Georgia Trails Association

Georgia Trails Association
Name	Georgia Trails Association
Formation	1981
Type	Nonprofit conservation organization
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Region served	Georgia, United States
Focus	Trail development, outdoor recreation, conservation, historic preservation

Georgia Trails Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, maintenance, promotion, and protection of hiking, equestrian, and multi-use trails across the state of Georgia. The association works with federal and state agencies, local governments, community groups, and national organizations to create connected trail networks, conserve natural corridors, and expand recreational access for residents and visitors. It is active in trail planning, volunteer coordination, advocacy, and public education.

History

Founded in the early 1980s, the organization emerged amid statewide interest in outdoor recreation influenced by the growth of the Appalachian Trail, the creation of national recreation areas, and the expansion of state park systems. Early initiatives linked projects on the Appalachian Trail corridor, collaborations with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and partnerships with regional land trusts such as The Nature Conservancy and the Georgia Land Trust. During the 1990s and 2000s the group worked on projects connected to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, and initiatives coordinated with the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. The association’s timeline includes involvement with regional trail planning where entities like the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Savannah River National Laboratory, and the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition played roles. Milestones reference cooperative planning with municipal agencies in Atlanta, Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, Athens, Georgia, and collaborations tied to preservation efforts promoted by organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Mission and Activities

The association’s mission centers on trail creation, stewardship, and public engagement, aligning its work with partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Georgia Forestry Commission. Ongoing activities include mapping and signage projects using standards advocated by the American Hiking Society, volunteer trail days modeled on programs by the Sierra Club and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and outreach informed by research from institutions like the University of Georgia and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Educational programs reference best practices from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, curriculum collaborations with the Georgia Department of Education, and interpretive work tied to cultural sites recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

Trail Projects and Maintenance

Trail projects have ranged from trail construction in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park area to multi-use corridor development along the Silver Comet Trail. Maintenance programs have drawn volunteers to locations including the Cohutta Wilderness, Tallulah Gorge State Park, F.D. Roosevelt State Park, and urban greenways in Savannah and Macon, Georgia. The association has coordinated with federal land managers at the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest and partnered on corridor projects that intersect with the Pacific Crest Trail model standards promoted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Projects have included bridge construction informed by engineering guidance from the American Society of Civil Engineers and trail design consultations with the National Recreation and Park Association.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding sources have included grants and partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and state-level programs administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. Corporate partners and philanthropic foundations have included collaborations with entities like the Home Depot Foundation, the Berkshire Hathaway family of donors, and regional foundations such as the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. The association works with municipal parks departments across jurisdictions including Fulton County, Georgia, DeKalb County, Georgia, and Chatham County, Georgia; federal engagements have involved the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on reservoir and watershed corridors. Technical partnerships have included design work with landscape firms affiliated with the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Membership and Volunteer Programs

Membership programs offer individuals access to training, workshops, and leader roles, drawing on volunteer models from the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA for youth engagement. Volunteer recruitment and recognition efforts echo practices used by the VolunteerMatch platform and corporate volunteer programs such as those sponsored by Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola Company. Training curricula reference safety standards from the American Red Cross and trail stewardship techniques promoted by the Pacific Crest Trail Association and Backpacker Magazine-affiliated programs. Membership communications have leveraged networks of outdoor clubs including the Atlanta Hiking Club, the Georgia Sierra Club, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy-affiliated chapters.

Advocacy and Policy Initiatives

Advocacy work includes engagement with state legislators in the Georgia General Assembly and municipal councils in cities such as Savannah and Athens to advance trail-friendly zoning, greenway funding, and easement policies. The association has submitted comments on federal rulemaking processes involving the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service, and has participated in stakeholder coalitions with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land. Policy initiatives address public land access and corridor conservation in contexts connected to the Endangered Species Act-related habitat protections and regional planning through metropolitan planning organizations like the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Awards and Recognition

The organization and its volunteers have received awards and recognition from entities such as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the National Recreation and Park Association, and regional honors from the Atlanta Regional Commission. Individual volunteers and project leaders have been acknowledged by conservation awards from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, civic awards from county commissions including Fulton County Commission, and historic preservation citations tied to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Trail organizations in the United States