7 Unique Events for National Trails Day® on June 1

With hundreds of National Trails Day® events taking place in open spaces in all 50 states on Saturday, there’s a National Trails Day® event for everyone. Kick-start a summer filled with adventure by participating in an event near you. It’s simple to find the perfect event for your outdoor adventure tastes with American Hiking Society’s event finder.  We’ve highlighted a few events that offer exceptional experiences.

Photo: Friends of the Dillon Ranger District event from 2018

1. Finish a New Trail – Elkin, NC

Help take the the Mountains-to-Sea Trail off the road in Stone Mountain State Park by finishing a new segment of trail. There will be something for all ages. Make it a fun-filled weekend and enjoy NC Trails Day with guided hikes, adventure film night, low-country boil and music at the Trail Days Gathering, kid’s events, guest speakers, a 5k trail run, food trucks/beer garden on Main Street, Overmountain Victory Trail Revolutionary War encampment, mountain bike and bikepacking clinics, demos and rentals.

2. Pizza and Trails, the Perfect Match – Ogden, UT

Enjoy an urban hike, and help make the trail a bit more beautiful than it was beforehand. Join American Hiking Society’s NextGen Trail Leader Adam Tobey, The GOAL Foundation, and Leave No Trace for a trail cleanup and then an afterparty at Slackwater Pizzeria and Pub.

3. OutdoorFest NYC Campout – New York, NY

NYC’s largest campout is back with 24 hours of jam-packed adventure including trail running, yoga, hiking, slacklining, workshops, photography, and live music by Bridges & Tunnels band. Start your summer under the stars.

4. Walking Native Land – Seattle, WA

Walk through the West Duwamish Greenbelt with Ken Workman, a descendant of Chief Seattle.  Workman will talk about his personal and native history in the area on the way.

Photo: Vanessa Covington at Carolina Tread Trail event in 2018

5. Clean Trails Then Beer – Washington DC

Volunteer with Potomac Conservancy and the National Park Service to collect trash and celebrate National Trails Day® at Theodore Roosevelt Island! Sierra Nevada and REI will host a free happy hour after the park clean up.

6. LeveeFest – Kansas City, KS

Come and experience one of the newest and most scenic biking/hiking infrastructures in the Midwest. There will be food, music, health activities, and vendors as well as the opportunity to hike onto the abandoned Rock Island Rail Bridge and take a boat ride up the Kansas River.  

7. Run and Restore – Big Bear Lake, CA

Who says trail work can’t be fun? Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation is partnering with Kodiak Ultra Marathons to bring you a fun-filled day including an introduction to trail maintenance, a trail run, picnic lunch, and giveaways.

Don’t worry if none of these great events are near you, you can check out hundreds of other options in time to plan your weekend adventure.