Protecting the Places You Love to Hike
Advocate for Hiking Access + Improve Trails
We envision a world where everyone feels welcome in the American hiking community and has permanent access to meaningful hiking, including urban, frontcountry, and backcountry opportunities.
Advocate
American Hiking works with Congress, federal agencies, and partners on policy issues and legislation to ensure funding for trails, preservation of public lands, and protection of the hiking experience.
NextGen Trail Leaders are rising stars in the outdoor community and the voice of young hikers who take part in a yearlong program of advocacy and stewardship to protect public lands.
Each year American Hiking brings together five early to early-mid career leaders in the outdoor community with a diversity of identities from across the country. American Hiking provides these Leaders with training, mentorship, networking, trail stewardship opportunities, and professional development and gear stipends. Through this partnership, NextGen Trail Leaders build and refine their advocacy and outdoor leadership experience and skills, speaking out to elected officials, serving as ambassadors to the hiking community, building a nationwide stewardship movement, and championing conservation, equity, and inclusion.
Ryan Nelson
Volunteer
Trails don't maintain themselves. Individuals of any age and experience level can become trail stewards. Give back to the trails you love, meet new people, and enjoy the experience!
2023 Volunteer Vacation Registration is Open
Work hard, get dirty, dig deep...and feel immensely rewarded.
Explore
Feel confident when you set out on your next trail adventure. Check out our free hiking resources like tips for hiking with families, gear checklists, finding the best trail for you, and more.
Latest Stories and Updates
2023 National Trails Day Micro-Grants
2023 National Trails Day® Micro-Grants With support from: American Hiking Society, with support from Moosejaw, is proud to announce the 2023 National Trails Day® micro-grant…
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Volunteering in Natchez Trace State Park
By 2022 NextGen Trail Leader Aleshea Carriere I packed my bag and loaded the truck. My sister’s rushed voice beckoned from the truck speakers, “you’ll…
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American Hiking Elects Four New Board Members for 2023
American Hiking Society is pleased to introduce four new members of the Board of Directors in 2023. Each new member brings a wealth of experience…
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Hikers and Trails Community Achieves Victory in FY23 Omnibus!
American Hiking Society led efforts by the trails community to secure millions of dollar funding increases benefitting trails on public lands across the country! The passage of the omnibus appropriations bill by Congress late last month included hard fought gains for trails including new funding for Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and US Forest Service managed trails.
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