Our Cause
At Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, we are building a nation connected by trails. We reimagine public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors.
Our Impact
We protect trails by continuing to lead the national effort to shape the legal framework around rail-trails and defend them in the courts. Since 1986, we’ve been involved in 60+ legal cases, including landmark state and federal cases that have laid the groundwork for the national trails movement.
We advocate for transformative investments in trails, walking and bicycling at the federal, state and local levels. To date, $22+ billion in federal funding has supported 40,400+ projects via Transportation Alternatives and the Recreational Trails Program. In FY 2022, our advocacy alongside partners in 18 states yielded nearly $1.3 billion in new and renewed state funding.
Our work in FY 2022 led to major advances in policy, funding and engagement for trails and trail development. Collectively, we raised hundreds of millions of dollars in public and private funds in support of TrailNation™ and Great American Rail-Trail® projects, which span 27 states and more than 11,000+ miles.
*Ranges calculated below based on payroll deductions from 24-26 total paychecks in a year.
How Your Workplace Donations & Matching Gifts Make a Difference:
$100 - $250
Total Annual Pledge
($5 - $10 per pay period)
$100 helps Rails-to-Trails Conservancy build a nation connected by trails by enabling us to work with regional, state, and municipal planners to incorporate safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors as we reimagine public spaces for everyone.
$250 - $650
Total Annual Pledge
($15 - $25 per pay period)
$250 helps Rails-to-Trails Conservancy host TrailNation Collaborative events – webinars, in-person, and virtual meetings, where we share best practices and a dynamic Trail Building Toolkit. The Collaborative is a learning community where thousands of advocates, public leaders and professionals come together to share their experiences, their challenges, and their strategies for accelerating the pace of connecting trails and active transportation infrastructure.
$780 - $1300
Total Annual Pledge
($30 - $50 per pay period)
$1,000 helps Rails-to-Trails Conservancy advocate for more public investment in active transportation infrastructure. Like our successful push for passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included reauthorization of the nation’s federal surface transportation bill and more than doubled funding for trails, walking and biking. The bill bolsters long-standing federal programs for trails and creates new funding to advance trail networks nationwide.
Our Stories
Environmental Awareness Month
Every September, environmental organizations around the Nation come together in recognition of Environmental Awareness Month, with a goal to raise awareness about environmental issues that…
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World Environment Day 2024
First held in 1974 by the United Nations, World Environment Day–celebrated worldwide on June 5th each year–is a day for raising awareness about environmental issues…
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Bike to Work This Month!
40% of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. Established in…
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