The Impact of Celebrate Trails Day 2025
“Any day on the trail is a good day.”
That sentiment rings true for millions of Americans—and comes to life on Celebrate Trails Day. That’s what makes the fourth Saturday in April each year so special. Across the country, Rails to Trails Conservancy invites people to get out on a trail to show off all of the incredible ways that trails make our lives better. From creating space for community, to motivating us to move our bodies, connect with nature and support our local economies, trails are a bright spot and Celebrate Trails Day is an opportunity to leverage all of that good to build more support to create, connect and maintain trails nationwide.
“To me, being able to get out on trails close to where I live and when I’m going on a longer adventure is important because it provides me a sanctuary for decompression,“ said Erick Cedeño, @bicycle_nomad. “On these protected paths, I can lower my defenses and feel truly safe, allowing me to remain present, relax completely, and clear my mind. This mental reset ensures I return home more centered and emotionally available for my family.”
More Than a Day Outside
This year, Celebrate Trails Day fell on Saturday, April 26, and it was so much more than a day outside. It was a day of joy, impact and action—and it was extraordinary.
More than 33,000 people showed up on trails across the country, engaging in self-planned trail outings and the more than 275 celebrations that took place illustrating the countless ways that communities value and engage with these spaces, including trail cleanups, groups rides and hikes, community festivals, runs, fun activities and other events planned by hundreds of organizations across the country. Rain or shine, these celebrations highlighted the nation’s 42,000 miles of multiuse trails and their essential role in American life, from being safe routes for getting around to being spaces to focus on wellness. When asked through a survey conducted by RTC of people’s participation in Celebrate Trails Day, 93% of respondents reported that they rely on trails for health and exercise in their day-to-day lives, and 97% agreed that using trails makes a difference for their mental health and well-being.
“For years, we’ve used our local greenway for everything from school commutes to family rides and outdoor adventures,” said Zenovia Stephens @blackadventurecrew. “Watching our boys grow up on this trail, making new connections, memories, and milestones has been such a gift.”
Celebrate Trails Day illustrated the invaluable ways that trails make our lives, and the places where we live, work and play better, creating a moment to demonstrate the widespread demand that exists for these spaces, while advocating to create and connect more spaces to safely walk, ride and get outside in more places. Currently, at least half of Americans live in a county that is home to one of the country’s 150 developing trail networks. In many places, Celebrate Trails Day was leveraged to uplift the incredible potential of linking neighborhoods to regions, states to states, and ultimately the country, by trails. For example, in RTC’s TrailNation™ projects, events along the route of the cross-country Great American Rail-Trail®, the Circuit Trails network in the Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region, and the Baltimore Greenway Trails Network made the case for closing gaps that would build more safe and convenient walking and biking routes across the country—for regional mobility and quality of life, and as drivers of entrepreneurship, investment and competitive advantage.
Dozens of elected officials also joined the celebration by attending events, providing an opportunity for them and their constituents to connect on trails, share stories and create memories, and experience together the difference that even one day on the trail can make. In some communities, the moment was leveraged to mark incredible progress made possible by passionate and dedicated people, committed to bringing their trail to life.
“Until last year, I had never heard of the Lincoln Bridge or been to that location. In Jefferson County, we take a lot of our scenic beauty, history, and landmarks for granted. The amount of work done in 12 months to get this trail open is a true testament to Aaron Dodds and his team. I still can’t believe we have something so nice in Jefferson County. It’s proof that we can get things done. I feel, at times, people look for reasons we can’t do a project instead of looking for creative solutions. This shows what perseverance and hard work can accomplish. It’s also nice to do our part and be a piece of the puzzle that will someday be the entirety of the Great American Rail-Trail. It’s a good time to live in Jefferson County, Ohio,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons.
The Impact of the Celebration—What Happens When We Activate Trails
2025 By The Numbers:
“Trails bring people together and recognize the importance of not only exercise, but the culture and history of a location.”
—2025 Participant, Abingdon, MD
Direct Impact:
Ways People Rely on Trails:
“The people I see on trails are always smiling. They are my happy place.”
—2025 Participant, Shreve, OH
While the impact of trails can be felt in myriad ways, mounting evidence shows that the combination of trail access and activities that encourage participation and build community awareness are essential to maximizing the impact of trails and trail networks. For example, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends park, trail, and greenway infrastructure interventions combined with additional interventions, such as structured programs or community awareness, to increase physical activity.
And Celebrate Trails Day proves that point! This year, people who took part in Celebrate Trails Day spent an estimated 3.4 million minutes total being active outside, with participants reporting an average of 104 minutes on the day—that’s 28% more time than their typical day and more than two-thirds of the CDC’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
One person who took part in Celebrate Trails Day shared that “trails are an easy, convenient, safe way for me to get some exercise, stay in tune with nature, get away, relax and have fun.”
In addition to the health and wellness benefits, this annual day also contributed to the economy. On average, people reported spending $41 at businesses on Celebrate Trails Day or in preparation for the celebration, totaling an estimated $1.3 million in spending tied to the day, illustrating the meaningful contributions that trails make to the economy. Annually, trails and active transportation generate more than $34 billion in economic activity.
Another Celebrate Trails Day participant shared they celebrated “on the Lewes to Georgetown [trail] in Delaware with friends biking. We stopped at two local businesses, which are patronized by a lot of walkers/bikers and it was a beautiful spring outing.”
We loved seeing all of your moments on the trail from the celebration, and we hope you will continue to have more adventures and more good days on the trail.
This year, several supporting organizations helped make the 2025 celebration one of the most impactful yet, including: Athletic Brewing Company, the premier sponsor of the celebration; Bob’s Red Mill; Brompton; Catrike; Earth Day Initiative; Green Sports Alliance; HBCUs Outside; iHeart Media; Latino Outdoors; Mirrycle; NEMO Equipment; Patagonia Old Town; Po Campo; REI Co-op; Saris; and Sportsbackers. Their support, and the participation of tens of thousands of people from coast to coast, put a spotlight on the power of trails to improve our everyday lives.
Mark your calendars for April 25, 2026, and in the meantime, use TrailLink, RTC’s trail guide website and app, to keep exploring and celebrating trails near you and nationwide.
2025 Sponsors
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Celebrate Trails Day
Hosted on the fourth Saturday of April, Celebrate Trails Day is an annual spring celebration of America’s trails. Started by Rails to Trails Conservancy in 2013, the celebration encourages people all across the country to get outside and enjoy the nation’s exceptional trails and trail systems.
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Everyone deserves access to safe ways to walk, bike, and be active outdoors.