WHAT'S HOT 

FHWA Environmental Excellence Awards include trails ~ 

The Environmental Excellence Awards recognize outstanding transportation projects, processes, and people who incorporate environmental stewardship into work done with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding sources. September 30 is the deadline for nominations. Any organization, agency, group, or individual in the public, private, or non-profit sectors may submit a nomination for the 2015 Awards program. Read more... 

Recorded Webinar: Horses and Trails - How to Be Successful with Both!

American Trails presents this Webinar on top-notch trails and facilities for equestrians. This webinar is presented by Jan Hancock, Principal, Hancock Resources LLC and American Trails Board Member. Jan is the primary author of the book "Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds." She will teach you the elements to success in planning, designing, and building trails and related recreational facilities that function successfully for horseback riders and their animals.  Purchase the recorded webinar here... 

National Recreation Trail applications due November 1

Is your trail a good candidate for National Recreation Trail designation? Applications for NRT designation are being taken this fall. For trails on local, state, and private lands, and on federal lands (except National Forests and Grasslands), the deadline is November 1. Read about the process for nominating a trail for NRT designation... 

 NEWS

NY trail bridge will have a 21-story elevator

A former railroad bridge completed in 1889, Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is visited by over 700,000 people a year. A 21-story elevator is expected to boost tourism by providing better access to the Poughkeepsie train station as well as provide easier access for persons with disabilities to the park near the center of the bridge. Read more and see photos...

Why the FAA is paying for new hiking trails in Juneau

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust plans to donate about 128 acres of land to the City and Borough of Juneau this fall for preservation and natural recreation. The deal is technically an airport project-most of the money the land trust used to get the land in the first place traces back to the Federal Aviation Administration. Read more and see photos...

Lighting and patrols reduce trail trouble in Minneapolis

The StarTribune reports on efforts to make an important cross-town bikeway safer after some troubling incidents of criminals preying on trail users. The Hiawatha LRT Trail is likely to have new lights by the end of the year, six years after a series of robberies on the Minneapolis bike trail and the connecting Midtown Greenway. The violence prompted the creation of a Trail Watch Patrol, which continues to monitor the trails. Read more and see photos...

Jeff Olson honored with APBP Lifetime Achievement Award

Jeff Olson, a leader in the active transportation movement for more than 30 years, has been given the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals' top honor: the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. Click here to read more about Jeff's long term success in the transportation industry...

Featured RTP-funded trail: Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area: the birth of a trail project

Study cites health benefits of Urban River Parkways

Urban River Parkways: An Essential Tool for Public Health, by UCLA's Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, suggests that investing in bikeways and greenways can reduce the health costs of physical inactivity in our cities. The report notes that urban river parkways can improve physical, mental, and community health, and that they are particularly important in offering opportunities for "green exercise"- physical activity in the presence of nature." Read more and see photos...

Featured National Recreation Trail: Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Trail

The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Water Trail includes the Lower Fox, Upper Fox, and Lower Wisconsin rivers. It slices diagonally across the state for 280 miles from Green Bay in the northeast to the Mississippi River in the southwest. Local organizations are promoting biking and walking trails adjacent to the water trail. Recent studies highlight the economic significance of tourism related to the heritage, culture, and outdoor recreation of the river trail corridor. Read more and see photos...

Best Practices: trail safety and crime prevention features

Anticipating potential safety concerns for users is an important aspect of trail management. While trails have proven to be generally extremely safe recreational facilities, as with any public place they are subject to the possibilities of criminal activity. Some of the techniques used to help ensure the safety of trail users are: emergency call boxes, numbered trail markers to assist 911 responders, video cameras, trail patrols, and warning signs. See commentary and gallery of photos from American Trails "Cool Trail Solutions" webpage...

American Trails hosts the next International Trails Symposium in Portland May 17-20, 2015.

The Symposium addresses every aspect of trails, greenways, and blueways. Learn from dozens of educational sessions and mobile workshops and network with experts and enthusiasts from across the globe. The theme for this year's Symposium is "Solutions for Success."

Thank you to our local host and major partner, Metro, and to our other partners,  The Intertwine Alliance, MIG, Inc., Northwest Youth Corps, and the Professional TrailBuilders Association, as well as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service,  US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the USDA Forest Service.

National and International Trails Award nomination forms available

American Trails presents the National and International Trails Awards Program to recognize organizations, agencies, businesses, and individual leaders who are working to create trails around the world. Nominations for the various categories of awards are now available, with the winners to be announced at the 22nd American Trails International Trails Symposium in Portland, Oregon in 2015. Three new awards for international trails will be featured. The deadline for submitting nominations is September 30, 2014. Read more and download the 2015 award nomination forms...  

FEATURING the Professional TrailBuilders Association Sustainable Trails Workshops and Outdoor Trade Show 

The Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA) and the American Trails International Trails Symposium (AT ITS) are proud to announce an exciting new partnership program -- the Sustainable Trails Workshop Series and "Legacy Trail." Through this program, and in conjunction with the International Trails Symposium, PTBA will offer a series of hands-on workshops focusing on the important skills and techniques involved in the sustainable design, planning, construction, and maintenance of trails for all types of users in all types of environments. This series of workshops will result in a local segment of sustainably and professionally built trail being left behind as a legacy of the AT ITS and the PTBA Sustainable Trails Workshop.

PTBA will also provide an Outdoor Demonstration Area and Trade Show as the kick-off to the Symposium on Sunday, May 17. This is the only trade show in the nation dedicated to trailbuilders and trailbuilding tools, technology, and techniques. The outdoor demonstration area will have dirt, terrain, rocks, logs, and brush for equipment demonstrations. 

Learn more about this exciting new partnership and download the Sponsorship & Exhibitor Packet... 

Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities

The Sponsorship & Exhibitor Packet is now available! Exhibitors get to choose their booth location in the order they send in their contract and payment (some exceptions apply). If you are interested in more recognition, we have larger sponsorship levels available with some excellent benefits to boost promotion for your organization. Download the Sponsorship & Exhibitor Packet now...

Thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors to date:

• Alta Planning + Design 
• American Conservation Experience 
• Back Country Horsemen of America
• BCS America LLC
• Beneficial Designs, Inc.
• Berntsen International, Inc.
• BioSpan Technologies, Inc. 
• Bureau of Land Management 
• Canycom USA, Inc. 
• Chehalem Park and Recreation District
• Composite Advantage 
• David Evans and Associates, Inc.
• Diamond Pier 
• E.T. Techtonics, Inc.
• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance 
• Forest Park Conservancy 
• GameTime 
• GatorBridge™ and GatorDock™ 
• Metro 
• MIG, Inc.
• National Park Service 
• Northwest Youth Corps 
• Okanogan Trail Construction
• Otak, Inc.
• PBS Engineering + Environmental 
• Pioneer Bridges 
• PlayCore 
• Professional TrailBuilders Association 
• Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau 
• Rhino Marking and Protection Systems
• Terrabilt, Inc. 
• The Acorn Group
• The Greater Dayton Ohio Region 
• The Intertwine Alliance 
• Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust
• Tour-Mate Systems
• Trail Insight 
• Travel Oregon
• Travel Portland 
• US Fish and Wildlife Service 
• USDA Forest Service 
• Washington County Visitors Association
• Western Wood Structures 
• Wheeler  
• Zeager Bros, Inc.

Learn more about the upcoming and past Symposiums...

Contact Candace Mitchell, Sponsor & Exhibitor Coordinator, if you have any questions at candace@americantrails.org. 

The Intertwine Alliance - offers a comprehensive trails guide to Portland

170 of the best trails to enjoy Seoul's summer

Swiss Hiking Federation showcases spectacular trails

Swiss Hiking Federation is the umbrella organization of 26 hiking associations in Switzerland. The Swiss trail system is also coordinated with railroad, bus, and boat transportation. Photos, trail descriptions, and maps are included for local, regional, and national routes. A category of "obstacle-free routes" is also highlighted. Read more and see photos...

New high level Loch Ness trail opens in Scotland

A spectacular new high level section of the iconic Great Glen Way, one of Scotland's great trails, has been officially opened. The 17km section of the newly-completed high level alternative trail moved the path above the tree line, taking walkers away from tree felling areas. The £1 million project, managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, opens up stunning views to the north and south of Loch Ness as far as Ben Nevis on a clear day. Read more and see photos...

International Conference on Walking & Liveable Communities

October 21-23, 2014 is the date for the International Conference on Walking & Liveable Communities in Sydney, Australia. The conference brings together experts in the field of walking promotion, research, policy, planning, and delivery. It is an opportunity to learn from international experience and to showcase local challenges and solutions. Read more...

Learn more in 2014 with American Trails Advancing Trails Webinar Series

American Trails continues the dynamic online Advancing Trails Webinar Series to help trail planners, supporters, and managers learn about focused topics of special interest. Our webinars are eligible for CEUs through the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS), an authorized independent CEU provider through IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training). Our 75 minute webinars are worth 0.10 CEUs and are available for an additional $20 fee. 

Check out the upcoming American Trails webinar for 2014 (details and how to register coming soon): 

• DECEMBER 11, 2014: Towards a Mountain Trail Sustainability Ethic ~ Part 3 of 3 (presented by Hugh Duffy, National Park Service) DETAILS COMING SOON!

Read more and see current Advancing Trails Webinar Series schedule...  

Protected bike lanes encourage active transportation

As cities move to increase levels of bicycling for transportation, many practitioners and advocates have promoted the use of protected bicycle lanes (also known as "cycle tracks" or "protected bikeways") as an important component of the infrastructure for cyclists. Lessons from the Green Lanes: Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes, from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities, finds "consistent evidence that the protected facilities improved the perception of safety for people on bicycles." Read more and download the full study...

Resources on Mountain Trail Sustainability available from American Trails

Resources and the recorded webinar on "Sustainable Mountain Trails ~ Part 2 of 3" are available on the American Trails website. The webinar features experience at Rocky Mountain National Park including repair and rehabilitation of storm-damaged trails. Presenters are from the National Park Service, with long experience in designing and managing trails in challenging terrain. Read more and access the webinar... 

Late summer trails training and educational opportunities  

Here are some of the trail-related training opportunities coming up this summer. See the Online Trails Training Calendar for details... 

September 29-30 - St. Cloud, MN

* Minnesota State Water Trails Tourism Summit

October 7-8 - Dubuque, IA

* Making Sustainability a Community-Wide Priority

October 14-16, 2014 - Charlotte, NC

* National Recreation & Park Association

October 16-18 - Bellingham, WA

* Washington State Trails Conference

October 16-17 - Greenfield, NH

* Sustainable Trails for All Conference

October 18-19 - Greenfield, NH

* Trail Construction for Universal Access Workshop

October 21 - Online Webinar hosted by: Advocacy Advance

* Webinar: MAP-21 2.0

October 23-24 - Washington, DC

* National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation

November 8 - Leominster, MA

* Massachusetts Trails Conference

Contact us with your scheduled training opportunities at nttp@americantrails.org.

Join American Trails and receive a gift of an 18-ounce Klean Kanteen water bottle!

American Trails is excited to announce a new co-brand partnership with Klean Kanteen! Members who join at the Trail Professional level or higher will receive a gift of an 18-ounce stainless steel Klean Kanteen commemorative water bottle celebrating American Trails 25 year anniversary!

Water bottles are also available for purchase in our Online Store.  

Klean Kanteen introduced the first hydration bottle made from stainless steel to give people a safe and healthy alternative to plastic. Their mission, like American Trails, promotes sustainability and healthy lifestyles for everyone. You can learn more about them at www.kleankanteen.org.

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Working together - works! There is strength in numbers!

For over 25 years, American Trails has been a collective voice for a diverse coalition of enthusiasts, professionals, advocates, land managers, conservationists, and friends of the outdoors and livable cities. American Trails strives to enrich the quality of life for all people and the sustainable development of communities by advancing and promoting the development, preservation, and enjoyment of diverse, high quality trails and greenways. We envision a network of trails within 15 minutes of every home, school, and workplace.  

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 

• Learn more about the International Trails Symposium ~ May 17-20, 2015 in Portland, Oregon

• Find products and services for trails in our Online Business Directory.  

• Visit our Blog.  

• Join us on Facebook and Twitter! 

• Learn about and find National Recreation Trails (NRT) near you today! 
• I'm a Pathways for Play advocate. Ask me why. 
• The Online Trails Training Calendar connects you with courses, conferences, and trail-related training.
• Purchase books, maps, memberships, and webinars through the American Trails Online Store.
• Need Trails Training? Visit www.TrailsTraining.net. 
• Cool Trail Solutions: view galleries of trail projects, enhancements, and facilities to give you ideas and see how others solved typical trails and greenways problems.
• If you appreciate the myriad of resources we provide on our website to help you do your work better, please help support American Trails ~ by making a tax-deductible donation today.  
• American Trails - maintains one of the World's most comprehensive online go-to sources for planning, designing, building, funding, managing, enhancing, and supporting trails, greenways, and blueways at www.AmericanTrails.org.

Send news and calendar items to trailhead@americantrails.org.

Advertising Opportunities:

American Trails offers cost-effective advertising opportunities for our Trail Tracks e-Newsletter, the American Trails Magazine, in our Business Directory, and on our website! Find out more here.  

Header photo: Emerald Bay State Park Trail overlooks Lake Tahoe, California; photo by Stuart Macdonald