Trails Association of the United States

Trails Association of the United States
Name	Trails Association of the United States
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1970s
Founder	Volunteer trail advocates
Headquarters	United States
Area served	United States
Focus	Trail conservation, recreation, outdoor access

Trails Association of the United States is a national nonprofit dedicated to the creation, maintenance, and promotion of recreational trails across the United States. The organization operates as a coordinating body that connects local trail clubs, federal land agencies, state parks, and private landowners to support multi-use trails, long-distance routes, and urban greenways. It emphasizes stewardship, volunteerism, and partnerships to expand public access to hiking, biking, horseback riding, and nonmotorized transportation corridors.

History

The association traces its roots to the 1970s recognition of needs articulated by regional groups such as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, responding to growing demand documented by the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Early collaborations involved leaders from the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and American Hiking Society who sought a federal interlocutor with the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management. Milestones cited in archival accounts include coordination with the Civilian Conservation Corps legacy, alignment with the National Trails System Act, and coalition-building alongside Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Land Trust Alliance. Over subsequent decades the association worked with organizations like the Trust for Public Land, Appalachian Mountain Club, and International Mountain Bicycling Association to professionalize trail stewardship, volunteer training, and corridor planning.

Mission and Programs

The association’s mission blends conservation and recreation, advancing goals shared with groups such as the Wilderness Society, Outdoor Alliance, and Surfrider Foundation. Core programs parallel models from Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, American Trails, and the National Park Foundation by offering trailbuilding workshops, trail assessment tools, and volunteer liability frameworks similar to those used by the Boy Scouts of America and American Motorcyclist Association for ORV trails. Education initiatives draw on curricula from the Student Conservation Association and Wilderness Education Association, while youth engagement echoes approaches by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and YMCA outdoor programs. Technical assistance leverages standards promoted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association and American Society of Civil Engineers for sustainable trail design.

Trails and Projects

The association supports a network of regional trail projects including long-distance corridors inspired by the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail, as well as urban greenways modeled after the High Line, BeltLine, and Katy Trail. Collaborative projects have included restoration efforts on sections of the Ice Age Trail, North Country National Scenic Trail, and Arizona Trail, and connectivity planning for the East Coast Greenway and Great American Rail-Trail. Work often involves land acquisition strategies compatible with practices by The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, and local land trusts such as the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Technical partnerships for habitat connectivity and ecosystem services referenced principles from the Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, and National Wildlife Federation.

Governance and Membership

The association is governed by a board drawn from trail experts and leaders affiliated with entities like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, American Hiking Society, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Committees include representation from state parks agencies, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and municipal park departments. Membership comprises volunteer trail clubs, outdoor industry partners including representatives from REI, Patagonia, and National Sporting Goods Association, and institutional members such as universities running land management programs. The organizational model resembles federated structures seen in the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, and The Nature Conservancy, balancing national coordination with local autonomy.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding streams combine philanthropic grants from foundations like the Walton Family Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Kresge Foundation, corporate sponsorships reflecting precedents set by The North Face and Patagonia, federal grants from the National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration, and private donations aligned with practices of the Land Trust Alliance and Trust for Public Land. Programmatic partnerships extend to the Student Conservation Association, AmeriCorps, and Conservation Corps programs, while technical collaborations involve the American Trails organization, International Mountain Bicycling Association, and professional societies such as the American Society of Landscape Architects. Project funding models mirror those used by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and state trail offices, combining capital campaigns, mitigation funds, and transportation alternative program grants.

Advocacy and Policy Initiatives

Advocacy efforts coordinate with coalitions such as Outdoor Alliance, American Hiking Society, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and Wilderness Society to influence legislation related to trails, public lands, and recreation access. The association has engaged policymakers in Congress, state legislatures, and agencies including the Department of the Interior and Department of Transportation on issues paralleling the National Trails System Act, Recreational Trails Program, and federal transportation reauthorization. Campaigns have aligned with stakeholder efforts from the Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, and Audubon Society on habitat protection, while working alongside municipal officials and metropolitan planning organizations to integrate trails into active transportation plans like Complete Streets initiatives. Policy work also involves collaborating with academic centers at institutions such as Colorado State University, University of Montana, and University of California system on research into trail impacts, visitor use, and sustainable design.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States