Experiencing America’s Trails

The COVID-19 pandemic brought sharp focus to the importance of trails as shared public spaces in our communities. As of December 2021, an ongoing Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) poll found that 95% of people say they are getting outdoors as much as, or more than, they did prior to the pandemic, and 67% indicate that having access to outdoor spaces has reduced their stress.

The rising demand for trails and the enhanced appreciation for the value they bring to our lives has created new opportunities for people to engage with trails nationwide.

Over the course of the year, RTC provided a range of resources and trail user content—including Top 10 trail content for all 50 states—to help people find and enjoy these essential places. Through our Share the Trail campaign and #RecreateResponsibly initiative, implemented in partnership with the nation’s leading outdoor organizations, we educated America on how to be safe while active on trails, and encouraged local stewardship in trail communities across the country.

In FY 2021, we shared the transformative power of trails in all our public platforms—a message that resonated with our national audience, which included: 

• Nearly 32,000 new members
• 1,656,469 railstotrails.org visitors
• 404,000 TrailBlog visitors
• A 230,000+ social media community
• Nearly 400,000 eNews subscribers
• 123,000 Rails to Trails magazine subscribers

In FY 2021, rail-trails and multiuse trails received 35,000+ mentions in external media outlets. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was mentioned 2,700+ times, and our flagship cross-country initiative, the Great American Rail-Trail^®, received 600+ mentions.

Our Trail Moments initiative lifts up the voices and experiences of diverse trail users across the country, centering on real people and their stories of how trails add value to their lives. Since its September 2020 launch, more than 2,000 people have shared their stories in English and in Spanish, and more than 50,000 people have connected with us to share how trails bring value to their lives. The campaign has more than 5 million people in 30+ states.

“It can be easier to make healthy choices when communities create safe, convenient and equitable places for physical activity such as trails.”

—Ken Rose, Chief, Physical Activity and Health Branch, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, CDC

“When you look at vibrant communities, one thing in common—the common denominator—is outdoor amenities. People want to work where they want to live. Trails were that X-factor.”

—Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb

“The Raccoon River Valley Trail is now a major economic force for West Central Iowa. It connects Des Moines, the largest city in Iowa and the state capital, to some of the richest, most productive farmland in America.”

—Chuck Offenburger, Former Raccoon River Valley Trail Association Board Member