Over the past two decades, volunteers and conservation partners have restored 41,000 miles of trails across America's National Forests, transforming degraded pathways back into thriving corridors of connection between people and wild places. As the National Forest Foundation celebrates National Trails Day on June 6, three landmark restoration projects stand out as testament to what sustained partnership and investment can accomplish.
These trails matter because they anchor how Americans experience their public lands. National Forests receive approximately 170 million recreation visits each year, with trails serving as the primary gateway for hikers, cyclists, and families seeking respite in nature. Yet many of these pathways face relentless pressures from erosion, weather, wildfire, and the sheer weight of visitor traffic. Keeping them safe, accessible, and sustainable requires deliberate, often expensive work—the kind that the National Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest Service, state and local governments, and private funders have been mobilizing together.
In Arizona's Tonto National Forest, the historic Highline Trail—a premier recreation destination in the Southwest—has been brought back to life. After years of degradation caused by erosion, severe weather, and wildfire impacts, the National Forest Foundation and local partners restored 60 miles of this storied path. The work improved trail sustainability, enhanced visitor safety, and protected surrounding natural resources while preserving public access. Today, the restored trail supports hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and other pursuits that draw visitors from across Arizona and beyond.
Colorado's beloved Hanging Lake Trail received perhaps the most intensive restoration effort of all. The trail welcomes 74,000 visitors annually, yet it suffered catastrophic damage from wildfire followed by devastating floods. The National Forest Foundation partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and local partners on a $4.9 million rebuild that included complete reconstruction of the trail, replacement of all seven bridges, construction of a new boardwalk feature, and expansion of the trailhead with improved amenities and interpretive signage. The project was designed with long-term sustainability and flood resilience in mind—ensuring that future generations can safely experience this Colorado classic for years to come.
In Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, the Trillium Lake Boardwalk project tackled a different challenge: how to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors annually while protecting sensitive ecosystems. The National Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest Service, and local partners invested $1 million to rebuild the 850-foot boardwalk, creating accessible routes that reduce impacts on surrounding wetlands and shoreline habitats. The new structure serves visitors of all abilities while maintaining the ecological integrity of this iconic destination.
Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, President and CEO of the National Forest Foundation, frames these projects as expressions of stewardship rooted in lived experience. "Every mile has reminded me that these experiences are only possible because of the volunteers, partners, and supporters who care for them," he reflects. National Trails Day celebrates not just the pathways themselves, but the human commitment required to keep them open, safe, and inspiring for those who come after us.