[Originally appeared in Earth Island Journal] “Without trails, we would be lost.” The simplicity of this statement in the prologue of Robert Moor’s first book, On Trails: An Exploration, opens the door to an in-depth study of trails, their purpose, and their meaning. Exploring paths forged by creatures ranging from ants to elephants to modern [...]
In honor of the National Park Service's 100th birthday, here is an excerpt from our love letter to national parks from national trails. (To read the entire piece, visit Earth Island Journal) Map of the National Trails System - courtesy of the National Park Service National parks offer perennial destinations [...]
In 2014, we interviewed Janet Moreland -- who had just retraced 2,600 miles of the journey of Lewis and Clark by kayak at the time -- and wondered what she's up to now... Here's an update! Janet on the Jefferson River in Montana. Photo by Norman Miller Who is Janet Moreland? I love [...]
This blog entry unveils a brand new infographic introducing the National Trails. We'll be expanding this graphic in the coming months but for now, here is a basic introduction to the trails with a visual spin: the infographic. Stay tuned for more multimedia offerings from the National Trails Guide, like this infographic, as [...]
There was some anticipation for the film A Walk in the Woods (2015) in the national trails community. This film version of Bill Bryson’s book of the same name stars Robert Redford and prominently features the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. I allowed some time to pass (probably too much) after seeing this film [...]
This summer, I had the pleasure of visiting almost every region of the State of Florida. One highlight, as we went searching for the Florida National Scenic Trail, was a canoe ride through the Ocala National Forest. With Florida Trail Association staffer Jeff Glenn, we floated down Juniper Creek, one of the crown jewels [...]
It's an honor to be speaking at the 15th National Scenic and Historic Trails Conference, just outside Nashville, Tennessee. The conference is sponsored by the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS) and my topic is "Working with Youth and Technology to Promote Our Trails." Here is the synopsis: It’s important in today’s fast-paced [...]
“Something bloomed inside me as I traced its jagged line with my finger on a map. I would walk that line, I decided, or at least as much of it as I could in about a hundred days...” -Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed The film Wild [...]
Trail Angels are a special breed. It's likely that most people have never heard of them -- but it's a given that anyone who has completed a long-distance trail is not only familiar with the term but may have even met one of these elusive characters. Hikers who have been on a trail for [...]
This is a unique post of the National Trails Guide: there is no agenda and this is not specifically geared to one trail. Instead, these are simply random pictures taken over three years of road research documenting the national trails. We hope you enjoy a behind the scenes look into seldom-seen spots along the [...]
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