See the Winning Websites in the 2007 American Trails Website Contest

Enter the 2008 American Trails Website Contest! We are continuing our annual program to seek out the best websites for trails and greenways. Websites that promote or support any aspect of trails, greenways, railtrails, bikeways, and any trail activities are eligible to enter. Large and small sites managed by individuals, trail groups, agencies, and businesses are all welcome!
See the contest rules for 2008

Following are the websites nominated for the 2007 American Trails Website Contest. Visit these great Web sites for information, ideas, and inspiration. And take a look at the previous winners and nominees for 2005-06 and 2004 .-. 2003 .-. 2002.

NOMINATED WEBSITES for 2008:

~ Hiking in the Smokys provides in-depth trail information for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: www.HikingintheSmokys.com

~ Campbell Creek Interpretive Trail virtual tour promotes stewardship of the watershed; from Anchorage, AK, Salmon in the City initiative: http://campbelltrail.muni.org/CCIT/index.html

~ Jacksonville Woodlands Association protects the cultural and natural heritage of historic Jacksonville, OR with its 13 miles of hiking and interpretive trails: http://jvwoodlands.org/

~ Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway is a recreation trail and greenway corridor extending
through 34 towns in Eastern Massachusetts: www.baycircuit.org/

~ Blackwater Heritage State Trail website promotes trail use and events and reaches out to potential volunteers through memberships and opportunities: http://blackwaterheritagetrail.org/

~ Freedom's Way Heritage Area joins cities and towns in MA and NH that have contributed toward this special landscape of American history: http://freedomsway.org/

~ Fairfax County Cross County Trail, a 41-mile urban trail/rail-trail, serves as the county's primary multi-use north/south trail: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/cct/

~ Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail works to connect and maintain the 935-mile trail across North Carolina: www.ncmst.org/

~ Clear Creek Project in Silverdale, WA includes stream sensitive trail development, stream restoration, and a public education campaign: www.clearcreektrail.org/

~ Lassen Land & Trails Trust acquired the 86 Mile Modoc Line Rail and works for a public trail system throughout Lassen County, CA: www.lassenlandandtrails.com/

~ Meriden Linear Trail Advisory Committee works for trails for recreation, education and enjoyment in Meriden, CT and in cooperation with the town of Wallingford: www.meridenlineartrail.org/

~ Trails 2000 brought together local and feral data to create an "awesome web map" for trails in the Durango, CO area: www.trails2000.org/site/interactive_map.html

~ Greenways Equestrians posts events and volunteer work days on the Greenways in Ocala, FL vicinity, plus pictures and map information: www.greenwayequestrians.org

~ Foothill Trail Hounds work for planning and stewardship, as well as enjoying the trails system in in Amador County, CA: http://foothilltrailhounds.com/index

~ Hoosier Mountain Bike Association provides all the details of Brown County State Park mountain biking trail system in Nashville, IN: www.browncountymountainbiking.com

~ Nordic Walking USA is a blog from on Nordic Walking and snowshoeing with trail descriptions, information on equipment, clothing, and health benefits, : http://nordic-walking-usa.blogspot.com

~ ProTrails.com provide detailed multi-use trail information for free, all measured by GPS multiple times (including coordinates) and includes individual Trail Photo Galleries; sample page: www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=32

~ Tennessee Greenways and Trails Program covers the state's trails efforts for trails: http://state.tn.us/environment/recreation/greentrails.shtml

~ Wyoming Trails covers Wyoming's State Trails Program with a Trails Inventory, safety and education, grants, and maps for snowmobile and OHV routes: http://wyotrails.state.wy.us/

~ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission provides water trail guides for 20 paddling waterways in the state: www.fish.state.pa.us/watertrails/trailindex.htm

~ NVtrailmaps.com provides a statewide trails database and maps, developed by the Great Basin Institute: http://nvtrailmaps.com/

~ TrailHeadFinder.Com is a free site linked to Google Directions for easy trailhead directions; anyone can submit a new trail, edit trail information, and submit photos: www.trailheadfinder.com

~ The Mountains of Wisconsin is a Touring Guide to the State's Highpoints,
Past, Present, & Future told in a graphic format: http://mountainsofwisconsin.onza.net/

LAST YEAR'S WINNERS:
WINNING WEBSITES for 2007:

COMMUNITY trails system site (town or county or other local jurisdiction):

• San Jose Trails Program helps residents to find a new trail and participate in planning of the future 100-mile network: www.sjparks.org/Trails

Trail organization or club website:

• Equestrian Land Conservation Resource works to support planning and management of horse trails and to promote volunteerism and public involvement: www.elcr.org

PERSONAL site (for an individual who has developed a site on his or her own):

• Laura Vonk's Missouri Trailblazing provides in-depth information on Missouri's multi-use trails that are accessible to horseback riders, all in one place: www.motrailblazing.com

Designated NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL website:

• The Sheltowee Trace provides an interactive map, photos, and trip reports for the 260-mile designated National Recreation Trail in KY and TN: www.sheltoweetrace.com/

Trails on FEDERAL LANDS:

• Rampart Range Motorized Management Committee and federal land managers work together to maintain and preserve OHV opportunities in the Pike National Forest near Denver: www.Rampartrange.org

STATE AGENCY site (state trail or state program):

• Minnesota DNR's OHV riding in Minnesota website helps everyone find where they can legally ride, and promotes a positive trail riding experience while reducing impacts on our lands: www.findthetrails.com

PRESENTATION of PLANS and proposals for a major trail project:

• Parleys Rails, Trails, and Tunnels Coalition is working to create the 8-mile Parley's Creek Corridor Trail, connecting Bonneville Shoreline Trail on the east with Jordan River Parkway Trail in the Salt Lake Valley: http://parleystrail.org/

TRAILS TRAINING and education site:

• Volunteers for Outdoor Washington trains volunteers to be stewards of the environment. We partner with land managers to build trails, restore habitat, and preserve Washington's rich heritage: www.trailvolunteers.org

GRAPHICS and site design:

• Sierra Front Recreation Coalition and Nevada Commission on Tourism use an interactive design to help visitors find trails, useful information, directions, photos, and difficulty levels: www.sierrafront.org

Best use of PHOTOGRAPHS:

• Kentucky Rails to Trails Council describes the rail trail projects in various stages of completion throughout the state, illustrated with a wealth of photos:: www.kyrailtrail.org

TRAIL TOUR or virtual visit:

• John Gardiner's Nevada County Trail Guide uses Google Maps and Earth to depict trails in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains: www.bonc.org/trailguide.htm

Recognition and promotion of VOLUNTEERISM:

• The VOutdoors website's search engine links Colorado volunteers with opportunities that match their skills and interests, searching by date, type of work, location and agency or community organization: www.voutdoors.org/

Best site for KIDS and FAMILIES:

• Canada's Waterfront Trail has "The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure" and "Tastes of the Trail Starter's Kit" for kids and families: www.waterfronttrail.org/getstarted.html

Trail-related BUSINESS or PRODUCTS:

• Books for Hikers: Based on a retired librarian's comprehensive list of bibliographies for hikers, this site is a must for anyone wanting to research more about any major trail or trail topic.: http://booksforhikers.com/

TRAVEL and TOURISM site for trails:

• Florida Hikes! includes hike entries with links to Google maps for driving directions and ease of finding trailheads, and promotes the author's books that contain comprehensive details about Florida hiking.s: www.floridahikes.com

Promotion of trails for HEALTH and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:

• Montgomery County (MD) Heart Smart Trails includes high-quality maps to encourage people to take the first step toward a healthier lifestyle: www.montgomerytrails.org

What is the American Trails Website Contest?

See links to winning websites and nominations in the American Trails Website Contest for 2007 - 2005-06 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002

Sponsored by:

      American Trails
      P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797
      Telephone: (530) 547-2060
      Fax: (530) 547-2035
      E-mail: trailhead@americantrails.org

Award Categories for the 2008 American Trails Website Contest:

• State agency site
• Trails on federal lands
• Community trails system
• Trail organization or club website
• Personal site
• Designated National Recreation Trail
• Presentation of plans and proposals
• Education and trails training site
• Graphics and site design
• Best use of photographs
• Art and trails
• Trail tour or virtual visit
• Accessible trails
• volunteering and stewardship
• Best site for kids and families
• Trail-related business or product
• Travel and tourism site for trails
• Promotion of trail courtesy and trail sharing

The 19th National Trails Symposium will be held in Little Rock Nov. 15-18, 2008. Join us in Arkansas for the future of trails!

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