sustainable trails and includes lessons on hydrology, structures, tools, tread and alignment. ​​

posted Sep 19, 2023

Career Pathways Portal

The Career Pathways Portal is a centralized hub of career information. Emerging and established trails professionals can explore career development options, find learning opportunities and jobs. Click the infographics below or keep scrolling to learn more.

posted Sep 13, 2023

The Trail Fund Programs

The Trail Fund has now morphed into two programs. The Trails Capacity Program fills the role of what the "Trail Fund" was in 2021, and the Legacy Trail Program now offers Legacy Roads and Trails funding to projects on U.S. Forest Service lands.

posted Sep 11, 2023

Hand Tools for Trails

by USDA Forest Service

The tools shown here are those used most often by Forest Service trail crews. They are categorized into tools for sawing, chopping, grubbing, digging and tamping, pounding, and hammering, lifting and hauling, peeling and shaping, and sharpening and rehandling. Each tool is described along with helpful techniques for use and maintenance.

posted Jul 24, 2023

Trail Competency Framework

by The Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University

A group of nationwide trail professionals representing federal agencies, trail nonprofits, and the private sector initiated this project to develop a common trail competency framework, focusing on enhancing professionalism as well as a higher level of skill.

posted May 9, 2022

Hub for Information on Trail Users

Everything you need to know about trail counters, trail user surveys, and other information to better understand and engage your trail users.*

posted Apr 11, 2022

Impact of Trails Hub

Everything you need to know about the positive impact of trails on health, environment, economics, and more.

posted Feb 14, 2022

Trail Planning and Design Hub

Everything you need to know about trail planning and design for long lasting trails.

posted Jan 18, 2022

Shared-Use Trail Hub

Everything you need to know about planning, building, and managing shared-use trails.

posted Nov 9, 2021

Trail Accessibility Hub

Everything you need to know about planning, building, and maintaining accessible trails.

posted Sep 13, 2020

12 Resources for Building Trail Stewards

by Taylor Goodrich with American Trails

Use this library of resources, articles, and trainings to create an army of effective trail stewards.

posted Aug 5, 2019

Planning Trails With Wildlife in Mind - Wildlife and Trails Primer

by American Trails Staff

The Primer provides discussion of broad wildlife topics, plus key concepts and rules of thumb to help with trail planning and management.

posted Jun 24, 2019

Volunteer Stewardship Tools

by Taylor Goodrich with American Trails

Managing volunteers to achieve high quality trail stewardship work for land managers is not easy. Explore the tools and resources available to you that will help you start, expand or enhance your outdoor stewardship volunteer program, achieving your goals, and providing exceptional service to land managers.

posted Aug 14, 2018

Fort River Birding and Nature Trail, Massachusetts

The one-mile trail provides a chance to enjoy the natural world at Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

posted Aug 14, 2018

Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail, Delaware

This designated National Recreation Trail runs 4.18 miles through northern Delaware and includes Recreational Trails Program funding.

posted Mar 13, 2018

Active Transportation and Parks and Recreation

by National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

A national study on Active Transportation and Parks and Recreation.

posted Nov 28, 2023

American Trails Launches Free Foundations of Sustainable Trails e-Course Series

by American Trails Staff

This new five-part series of online micro-learning courses is intended to provide those new to the trails workforce with a baseline understanding of terminology and concepts that give them a solid foundation to support future trails education and ongoing professional development.


posted Nov 27, 2023

The Latest From Our YouTube Channel

From our webinar archive we bring you Engaging Kids on Trails: A National Trails Day Fireside Chat.


posted Nov 25, 2023

Winter Bike Lane Maintenance

by Alta Planning + Design

This white paper provides collected best practices on winter bikeway maintenance as seen in US cities and around the world. The paper covers snow removal from bikeways, different types of de-icing surface applications and their advantages/disadvantages, and best practices for winter maintenance prioritization and scheduling. The paper also includes a brief discussion on innovative winter maintenance techniques either in use or in development.


posted Nov 25, 2023

Winter Maintenance Resource Guide

by Toole Design

Who is responsible for winter maintenance—property owners or government agencies—and what are the challenges?


posted Nov 25, 2023

Sustaining Wildlife With Recreation on Public Lands

by USDA Forest Service

Humans and wildlife interact in multifaceted ways on public lands with both positive and negative outcomes for each group. When managed well, wildlife-based tourism and other forms of recreation can benefit conservation goals.


posted Nov 25, 2023

Environmental Impacts of Winter Recreation

by Winter Wildlands Alliance

Regardless of our intentions, many species perceive humans as a threat and respond accordingly. In general, animals respond to threats by first increasing vigilance (time spent looking around versus foraging), and running away if the threat is perceived to be imminent.


posted Nov 24, 2023

Vermont Town Forest Trail Standards Guide

The Vermont Town Forest Trail Design Guide was developed as part of the Vermont Town Forest Recreation Planning Toolkit, an initiative of the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program, to provide general guidance for designing and developing trails in town forests and beyond.


posted Nov 24, 2023

Modeling Large-Scale Winter Recreation Terrain Selection with Implications for Recreation Management and Wildlife

Winter recreation is a rapidly growing activity, and advances in technology make it possible for increasing numbers of people to access remote backcountry terrain. Increased winter recreation may lead to more frequent conflict between recreationists, as well as greater potential disturbance to wildlife.


posted Nov 17, 2023

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION: A Synthesis from Roundtables in Support of the Bureau of Land Management’s Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation

by Foundation for America's Public Lands

Implementation of the Blueprint will require a deepening of relationships, new partnerships, new capacity and ultimately, new resources for success. Put simply, the Bureau can’t achieve its vision alone.


posted Nov 17, 2023

The Bureau of Land Management’s Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation

by Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a “Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation” (Blueprint) intended to guide investments, partnerships, outreach, and program development to respond to current demand and chart a course to meet future needs.


posted Nov 16, 2023

Trail Tracks Newsletter

The electronic newsletter from American Trails provides updates on legislation, funding, new resources, events, and people and trails in the news.


posted Nov 15, 2023

The Oklawaha Greenway Extension Plan

by Equinox

The Oklawaha Greenway extensions will create connectivity between parks, municipalities, and destinations through an accessible, continuous greenway that serves as a walking and biking spine for future greenway growth and connections within Henderson County.