CELEBRATE TRAILS DAY
Celebrate Trails Day on the fourth Saturday in April encourages the nation to get out and enjoy the country’s outstanding trail systems.
As the weather warms up, so does the trail season. While many people use them all year long, America’s trail system gets its real workout between April and October when the weather is ripe for outdoor activity. The number of established trails grows every year. Some take the form of well-defined foot or bike routes while others take us onto a beaten path. No matter what kind of path you choose to take, the day encourages you to appreciate the thousands of miles of trails and to bring a friend with you, too!
While it’s true trails offer us access to the great outdoors, they also offer so much more! Trails are historic places that tell the stories of our ancestors and our country. They offer a glimpse of what life was like 100, 200, and sometimes thousands of years ago. They retrace the footsteps of Indigenous people and European explorers. Trails offer the opportunity for discovery while also encouraging us to slow down.
From coast to coast and border to border, a vast trail system awaits! Take a look around. You never know what you might find.
HOW TO OBSERVE #CelebrateTrailsDay
- Take a hike on your favorite trail.
- Volunteer to help maintain local trails.
- Discover new trails.
- Create a trail bucket list.
- Introduce friends and families to trails near you.
- Take a photo while you’re out and post it on social media.
- Commit to visiting your local trails more often.
- Use #CelebrateTrailsDay to join the conversation.
CELEBRATE TRAILS DAY HISTORY
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) founded Opening Day for Trails in 2013 to celebrate the nation’s trail systems and to encourage everyone to get out and use them. The name was later changed to Celebrate Trails Day.
Trails FAQ
Q. What is the oldest trail in the United States?
A. According to the USDA and Forest Service, the oldest continuously used and maintained trail in the United States is the Crawford Path in New Hampshire.
Q. What is the longest trail in the United States?
A. The longest trail in the United States is actually two trails. American Discovery Trail begins in Delaware and ends in California. Great Western Loop in the western U.S. crosses 9 states. Both trails tally 6,800 miles.
