National Forest System Trails
Meet up with the Ancestral Lands Zuni crew as they maintain trails on the highest peak in Arizona. Get to know the crew and their dedication to steward this sacred mountain during this 6-minute film.
Find your dream job maintaining trails as a volunteer or employee with the Forest Service.
The Forest Service’s national trail strategy inspires a different way of thinking and doing and lays-out 26 high-leverage actions that will move the agency toward a sustainable trail system achieved through collaborative stewardship with partners and volunteers.
The Forest Service manages the nation’s largest system of trails, including thousands of miles of National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation trails. The 10-Year Trail Challenge is a call to action to increase our collective capacity for our trails and increase on-the-ground results.
The Trails Stewardship Act shines a focus on National Forest System trails, requiring the Agency to significantly increase the role of partners and volunteers in trail maintenance.
The Forest Service incorporates several standardized trail management concepts and tools in the administration and management of over 150,000 miles of National Forest System trails.
The National Scenic and Historic Trails are typically long-distance iconic trails designated by an act of congress – trails such as the Continental Divide Trail. The Forest Service leads management on 6 of these trails and helps manage portions of 11 others.
Trail managers, volunteers, and partners across national forests and grasslands work hard each year to manage and maintain National Forest System trails and trail bridges.
Find a Trail!
There are thousands of miles of Forest Service system trails in nearly every state to hike, bike, ATV, ride horseback, snowmobile, snowshoe, and more.
Check out the National Forest interactive visitor map to find great trails to explore.
Recreate Responsibly!
Leave No Trace – is a national organization that protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly.
Tread Lightly! – is a nonprofit focused on promoting recreation access through outdoor ethics to heighten individuals’ sense of good stewardship.
Florida National Scenic Trail highlights Florida’s most scenic, natural, and cultural resources along 1,300 miles of trail and is the nation’s only sub-tropical National Scenic Trail. Courtesy photo by Rachel Skeen.
America’s National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation Trails.
National Scenic and Historic Trails are typically long-distance iconic trails designated by an act of congress – trail such as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. There are 11 National Scenic Trails and 19 National Historic Trails nationwide totaling more than 55,000 miles. The Forest Service leads management of six of these trails and helps manage portions of 11 others. Learn more about National Trails.
Clearing a trail with a cross-cut saw. Deschutes National Forest, Oregon.
Get Involved
If you want to lend a hand with your national trails, contact a forest near you, or visit our jobs or volunteer website.
Forest Service Saw Program: Manages use of crosscut and chainsaws on national forest system lands by forest service employees, volunteers, and partners.
Annual Trail and Trail Bridge
Maintenance Accomplishments
Each year trail managers, volunteers, and partners work hard to manage and maintain National Forest system trails and trail bridges. Annual accomplishments and a snapshot of the inventory are summarized nationally and by region. The summary promotes accountability and celebrates the work the trail community is doing to support USDA and Forest Service goals through stewardship of National Forest System trails and accomplishment of the 10-Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge.
Learn more about annual trail and trail bridge accomplishments.
For More Information
If you have questions or comments, please contact Forest Service Trail Management.