Join us March 8 – 26, 2021 for virtual Hike the Hill ®!
Now in its 24th year, Hike the Hill® is a joint effort between the American Hiking Society and the Partnership for the National Trails System to bring together the trails community to advance shared trail priorities with congressional and federal agency leaders including: trails funding, public lands management, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), and other top priority issues that sustain trails and improve access to public lands.
In 2021, due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, trail partners from across the nation will come together virtually to 
advocate for legislation, learn about new policies, and meet with federal partners, elected officials and their staff, and fellow trail organizations.
We have designed a tentative schedule (below) to maximize planning and participation virtually that will occur on select afternoons (2pm-5pm EST) over a three week period.
Plan to join us on select afternoons (2-5pm EST) March 8-26 for briefings on the top trail issues before Congress and federal agencies, learn more about how to advocate for trails, hear from federal partners and agency leaders, meet with your Member of Congress (scheduled on your own), meet with the staff of select Congressional Committees (registration doesn’t guarantee meeting participation), and network with other trail organizations and user groups.
If this is your first Hike the Hill®, you haven’t attended in a few years, or haven’t been able to travel to DC, we encourage you to join us in 2021 in this virtual format!
Please reach out to Tyler Ray, tray@americanhiking.org or Liz Wessel, liz@pnts.org with any questions.
Registration ($75)
(No Cost for Federal Agency Partners)
What’s Included in Registration
- Hike the Hill® Issue Briefings (Live and Recorded)
- Training Session and Resources on Running an Effective Virtual Congressional Meeting
- Hike the Hill® Branded Advocacy Materials for Congressional Meetings (Talking Points, Fact Sheets, and Leave Behinds)
- Two Virtual Social Hours to connect with other Trail Organizations, DC partners, and others.
- Individual Congressional Office Meetings (scheduled on your own) as part of the collective Hike the Hill® effort. A Virtual Meeting Guide will be provided after registering to help you schedule and plan your meetings.
- Potential to attend group meetings with congressional committee and agency staff. (Registration does not guarantee access to group meetings. Participation may be limited due to capacity, issue focus, or any other reason.)
Scheduling Meetings with Your Members of Congress
Hike the Hill participants are encouraged to schedule meetings with their Members of Congress. Upon registration you will receive access to a Virtual Meeting Guide to assist you in this process.
Tentative Schedule
March 8-26, 2021
All Briefings and Meetings will be scheduled between 2-5pm EST to the extent possible
(Detailed Schedule Available Following Registration)
Briefings Prior to Hike the HillⓇ
- Congress 101 and New Administration Updates (Recorded Only-Available mid-February)
- Using Zoom during Hike the HillⓇ Training Session (late February)
Week 1 (March 8-12) : Issue Briefings*
(All briefings will be recorded for future viewing)
Planned Issue Briefing To Be Scheduled (* Issue Briefings subject to change):
- Appropriations and Trails Funding
- Messaging Trails to Congressional Priorities (Climate, Transportation/Infrastructure, Economic Recovery, and Health)
- Implementing the Great American Outdoors Act (LWCF and Deferred Maintenance)
- Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Legislative and Administrative Advocacy
- Transportation and Infrastructure as it relates to Trails
Week 2 (March 15-19): Agency Group Meetings/
Self-Scheduled Meetings with your Members of Congress
Meetings to be Requested/Confirmed:
- National Park Service (NPS) Leadership
- US Forest Service (FS) Leadership
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Leadership
- NPS, BLM and FS Land Acquisition Leads
- Office of Management and Budget
- Department of the Interior Leadership
Week 3 (March 22-26): Congressional Committee Group Meetings/
Self-Scheduled Meetings with your Members of Congress
Meetings to be Requested/Confirmed:
- Senate Interior Appropriations Committee Staff (Majority and Minority)
- House Interior Appropriations Committee Staff (Majority and Minority)
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Staff (Majority and Minority)
- House Natural Resources Committee Staff (Majority)
- House Natural Resources Committee Staff (Minority)
Important:
Registration does not guarantee access to group meetings. Participation may be limited due to capacity, issue focus, or any other reason. Meeting Agendas and Speakers will be set-in pre-meeting planning sessions. Information on meeting participation is forthcoming.
Reminder! Schedule Your Individual Meetings with Your Congressional Delegation
Hike the Hill participants are encouraged to schedule meetings with their Members of Congress. Once you register, you will receive access to the following resources to assist you in this process and to plan effective meetings:
- Congress 101 (video): An introduction to Congress so that you know your way around the Hill!
- A Virtual Meeting Guide (printed material). The Virtual Meeting Guide covers the basics of requesting a meeting, and planning for before, during, and after the meeting.
- Zoom 101 training which will be available around the third week of February. It will cover how to set up a Zoom account and host a meeting. You will be able to view both of these training on your schedule and we will make sure you have a contact should you have additional questions about either the technology or congressional meeting dynamics.
We recommend approaching the offices of your target about 3 weeks out from when you want to meet. In our experience, legislators are often not able to firm up meetings before that time. Please utilize the Virtual Meeting Guide when making your requests and be sure to mention that you are part of Hike the HillⓇ and the name of your trail organization(s) participating in the meeting. This will avoid confusion should more than one organization want to meet with a particular legislator.
Have you scheduled a meeting? Please let us know if you have scheduled a meeting scheduled and if you would like to open the meeting to other organizations/participants. Fill in this form
About
Now in its 23rd year, Hike the Hill® is a joint effort between the Partnership for the National Trail System and the American Hiking Society aimed at increasing congressional and federal agency leader awareness of funding and other needs that sustain the National Trails System. Each February, trail partners and organizations from across the nation head to Washington, D.C. to discuss legislation, current policies, and goals with federal partners, congressmen or their staff, and fellow trail organizations.
2020 Lodging
A room block is reserved at the Washington Plaza Hotel. 2020 rates are as follows:
Double Room / Single Room
Friday, February 7th – $109+tax (single/double) // $139 (triple)
Saturday, February 8th – $109+tax (single/double) // $139 (triple)
Sunday, February 9th – $109+tax (single/double) // $139 (triple)
Monday, February 10th – $139+tax (single/double) // $169 (triple)
Tuesday, February 11th – $139 (single/double)/$169 (triple)
Wednesday, February 12th – $139 (single/double)/$169 (triple)
Thursday, February 13th – $139 (single/double)/$169 (triple)
To make reservations at these rates, please call the Washington Plaza Hotel at (202) 842-1300 and mention “Hike the Hill” when booking, or book online here. To receive these discounted rates, reservations must be made no later than Friday, January 17th.
Hike the Hill 2020 Preliminary Schedule
January 22, 3PM EST (Pre-Hike the Hill)
- Pre-Hike the Hill Webinar (Recorded Webinar will be available) Register for the webinar here.
Hike the Hill 2020 will take place from February 8th-13th. Saturday, February 8th will be PNTS only meetings.
Saturday, February 8
- PNTS Business Meetings – PNTS Board and Trail Leaders Council meeting, open to leaders from national scenic and historic trail organizations (Washington Plaza Hotel)
Sunday, February 9 (Participation Highly Recommended for all Hike the Hill® Participants)
Participation in issue briefing and advocacy overview is highly encouraged if attending Hike the Hill®
- Issue briefings from federal agencies and partners (Washington Plaza Hotel)
- Advocacy Overview and Legislative Updates (Washington Plaza Hotel) (Participation in issue briefing and advocacy overview is highly encouraged if attending Hike the Hill®)
- Gary Werner Retirement Celebration– Sunday evening 5:30-7:30PM (Washington Plaza Hotel) (Additional cost of $45, register by February 3rd)
Monday, February 10
- Agency and Group Hill Meetings–Schedules TBA
Tuesday, February 11
- Agency and Group Hill Meetings–Schedules TBA
- Party at REI DC Flagship- 5:30-7:30PM (light refreshments provided)
Wednesday, February 12
- Agency and Group Hill Meetings–Schedules TBA
- Policy Wrap Up Discussion- 5-7PM (Washington Plaza Hotel)
Thursday, February 13
- Trails Move People Convening (contact Mike Passo, American Trails, mikepasso@americantrails.org for additional information)
- Other meetings as needed, if necessary
Friday, February 14 (Hike the Hill officially over, except for participants of Trails Move People Convening)
- Trails Move People Convening (contact Mike Passo, American Trails, mikepasso@americantrails.org for additional information)
Schedule Notes
- This is a preliminary schedule and is subject to change.
- It is not too early to begin to request meetings with your Congressional delegations.
- It is important to realize that as at most conferences, invariably attendees have to make a choice between conflicting activities/meetings. Due to the last-minute changes and availability of federal agency partners and elected officials, many meetings will be subject to last-minute changes in time and venue.
2020 Registration Options
*** There are 4 different registration options for Hike the Hill. Please review the registration types carefully to ensure you are registering for the intended days.***
- Saturday PNTS meeting w/ lunch + Sunday PNTS Briefing + Hike the Hill Mon-Thurs $210 early bird price ($259 after Jan. 12)
On Saturday the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS) will host a board meeting (limited to PNTS members organizations only). (Registration covers administrative fees, lunch, and morning and afternoon refreshments). On Sunday we will hold a briefing from agency partners and a presentation on issues to be discussed during Hike the Hill. (Open to all participants) (Registration covers administrative fees, lunch, and morning and afternoon refreshments)
- *Recommended*- Sunday Agency and Issue Briefings + Hike the Hill Mon-Thurs $134 early bird ($184 after Jan. 12)
On Sunday we will hold a briefing from agency partners and a presentation on issues to be discussed during Hike the Hill. (Open to all participants) (Registration covers administrative fees, lunch, and morning and afternoon refreshments)
- Hike the Hill Mon-Thurs; NO Sat or Sun briefings $75
On Monday-Thursday Hike the Hill participants will attend a reception and have the opportunity to schedule congressional and agency meetings (meetings not guaranteed as part of registration). (Hike the Hill registration costs cover reception, administrative costs, and a pre-Hike the hill legislative webinar)
- Federal Employees (Multiple options based on Sat/Sun attendance and option to purchase lunch)
*Federal Employees* Please register to indicate attendance on Saturday or Sunday. NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. If you would like to join us for lunch a cost of $20 per day is required (please select that option from the drop down).
Hike the Hill 2020 online registration form here or below.
Hike the Hill 2020 offline registration form here.
If you have any questions, email tray@americanhiking.org.