Trail Maintenance Priority Areas
The Forest Service is working to increase the role of partners and volunteers in trail maintenance on Forest Service managed trails. The Forest Service has identified 15 priority areas for increased trail maintenance. Many of these areas have had issues with reduced access, damage to natural resources, and public safety concerns.
These priority trail maintenance areas are a requirement of the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2016. As part of the Act, the public was invited to nominate trail maintenance areas through their local Forest Service office. From these nominations the Secretary of Agriculture selected 15 priority areas. The individuals and groups that nominated these priority areas continue to work with the Forest Service to support and help with the needed maintenance.
Priority Areas
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Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex & Adjacent LandsBob Marshall Wilderness in Northwestern Montana makes up an area of more than 1.5 million acres. More than 3,200 miles of trail are inside the priority area. Approximately 1,700 of those miles are in designated wilderness. Learn more… |
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Methow Valley Ranger DistrictThe 1,000 miles of trail in this priority area in northern Washington overlap two National Scenic Trails and two congressionally designated wilderness areas. Learn more… |
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Hells Canyon National Recreation Area/Eagle Cap WildernessThis 650,000 acre priority area in northern Oregon and western Idaho encompasses more than 1,251 miles of motorized and nonmotorized trails. Learn more… |
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Central Idaho ComplexThe nearly 10,000 miles of trail in this priority area in central Idaho comprises 3 congressionally designated wilderness areas and adjacent lands managed by the Forest Service. Learn more… |
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Continental Divide National Scenic TrailThis priority area follows the congressionally designated Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The trail extends 3,100 miles from the US/Mexico border in New Mexico to the US/Canada border in Montana. Learn more… |
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Wyoming “Forest Gateway Communities”The 977 miles of trail in this priority area focus on four areas across five states: Gilead, Pole Mountain, Wind River Range, and Wyoming Range. Learn more… |
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Northern California Wilderness Areas: Marble Mountain & Trinity AlpsThe 709 miles of trail in this priority area in northern California includes the Marble Mountain and Trinity Alps congressionally designated wilderness areas. Learn more… |
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Angeles National ForestThe 970 miles of trail in this priority area in southern California includes the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The area located adjacent to the greater Los Angeles metropolis. (Photo Credit: Matt Baffert) Learn more… |
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Greater Prescott Trail SystemThe 310 miles of trails in the Greater Prescott Trails System priority area travel through communities and cross federal, state, and local publicly managed lands. Learn more… |
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Sedona Red Rock Ranger District Trail SystemThe 400 miles of trail in the Red Rocks Ranger District priority area are located in central Arizona. Learn more… |
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Colorado FourteenersThe 54 peaks in Colorado that are over 14,000 feet in elevation comprise this priority area. The peaks—commonly known as the “Fourteeners” include peaks easily accessed by urban visitors and also include remote peaks that provide a wilderness experience. Learn more… |
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Superior National Forest TrailsThe 2,343 miles of trail in this priority area includes all existing trails on Superior National Forest and new OHV trails that will complete the Prospector OHV Trail System. Learn more… |
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White Mountain National Forest Partner Complex, “200 Years of Community Trail Stewardship”The 616 miles of trail in this priority area are in eastern New Hampshire and western Maine. Learn more… |
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Southern Appalachians Capacity Enhancement ModelThe 6,348 miles of trail in this priority area are in several locations across multiple eastern states. Learn more… |
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Iditarod National Historic Trail “Southern Trek”The 120 miles of trail in this priority area connects the communities of Seward, Moose Pass, Whittier, and Girdwood, Alaska. Learn more… |
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