National Trails Workshop
The National Trails Workshop is an annual event where trail professionals and emerging leaders within the trails community come together for three days of learning, collaboration and networking. This event welcomes trail professionals, advocates, and volunteers; Federal employees whose work involves the National Trails System; emerging leaders, students, and young professionals looking to network and learn more about trails; and, others that wish to learn more about workshop topics such as state and local government, recreation, preservation, tourism, and conservation professionals.
Beloved natural and cultural landscapes across America are under threat from daunting pressures such as climate change, sprawling development and increased user demand. National Trails are not immune to these problems, but they provide a unique opportunity to explore solutions. The National Trails community is committed to uniting ourselves to advocate for our trails, learn best practices from each other, advance technology and knowledge in our field and move forward together to protect, improve and promote these valuable resources.
Previous Workshops
2024 National Trails Workshop — November 17–21, 2024 — Tucson, Arizona
2023 National Trails Workshop — November 7–9, 2023 — Orlando, Florida
2022 National Trails Workshop — November 2-4, 2022 — Albuquerque, New Mexico
2021 Virtual National Trails Workshop — November 1–4, 2021
National Trails Virtual Workshop — October 21–29, 2020
Biennial National Historic Trails Workshop
At this biennial gathering of National Historic Trails advocates, volunteers and professionals, the workshop hones in on the issues that face the Historic Trails as they move towards completion. Interpretation, preservation of key historic sites, protection indigenous landscapes and acquiring and maintaining a contiguous trail corridor are addressed. Attend this workshop to learn more about how you can play a role in developing, protecting and preserving your favorite historic trails and how you can strengthen your trail organization.
- National Historic Trails Workshop 2016 – Kansas City, MO (June 6th-10th)
- National Historic Trails Workshop 2014 – Salt Lake City, UT
- National Historic Trails Workshop 2012 – Socorro, NM
- National Historic Trails Workshop 2010 – San Antonio, TX
Biennial National Scenic Trails Workshop
Scenic Trails highlight some of the country’s most spectacular natural landmarks and features. As stewards of these trails, building and maintaining these trails in some very remote locations with volunteer power presents many challenges to trail organizations. The National Scenic Trails workshop provides the opportunity to learn best practices in both physical trail building and maintenance and organizational development. Effective steward organizations have strong programs in communication, volunteer management, fundraising and leadership development. This is an opportunity to go in depth into the issues faced by trail organizations as they strive to complete and maintain the trails in these outstanding scenic corridors.
- Scenic Trails Workshop 2016 – Pensacola, FL (November 14th-18th)
- Scenic Trails Workshop 2014 – Tahoe City, CA
- Scenic Trails Workshop 2012 – Shepherdstown, WV
- Scenic Trails Workshop 2010 – Reisterstown, MD
Biennial Conferences
From 1988–2018, every two years, the Partnership for the National Trails System convened a conference for the members, partners and allies from the National Trails community. The staff, volunteers, young adults (trail apprentices), federal employees, and private sector professionals brought their experiences, stories and knowledge to share with the entire Trails community. These conferences provided the space for networking and training in skills useful on the trail, in the capitol or in the office of our member organizations. Best practices were shared and we looked at issues that crosscut the National Trails community.