A Hikers Guide to the Government Shutdown (Updated Sept. 2025)

Your bags are packed, the car is loaded, and you are about to set off on a nice outdoor getaway to enjoy some hiking and fresh air when you hear then news that the government has shut down and you may not be able to access your favorite trail. Don’t fear, you can likely still go out and enjoy your hike, but you will be more limited in where you can go, what resources will be available, and who will be there to assist you.

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“Does anything I do even matter?”- A NextGen Trail Leader recounts their first advocacy experience.

“Does anything I do even matter? Even as I educate community members and participate in service projects at trailheads in my own community, can I actually change things? Do my elected officials truly hear my emails, phone calls, and petitions?” These questions have been stirring in my mind for years as I have tried to be more active in advocacy for policies that protect the wild places I love.

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Reality Check: National Public Lands Advocacy

I learned a lot about federal politics in just a few short days, and while I’m still trying to figure out what it means to me, I think that it’s important to keep perspective. That said, I’m not going to stop dreaming – about ways to improve trails and my community today, and about ways to advocate for change in the future.

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Stewardship in Paradise

The 9-person team jumped into a wide range of stewardship projects, from trail maintenance and clearing historic sites to planting native trees, removing invasive species, and hauling out debris.

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20 Volunteers United in Care for the Adirondacks

In the heart of the Adirondack Park, one of the nation’s first Forever Wild Forest Preserves, 20 volunteers from across the country came together to support Champlain Area Trails by clearing brush, removing fallen logs, cutting trails into hillsides, and installing bridges and boardwalks to make the trails safer and more accessible.

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Dedication in the Desert

Surrounded by Moab’s towering red sandstone walls, an American Hiking Society crew came together to care for one of the Southwest’s most iconic desert landscapes.

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