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Saving Trails Since 1988
June 2017 "Trail Tracks" eNewsletter
What's Hot

2018 budget proposes cuts to Federal trail programs

The proposed budget for management and maintenance of trails on federal lands "fails to provide for even the most basic necessities needed to maintain and manage these critical recreation resources" according to outdoor recreation advocates. A sign-on letter was crafted in partnership with American Hiking Society, American Trails, Backcountry Horsemen of America, and the Partnership for the National Trails System and will be provided to the appropriators and other members of Congress. Read more and download the letter...

American Trails has released a searchable map of all of the National Recreation Trails


National Recreation Trails (NRTs) provide for numerous outdoor recreation activities in a variety of urban, rural, and remote areas. With over 1,200 trails in all 50 states, there is an amazing recreation experience within easy reach of everyone. Find your trail on this new searchable map. Find your National Recreation Trail here...

July 20 Webinar: Getting to “yes” on community trails


The next American Trails Webinar will be held July 20. A group of experts will present "Getting to “Yes” on Greenway Trails in Your Community" to explore the social barriers to community support for trails. We will look at issues that cannot easily be engineered away and discuss ways to address fears about crime, loss of privacy, noise, and impact on property values. Read more and register for the webinar...

2017 awards for Recreational Trails Program - funded projects


Winners of the 2017 Tom Petri Annual Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program were recognized in Washington, DC on June 14, by the Coalition for Recreation Trails. The awards are part of annual efforts by national trails and outdoor recreation organizations to promote the importance of RTP funding to States across America. Read more and see photos...
Features
Kumano Kodo: a trek where the gods live


Bob Searns writes about his adventure on the Kumano Kodo - a thousand-year-old network of trails in Japan not far from Osaka. This trail network, along with Spain’s Camino de Santiago, is one of two UNESCO World Heritage Trail Sites. Read more and see photos...
A link to history on the Great Shasta Rail Trail


The Great Shasta Rail Trail is planned to traverse 80 miles of the natural and human history of the west. The town of McCloud, CA, at the western end of the trail, sits on the southern flank of Mount Shasta, an isolated volcanic peak rising 14,162 feet. The "Trail Concept Plan" includes maps and details of trail planning. Read more and see photos...
Draper City Volunteers are essential to trail management


In 2004 the residents of Draper, UT passed a bond issue which doubled the city's open space and enabled the trail system to expand to 60 miles. As public interest in trails has expanded the Draper Trails Volunteers has developed into several hundred volunteers whose efforts encompass trail construction, trail promotion, and trail watch. Read more and see more resources…
Featured National Recreation Trail: Rivergreenway, Indiana


This 23-mile linear park links the cities of Fort Wayne and New Haven in Allen County, IN along the banks of the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers. The continued development of the Rivergreenway network has been made possible through the grassroots efforts of several greenway advocacy groups. Read more and see photos...
Featured Trail Industry Manufacturer: Reliance Foundry Co. Ltd.
   
Reliance Foundry is a leading supplier of architectural site furnishings that assist in trail delineation, access restriction, and pathway lighting. Products include a range of changing access bollards, solar-powered lighting bollards, and landscaping bollards that can all be used to enhance trails and pathways. Reliance Foundry also provides options for secure bike parking. Customers can choose from a wide selection of styles and materials to find something that will be aesthetically pleasing and durable in any weather conditions. Learn more about Reliance Foundry in the American Trails Online Business Directory…

News
Are New Hampshire’s hiking trails too hard?


David Brooks of the Concord Monitor looks at the rugged trails of New England and asks whether they are "a disgrace" or a robust tradition. He compiles opinions from trail experts around the country in his recent article. Read more and see photos...



Taking care of trails keeps the natural world accessible


To honor National Trails Day and to get trails ready for the summer season the Seattle Parks Department sent teams out to restore trails and keep them walkable. The volunteers were through Washington Trails Association, which partners with Seattle Parks to maintain the 100 or so miles within the city. Read more and see photos...



How a trail brought nature into Chicago's concrete jungle


The Bloomingdale Trail can be considered one of the most innovative trails in the country, if not the world. It’s successful at being so many different things for so many people: a public art gallery, a garden, a bike-commuting artery, a running track, a place where kids can play away from the dangers of traffic. Read more and see photos…



Creating a 200-mile loop trail in the Columbia River Gorge


In the not too distant future, visitors to the Columbia River Gorge will be able to hike all or part of a 200-mile loop. It's called Towns to Trails. "At the end of each day’s hike, rather than heading home, you’re rewarded with great local food, wine or hand-crafted beer, and a night’s rest at a comfy bed and breakfast, lodge, or hotel." Read more and see photos...
International News

Canoe and bike trails link Sault Ste. Marie to the rest of Canada


The Sault’s Hub Trail bike system is now also part of a bike route between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, which itself is part of a larger Great Lakes trail system that now, after the completion of a water route between the Sault and Thunder Bay, is linked to up to a 24,000 km trail that goes across Canada. Read more and see photos...



Jordan Trail: a trek through ancient villages and wild wadis


CNN Travel calls the 650-km Jordan Trail one of the New 7 Wonders of the World as it winds through "10,000 years of history, covering Neolithic ruins, Biblical sites, russet landscapes that wouldn't look out of place on Mars." The trail takes about 40 days to complete, starting at the northern tip of Jordan in the city of Umm Qais and ending in Aqaba in the south. Read more and see photos...



Bank donates $100,000 to the building of the Okanagan Rail Trail


KelownaNow of British Columbia writes that TD Bank Group is one of several large donors who are helping four agencies with the project. The 50-km trail is expected to receive 500,000 visitors annually. Read more and see photos...
TRAINING & RESOURCES

Erosion control during trail maintenance and construction


New Hampshire's Bureau of Trails published a guide to reducing Impacts to wetlands, rivers, and stream areas. A variety of techniques are detailed in "Best Management Practices For Erosion Control During Trail Maintenance and Construction." Download 33-page manual (pdf 413 kb)…



Best Practices: Accessibility guide for Yosemite visitors


Yosemite National Park has a good example of a guide for visitors looking for information on accessibility. This guide outlines a variety of accessible services, facilities, and activities available in the park and nearby public lands. Within each area, it describes ways for people with sight, hearing, and mobility impairments to enjoy the area. Download 28-page guide (1.9 mb)…



Encouraging good interactions on shared use trails


Many organizations provide publications as well as signs to encourage good interactions on shared use trails. Some examples available as pdfs are "Guidelines and Etiquette for Shared-Use Trails" from Santa Clara Co.; "Trail Use Etiquette" from Pennsylvania DCNR; and "Trail User Group Conflicts and Risk Management" from British Columbia. See more resources on Shared Use Trail Etiquette...



A classification system for trails and recreation corridors 


The Province of Alberta studied ways to document how to provide for a diversity of experiences for trail users. A system is proposed to identify Trail Conditions, Levels Of Experience, and Type Of Activity. The trail setting is also described as Primitive, Semi-developed, or Developed. Snow and water routes, and both motorized and nonmotorized trails are included in the "Recreation Corridor and Trails Classification." Download 54-page study (pdf 3.8 mb)...



Summer 2017 trail training opportunities


Current training opportunities for trail skills across the country. See the Online Trails Training Calendar for details…


June 26-29, 2017 — Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals seminar

June 28-30, 2017 — PeopleForBikes PlacesforBikes Conference

 

July 8-10, 2017 — National Equestrian Trails Conference

July 12-13, 2017 — Integrating Bike-Ped Topics into University Transportation Courses

July 14-16, 2017 — COHVCO Great Trails Training Workshop

July 20, 2017 — American Trails Webinar: "Getting to “Yes” on the Idea of a Trail or Greenway in Your Community"

July 21-23, 2017 — Tahoe Trail Skills College

July 22, 2017 — Advanced Trail Skills- Rock Skills

July 23-26, 2017 — Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation Annual Meeting

July 27-29, 2017 — North Country Trail Alliance Celebration

July 31 - Aug. 4, 2017 — Comprehensive Bikeway Design 2.0


Contact us with your scheduled training opportunities at nttp@americantrails.org.
JOIN THE AMERICAN TRAILS NETWORK

Working together - works! There is strength in numbers! 


For over 28 years, American Trails has been a collective voice for a diverse coalition of enthusiasts, professionals, advocates, builders, land managers, conservationists, and friends of the outdoors and livable cities.  


American Trails will continue to keep you informed on both trail know-how and issues critical to the future of trails. With your help, we can increase funding for trails, keep more trails open, and improve the health and well-being of Americans of all ages and abilities, including our children. 


American Trails is a tax-exempt, nonprofit charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible.


QUICK LINKS


Trail Tracks is our monthly e-Newsletter with links to  www.AmericanTrails.org one of the world's most comprehensive online resources for planning, designing, building, funding, managing, and enhancing trails, greenways, and blueways. We also bring you news from the halls of Congress, new studies and resources, interesting articles, events, training opportunities, and the latest in trail products and services. Check out the topics above for what's new in the trails world!