TrailLink™

Wissahickon Valley Park Trail System in Pennsylvania | Photo by TrailLink user popsknox

Connecting a Nation to Trails During the Pandemic

Trails and other outdoor spaces saw major spikes in usage across the country in 2020, as individuals and families looked to these vital assets for daily physical activity and mental respite in the wake of COVID-19.

In FY 2020, RTC’s national trail-finder website, TrailLink.com, played a lead role in connecting Americans to close-to-home trails across the United States—with a record 10.5 million users, a 45% increase compared with FY 2019, in pursuit of safe and meaningful outdoor experiences. Since 2009, TrailLink has received more than 400 million page views and 65 million App views, demonstrating its impact in bringing people to America’s trails.

40,000+ miles of multiuse trails in America

TrailLink’s Reach Across America

A flagship program of RTC, TrailLink.com is the nation’s foremost trail-finder website, with a current catalogue of trails collectively spanning more than 40,000 miles. Through its extensive offerings, accessible online and through TrailLink’s mobile apps—RTC has connected tens of millions of people to trails since 2009, with interactive maps, descriptions, directions, and user-submitted reviews, ratings and photos.

Connecting Even More People to Trails

“I am a beginner to trails! And I appreciate the app for giving me information and helping me feel more confident in my journey!"

—TrailLink user NoOtherNickNameAvailible

“Just found this app and I’m so excited. I had no idea so many bike paths were so close to me!"

In 2020, RTC released its new Android mobile app for trail users on the go! In addition to offering all the functionality of TrailLink.com, the apps are designed to show the specific location of the trail user while on the trail, as well as the locations of other critical waypoints—including restrooms, business areas, water and parking.

The new Android app, along with TrailLink’s iOS mobile app, helped connect a record 750,000 people to safe and convenient trail experiences in FY 2020.