What We Do
Providing skill building opportunities, networking events, professional resources, and advocacy to strengthen and expand Vermont’s trail network
Our Role
From craggy mountaintops to northern hardwood forests and lush river valleys, Vermont is home to thousands of miles of trails that beckon locals and visitors alike. Vermont Trails and Greenways Council supports the volunteer and professional trail organizations that steward these vital assets.
Resource Support
We connect trail organizations to resources that strengthen their ability to create, develop, and steward high-quality, publicly accessible trails.
Connect & Convene
We develop a well-connected, diverse, engaged, and collaborative trails community
Advocate
We ensure that the needs of the trails community are addressed in Vermont’s policy, regulatory, and funding landscapes
Our Guiding Principles
Trail infrastructure is vital to Vermont’s social, cultural, ecological, and economic well being. Our guiding principles are to support and promote world-class trail infrastructure that meets the needs and interests of all trail users, while sustaining the health of surrounding natural communities and ecosystems.
Trails are critical
We believe healthy trails are vital to our wellbeing and economy.
Trails are for Everyone
We champion public trails that are inclusive, accessible, and supportive of all life.
Progress is Collaborative
We facilitate collaboration between trail organizations and public agencies to support the design, construction, and maintenance of resilient trails.
Our Partnership with Forests, Parks & Recreation
The Vermont Trails and Greenways Council is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In addition to our support for trail organizations of all sizes, we also serve as a formal advisor to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. In this role, our primary advisory responsibilities are to:
- Support the allocation of federal funds through the Recreational Trails Program;
- Advise the Vermont Trail System, including making recommendations about membership, trails standards, and how to best maintain, build and advocate for trails in Vermont; and
- Encourage and support educational programs about Vermont trails and outdoor recreation.
Our Impact
50,000
Individual trail organization members
7,750
Miles of
trails
100,000
Hours of volunteer time logged annually
50,000
Jobs supported
statewide
