Digital Timeline – History of AHS

American Hiking Society is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and holds its first Board meeting in Vienna, Virginia.

American Hiking Society kicks off HikaNation – a coast to coast walk starting in San Francisco aimed to increase awareness about hiking trails.

American Hiking Society and Backpacker magazine found the American Discovery Trail, the first trans-America trail. The effort envisioned a trail that will serve all Americans, connect the people and places of the nation, provide diverse experiences while respecting the natural and built environments, and be built through creative partnerships. In 1996, the American Discovery Trail Society was founded to lead and continue this effort.

American Hiking Society establishes National Trails DayⓇ which is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service. Tens of thousands of hikers, bikers, paddlers, horseback riders, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses come together in partnership to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands and trails.

The House Trails Caucus is created, providing an official caucus for members of the House of Representatives to collectively represent the interests of trails. 

American Hiking Society took steps toward regionally focused advocacy through the creation of the Southern Appalachians Initiative (SAI). SAI seeks to promote and protect the long-distance foot trails of the Southeast and connecting trails and their natural trail corridors by building a 5,000-mile interconnected trail network and an active network of hiking organizations. (SAI has since been retired)

American Hiking Society opens its first regional office in Chattanooga, TN as part of its Southern Appalachians Initiative

American Hiking fights major threats to trails, including rollbacks of national park protections and proposals to sell off public lands.

The Western Public Lands Initiative is established by American Hiking Society which raises awareness of the trails and resources of lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), particularly the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System.

American Hiking Society launches the NextGen Trail Leaders program, bringing together rising stars in the outdoor community who are the voice of young hikers and speak out to elected officials and the public on the need to protect public lands for all to enjoy and to expand and preserve trail access.

The Great American Outdoors Act to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and create the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund is signed into law. 

AHS celebrates 50 years!