Step Outside: Why Local Trails and the People Who Champion Them Matter More Than Ever

There is a trail closer to you than you think. It may not be famous. It may not appear on a travel magazine's list of must-see destinations. But it is there, it’s wonderful, and it is waiting for you.

As American Hiking Society (AHS) marks its 50th anniversary, that simple truth sits at the center of everything we do. Trails belong to everyone. And ensuring that every person in every community can step outside, find a safe and welcoming path, and feel like they belong there fuels the work we have been doing for half a century.

The Trail Ten Minutes From Home

There is something that happens when you discover a trail close to home that a trip to a faraway National Park simply cannot replicate. When a trail is nearby, it removes the barriers of time, transportation, and cost that keep so many people from ever getting outside in the first place. It makes nature feel genuinely within reach, not like a special occasion.

That belief is at the heart of National Trails Day®, which AHS leads each year to bring people together in their local communities to hike, volunteer, and celebrate the trails right outside their doors. This anniversary edition carries a particular meaning. The movement has grown steadily over the decades, and today it reaches millions of people nationwide, inspiring action, strengthening communities, and reminding us all that the outdoors is not reserved for experts or far-flung adventures. It is a shared public experience, meant for everyday life.

A perfect National Trails Day® is not one single moment, but many: people volunteering alongside neighbors, joining group hikes for the first time, and discovering a trail they never knew existed just blocks from where they live. At its best, the day leaves people feeling more connected to their community, to the land, and to each other.

The Honest Barriers

If you asked someone who has never hiked, or who tried once and did not come back, what stopped them, you would likely hear a familiar mix: not knowing where to go, not feeling confident, worrying about having the right gear or experience, or simply not feeling like the outdoors was a place meant for them.

Those barriers are real, and American Hiking Society takes them seriously. Progress on trail access across America reflects genuine momentum, with more community-led projects, growing youth leadership, and expanding accessibility efforts. But access still depends too much on where you live and whether the trails nearby are maintained and welcoming. The work ahead is making sure every community has safe, cared-for trails and that every person who ventures onto one feels a true sense of belonging from the very first step.

What Partnership Really Means

Over 50 years, AHS has helped make some meaningful things happen: more than 650,000 volunteers contributing to trail projects, helping build and maintain over 46,000 miles of trail, and securing more than $100 million in federal funding increases for trails and trail-related programs, all driven by AHS advocacy. None of that happens without partners who are genuinely invested in the mission.

A good partnership goes far beyond a logo. The most meaningful partners help turn shared values into real, on-the-ground impact, supporting trail stewardship, expanding who can experience the outdoors, and strengthening the connection between people and the places they love.

The GORE-TEX® Brand is one of those partners, and the connection runs deeper than a sponsorship. This year, both AHS and the GORE-TEX® Brand are marking 50 years, a shared milestone that reflects a shared purpose. Since 1976, GORE-TEX® Product technology has helped people say yes to the outdoors, making weather less of a reason to stay home and more of something to walk right through. When gear performs reliably in real-world conditions, it opens the door for more people to show up with confidence, stay on the trail longer, and build a lasting relationship with nature.

“There is a natural connection between what the GORE-TEX® Brand stands for and what American Hiking Society is working toward. At its core, both are about making time spent outside more accessible in real-world conditions, so weather is less of a factor in getting on trails and staying there. When gear performs well in tough conditions, it opens the door for more people to say yes to a hike, a trail project, or a new experience,” says Kristin Oliver, Director of Corporate and Foundation Partnerships, American Hiking Society.

That is exactly what AHS is working toward. Taken together, the opportunity is not just about better gear or better trails in isolation. It is more people experiencing both, with the confidence and sense of belonging to inspire them to keep coming back.

Stewardship Is Part of the Story

Getting more people outside is the goal, but it comes with a shared responsibility to care for the places people are visiting. More use means more need for stewardship, maintenance, and sustained investment so trails stay safe and welcoming over time. That is where partners like GORE-TEX® Brand play a critical role. When organizations invest in volunteer programs and long-term trail care, they help ensure that increased visitation strengthens rather than strains these beloved spaces. Access and stewardship have to grow together, and the most meaningful partnerships understand that.

Your Invitation

Fifty years in, the invitation is a simple one: step outside and start where you are. Find the trail that is close to home. Walk it on a Tuesday morning or a Saturday afternoon. Bring someone who has never been. Volunteer for a trail project and see what it feels like to leave a place better than you found it.

The outdoors is not a destination reserved for a certain type of person. It is a shared public space, and there is a place on the trail for you.

To find trails, volunteer opportunities, and events near you, visit americanhiking.org.

American Hiking Society is the only national organization dedicated solely to promoting and protecting foot trails and the hiking experience. National Trails Day® is held annually on the first Saturday of June.