Celebrate Trails Day

Trails bring transformative benefits to communities and individuals in the form of physical health, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

Celebrate Trails Day is an initiative that invites everyone across the nation to enjoy existing trails while making an investment in the future of more trails!

History of Celebrate Trails Day

Celebrate Trails Day was started in 2013 through the work of the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC), which is an organization dedicated to turning unused and abandoned railroad tracks into shared trails that can be used for walking, biking, hiking, and more.

Taking place in late April as the weather warms in the northern hemisphere, Celebrate Trails Day is a great time to get outside with family and friends to enjoy some fun, or gather as a community to advocate for the growth of trail networks across the nation.

How to Observe and Celebrate Trails Day

Celebrate Trails Day comes with all sorts of opportunities and invitations to get involved, whether through some events organized by Rails to Trails Conservancy or other ways. Consider some of these ideas for participating:

Get Out On Those Trails!

First and foremost, the thing to do on Celebrate Trails Day is to get out on the trails. Whether this means getting an hour in after work or spending a whole weekend out in the wild, this day acts as a siren call to spend some much needed time in nature!

Remember Important Tips for Trail Season

Whether enjoying trails in the winter with snowshoes or all summer long, guidelines are important for understanding how to share the trail.

While each state government will have their own specific guidelines for sharing trails, some general rules apply.

Check out some of these Pro Tips for enjoying, appreciating and navigating public trails:

• Keep to the right and pass on the left, just like when driving
• Move aside when standing still to stretch or rest
• Stay alert for situations such as cyclists passing or a gaggle of geese
• Practice safety by being conscientious, picking up litter, leaving nature to itself and using safe speeds on the trail

Learn Fun Facts About Rails to Trails

One exciting part of Celebrate Trails Day is the opportunity to get more connected with the projects across the nation that are reclaiming old railways and other spaces that can be turned into spaces for activity and adventure.

Check out some of these statistics from the Rails to Trails organization:

• The United States boasts more than 41,000 miles of multi-use trails throughout the country
• More than 150 networks of trails are currently under development or have been recently finished
• 97% of people who use them report that trails make a positive impact on their physical and mental health

Other events at Days of the Year that encourage participation with nature and trails all throughout the calendar year include National Trails Day in early June, National Mountain Climbing Day on August 1, and National Take a Hike Day on November 17.