Celebrate National Trails Day
Robert DeckerNational Trails Day is held annually on the first Saturday in June — a day set aside to celebrate the trails that connect us to the outdoors, to each other, and to the wild places we love.
It’s a chance to show your love and support for discovering the great outdoors on foot, by bike, by paddle, or however you choose to explore. More importantly, it recognizes the incredible benefits that local, state, and federal trails provide for recreation, wellness, conservation, and access to nature.
Trails do more than take us from one place to another. They invite us to slow down, look closer, breathe deeper, and reconnect with the landscapes that make America’s public lands so extraordinary.
Across the United States, National Trails Day events help promote awareness of the wide variety of services our trail systems provide. The day encourages people of all ages to discover local trails, become active around trail issues, volunteer in their communities, and share their passion for the outdoors.
Trails Are for More Than Hiking
Hiking may be the first activity that comes to mind, but trails offer far more than a path through the woods. They connect people to rivers, lakes, overlooks, wildlife habitat, historic sites, campgrounds, scenic viewpoints, and quiet places that might otherwise be difficult to reach.
Ways People Use and Love Trails
- Hiking: From short nature walks to challenging backcountry routes.
- Kayaking and canoeing access: Trails often lead to waterways for paddle trips and shoreline exploration.
- Birdwatching: Trails help birders reach prime viewing areas and observe wildlife in natural habitats.
- Geocaching: Trail systems create a fun way to combine navigation, discovery, and outdoor adventure.
- Land navigation: Trails offer a practical way to learn maps, routes, terrain, and geolocation skills.
- Mountain biking: For many outdoor lovers, trails provide challenge, speed, scenery, and pure joy.
Each of these pursuits creates an opportunity to spend meaningful time in the great outdoors. Trails also support physical fitness, mental clarity, and a strong sense of connection to the natural world.
National Trails Day is also a perfect opportunity to thank the many park employees, rangers, volunteers, land agencies, trail crews, and community organizations who build, protect, and maintain these treasured places.
How to Participate in National Trails Day
You don’t have to plan a major expedition to celebrate. National Trails Day can be as simple as taking a walk in a nearby park, introducing a friend to a favorite trail, or spending a few minutes picking up litter along the way.
Simple Ways to Get Involved
- Act. Get involved with your local community by helping care for trails in your area and supporting a more inclusive outdoors.
- Connect. Show appreciation for the people and organizations that make our trail systems possible. Share your outdoor experiences on social media and tag #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking.
- Pledge. Join a nationwide trail service and advocacy movement by committing to care for trails throughout the year.
- Enjoy. Grab a friend or loved one and get outside. Try a new trail, revisit an old favorite, or introduce someone to the joy of spending time in nature.
- Practice good trail etiquette. Pack it in, pack it out. Stay on marked trails, respect wildlife, share the path, and leave no trace.
The best way to celebrate National Trails Day? Use the trails — and help protect them. Every walk, ride, paddle, cleanup, donation, or volunteer hour helps keep these outdoor spaces open, welcoming, and wild.
Make It a Day to Remember
Whether you head into a National Park, visit a nearby state park, walk a local greenway, ride a favorite mountain bike trail, or simply spend time outdoors with family and friends, National Trails Day is a reminder that adventure often begins with a single step.
Do you love the great outdoors? What will you do to celebrate National Trails Day?