Links to categories on this page:
Federal land management & funding agencies | Accessible trails | Bibliographies | Bicycling | Boating trails
Cross-country skiing & snowshoeing | Hiking & backpacking | International trails | National scenic, historic & long-distance trails | Horses | Maps | Off-highway vehicles | Recreation & public lands advocacy
Snowmobiling | In-line skating | Volunteers and stewardship | Walking

Find links to national organizations and resources for trails and greenways activities. For groups and agencies in your state, see our State by State Trails and Greenways index, also sorted by activity such as rail-trails, water trails, and community greenways.

Federal land management and funding agencies

• Bureau of Land Management
• USDA Forest Service National Headquarters
• Federal Highway Administration
• Federal Surface Transportation Board is responsible for railroad abandonments
• National Park Service ParkNet
• Toolbox for the Great Outdoors: multi-agency outdoor recreation resources

Accessible trails -- see more Accessible Trails resources

• Current proposals for guidelines for accessible trails under the Americans With Disabilities Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act Document Center offers ADA information and links to sites across the country concerned with disabilities
• Beneficial Designs, Inc.
• The Disabled Equestrians Organization represents the moderately disabled who use a horse or mule for access to trails
• Open the Outdoors from Washington State
• Wilderness Inquiry conducts outdoor adventures, community events, research, training, equipment design, trail and facility assessments and policy development

Bibliographies

• The American Trails searchable bibliography containing over 2,400 trails- and greenways-related publications collected and compiled by Jim Schmid.
• The University of Minnesota maintains a bibliography of trail planning, construction and maintenance
• The National Transportation Library contains documents from throughout the transportation community on pedestrian and bicycles

Boating trails

• The American Canoe Association has programs, events, and information sources on boating trails

Hiking and backpacking

• American Hiking Society sponsors National Trails Day
• American Long Distance Hiking Association-West promotes fellowship and communication among long distance hikers
• Hiking Forums provides discussion, photos, and resources for hiking and backpacking

International trails

• Developing and promoting the Shannon Region of Ireland as a world-class trails destination.
• Mountain Biking Northern Ireland is part of Countryside Access & Activities Network with trail and tourism information, photos, and events
• NATURE-BOUND AUSTRALIA: Classic Walks and Experiences for the Discerning Traveller
• GR Long Hiking Trails in France provides information on long-distance trails

National scenic, historic and long-distance trails

Links to long-distance trails are also found in our America's Trails State by State section listed under individual states.

• The Partnership for the National Trails System works for protection, completion, and stewardship of the National Trails System
• Ala Kahakai will be a 175- mile path along the coastline of the Island of Hawaii
• The American Discovery Trail is America's first coast-to-coast hiking, biking and equestrian trail
• The Appalachian Trail Conference maintains the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail footpath and maintains current Trail information
• Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association
• The Arizona Trail will eventually run 790 miles from Mexico to Utah
• The California Coastal Trail (Coastwalk)
• The Continental Divide Trail Alliance site has information on events, trail route progress, and volunteer oportunities
• The Continental Divide Trail Society provides trail information and offers maps and guidebooks for the trail
• The Florida Trail covers over 1,000 miles
• The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route runs through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico
• The Great Western Trail is a multi-use corridor from Canada to Mexico through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona
• The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,000-mile trail located entirely in Wisconsin
• The Iditarod National Historic Trail runs from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska; see www.iditarod.com or www.iditarodnationalhistorictrail.org
• Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation site and the National Park Service site has information on the trail
• The Missouri Historical Society has a new Lewis and Clark National Bicentennial Exhibition web site
• The Mormon Trails Association works in research, marking, preservation, and celebration efforts.
• Nez Perce National Historic Trail or the site hosted by the USDA Forest Service
• North Country Trail has a very informative web site; it will traverse 4400 miles through the boreal forests of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota
• Old Spanish Trail Association works to study, preserve, protect, and interpret this historic route between Los Angeles and Santa Fe
• Oregon-California Trails Association and the National Oregon/California Trail Center cover the trans-Mississippi emigrant trails
• Overland Trail ran westward from Atchison, Kansas, through Colorado and Wyoming
• The Overmountain Victory Trail in South Carolina was the first National Historic Trail in the eastern United States
• Pacific Crest Trail runs from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific states
• The Pacific Northwest Trail runs 1,200 miles from the Rocky Mountains to the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest
• Pony Express Trail ran between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco during the 1860s.
• Potomac Heritage Partnership works for regional conservation as well as for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail; more on the National Park Service page
• Interactive Santa Fe Trail home page
• Trail of Tears Association and NPS Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
• Trans Canada Trail Foundation is developing what will be the longest trail in the world
• Trails West is a working group of volunteers locating and marking the California Trail through Idaho, Nevada, and California

Bicycling

• Adventure Cycling Association covers bike touring and travel
• Coalition for Alternative Transportation is working to improve mobility through better walking, bicycling and transit
• International Bicycle Fund promotes international understanding through cycle tourism and educational bicycle programs
• International Mountain Bicycling Association promotes responsible mountain bicycling with a wide variety of resources and contacts
• League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.
• For more see Mike's Mega Bicycle Links
• National Center For Bicycling & Walking
• Paved Bike Trails Across America is compiling descriptions and photos of asphalt and concrete paths (not shared with motor vehicles) in every state.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is a clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement, and access
• The Ride is an on-line bicycling magazine
• Thunderhead Alliance is the national coalition of State and Regional Bicycle Advocacy Organizations

Horses

• Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is a national organization dedicated to promoting access to and conservation of land for equestrian use by supporting and facilitating local projects and educational programs for equestrians and conservation personnel.
• The American Horse Council has been promoting and protecting on behalf of all horse related interests since 1969.
• Back Country Horsemen of America
• Disabled Equestrians Organization works to support the use of trails by disabled equestrians.
• American Endurance Ride Conference is a national governing body for long distance riding.
• Endurance Net is a resource for those involved in equestrian endurance and distance riding.
• Equestrian's Resource Roudup
• www.Horsetopia.com has a variety of horse-related services
• Equisearch is an online equestrian community
• HorseWeb is a good resource for all kinds of equestrian information.
• HorseNet is another nationwide equestrian network.
• The Horse Trails and Campground Directory provides horse, mule, and donkey information about trails, trailheads, horse campgrounds, overnight stay facilities, and bed & breakfasts

Maps

• Ordering U.S. Geological Survey Products page provides information on local USGS map dealers nationwide as well as phone and Internet sales.
• Trails Illustrated has recreation maps nationwide; now a division of National Geographic.

Off-highway vehicles

• American Motorcyclist Association has news, clubs, and information on all aspects of motorcycling.
• America's 4X4 4U Video Magazine maintains a Trails Bulletin Board to exchange information on trips and trails across America.
• ATV Connection provides an opportunity to exchange information and ideas and locate riding areas.
• ATV Safety Institute -- ATV Training
• BlueRibbon Coalition is involved in public lands advocacy with an emphasis on motorized recreation.
• Four Wheel Drive Online has a wide variety of 4WD information and lnks.
• Motorcycle Industry Council
• Motorcycle Safety Foundation - Off-highway motorcycle training
• The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) is a publicly supported, educational forum for organizations and supporters of OHV recreation.
• Off-Road.com maintains hundreds of links to motorized clubs as well as commercial sites.
• Specialty Vehicle Institute of America -- Industry association for all terrain vehicles
• The TransAmerica Trail is a planned coast-to-coast, off-pavement motorcycle trail.
• United Four Wheel Drive Associations has a wealth of information about 4WD groups and issues nationwide.

Recreation and public lands advocacy

• BlueRibbon Coalition is involved in public lands advocacy from a variety of recreation perspectives.
• The International Mountain Bicycling Association promotes responsible mountain bicycling in cooperation with a wide range of federal, state and local land managers.

Cross-country Skiing & Snowshoeing

• XCSkiResorts.com helps skiers and snowshoers find cross-country areas in any region.
• Backcountry Snowsports Alliance
• National Ski Areas Association includes cross-country areas as well as downhill
• NordicSkating.org provides a worldwide guide to outdoor skating on natural ice

Snowmobiling

• International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
• SnowRider Magazine is an on-line magazine produced 6 times a winter season dedicated to the hobby of snowmobiling.

In-line skating

• Skating.com has a wide variety of information and contacts for skating.
• Priism Enterprises maintains an inline skating site with a miscellany of skating trails with photos.

Volunteers and stewardship

• Leave No Trace center for outdoor ethics
• The Student Conservation Association provides young people the opportunity to serve and protect our nation's natural resources, parks and trails.
• Tread Lightly! is dedicated to protect public and private lands through education. Emphasis is placed on responsible use of off-highway vehicles, other forms of backcountry travel, and low impact enjoyment of the outdoors.
• EcoSpeakers.com works to expand the audience for the valuable ideas and good work of speakers, authors, and publishers who focus on the transition to a more sustainable future.

Walking

• American Nordic Walking Association promotes fitness walking with poles
• National Center For Bicycling & Walking and the Active Living Resource Center
• The Partnership for a Walkable America is an alliance committed to promoting the changes needed to make America more walkable.
• For Year-Round Walking and Volkssport Events from the American Volkssport Association.

Related topics:

Trail design
Structures
Maintenance
Federal funding
Greenways
Health & trails
Rails to trails
Planning

More resources:

Bibliography
Quotations
Glossary
Acronyms
Tools
Products & services

For more opportunities for training on trail design, construction, and management see the National Trails Training Partnership area.