National Trails Day® is Coming Up

The American Hiking Society sponsors National Trails Day® annually. This year, the designated day is Saturday, June 7. It is a chance not just to get outdoors but also to connect with our community and give back to the trails we love. AHS wants to empower everyone to become trail stewards on any trail, anywhere.

They encourage trail stewardship, something we should all give some thought to. According to their website: 

"Being a trail steward means enjoying, sharing, preserving, and respecting the trails and outdoor spaces we all enjoy. While responsibly recreating on trails is essential, being a trail steward involves more than that — it's about ensuring they remain welcoming, accessible, and well-maintained for everyone now and in the future.

Trail stewards:

• Appreciate the outdoors and enjoy them responsibly: Admire the trails' beauty while respecting their natural and cultural significance.
• Leave trails better than they found them: Participate in clean-ups, volunteer for trail maintenance projects, and,, when you head to the trails, ensure you pack out all of your waste.
• Promote community: Ensure the outdoors and trails are welcoming for all to enjoy, and work to foster a sense of belonging and connection.
• Advocate for trails: Use your voice to speak out for public lands, trail funding, and trail preservation. These efforts help ensure these spaces are preserved and accessible for future generations.
• Share the space: Be considerate of all trail users — whether hikers, bikers, equestrians, etc., and wildlife, too, of course!

Being a trail steward is a way to give back to the trails we love to explore, ensuring they remain a source of joy, connection, and adventure for everyone."

So don't just get out on the trails that day - take a trash bag and pick up litter, resolve to volunteer with a city, county or state park to help them with trail work and invasives removal and be a great advocate for making sure everyone can access trails.

See you on the trails!