Advancing Trail Smarts

Supporting trails is not just about the much-needed trail maintenance and additional investment. It’s also about hiker awareness, transportation access, trip-reported conditions and so much more. We need targeted education to improve on-trail experiences and help hikers discover brand-new adventures.

Supporting trails isn't just about doing trail maintenance and increased funding. It’s also about hiker awareness. Transportation, road access, trip-reported conditions and so much more all help make a healthy trail system.

All of this requires targeted education to improve your on-trail experiences and help you lessen your impact on the places you love. If you haven’t seen our Trail Smarts video series, now's a great time to check it out. These tools provide quick refreshers on some of the most important hiking best practices.

Fun fact: Trip reports aren't just good for planning your next hike. They are critical to land managers as they make decisions and plan for the future needs of hikers. Write one today!

EXPAND YOUR TRAIL SMARTS

What Are You Doing for Earth Day?

Apr 19, 2010

Hiking 101: Pack Your Bag

You don't need to spend a fortune to hike safely and comfortably. But you do need a few essentials.

Preparing for Winter Hiking

Oct 30, 2009

Bear Season is Here

Aug 04, 2009

How to build a hiker's first aid kit

A first aid kit is an essential part of your hiking equipment. Prepackaged kits contain much of what you need, at a reasonable price. But you should consider supplementing those kits with personal medications, a flexible splint, a small roll of duct tape, povidone iodine, irrigation syringe, forceps, digital thermometer and other items.

The Eleventh Essential: A Trash Bag?

Apr 06, 2009

Young Hunters Should be With an Adult

Jan 26, 2009

Busy Week for Search & Rescue

Aug 29, 2008

Staying Safe During Hunting Season

Tips for staying safe around hunters in the backcountry.

Teen Hikers Rescued from Ice Collapse

Aug 22, 2008

Hunter Who Shot Hiker to Face Manslaughter Charge

Aug 12, 2008

Hikers Respond to Sauk Mountain Shooting

Aug 06, 2008

Avoiding Trailhead Theft

Jul 21, 2008

The Ten Essentials for Dogs

Aug 29, 2007

Taking your dog for a hike sometime soon? If your dog is new to hiking, or even if the trail is an old friend to your canine companion, preparing your dog for the hike is essential.

Backpacking 101 - It all starts with choosing where to go

Jul 01, 2007