Trail Management & Maintenance

Trails don't just take of themselves—park staff and volunteers work hard to keep trails safe for visitors. Trail crews consider many factors when they plan trail maintenance. Some trails have historical significance, and other trails may affect important natural areas where endangered species live. Another factor is the materials used to build the trail. Caring for trails from the late 1800s or early 1900s is especially challenging.

Mission 66

Trails in the NPS suffered in the 1940s and early 1950s. During this time, national efforts focused on World War II. Relief for trails came through the Mission 66 program, started in 1956. One of the aims of Mission 66 was to upgrade park facilities before the NPS turned 50 in 1966. Many trails needed some maintenance, and other areas needed new trails. Trail crews built short trails near visitor centers and other paths for educational purposes. They constructed self-guided nature trails and paved multi-use trails. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps relied on locally available rustic materials. But Mission 66 standards were different. They required modern materials, such as pipe drains, concrete bridge forms, cut stone, and asphalt surfaces.
Sign for the Mission 66 project with vintage camping trailers and construction equipment behind it.
Mission 66 construction site.

NPS Photo

Effects of More Visitors

By the 1970s, many trails were "loved to death." A growing national interest in recreation brought more visitors to parks. But at the same time, many parks had limited maintenance programs for trails. This combination resulted in extensive erosion along many trails.
Park managers struggled to maintain trails and staff crews. Many turned to their local communities for help. A new generation of volunteer programs emerged, including the Youth Conservation Corps. Parks partnered with state-run conservation corps and local non-profit organizations. Today, these groups along with Volunteers-In-Parks often help trail crews maintain trails. Some parks have cooperating associations and friends groups that raise money to support trail upkeep. With the increase in visitation to national parks, visitors can assist with trail stewardship by practicing Leave No Trace principles.
Five youth wearing blue t-shirts and yellow hard hats hold yellow-handled shovels next to a black wheelbarrow.
The Youth Conservation Corps continues to partner with the NPS on trail projects. Niobrara National Scenic River's Youth Conservation Corps Crew pose for a photo after a long day of trail work.

NPS Photo

Laws That Affect Trail Management

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 established the National Register of Historic Places. It protects objects that are important in American history. These objects can include districts, sites, buildings, or structures. Some of these objects are accessed by trails that need to be preserved.

The National Trail System Act of 1968 allows federal establishment and protection of significant long-distance trails. It designated the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail a National Scenic Trail. In 1978, Congress amended the act to include other national historic trails, too. It includes trails that honor important routes of exploration or migration. It also protects trails that memorialize military action, civil rights, or commerce.

A 1996 EO protects Indian Sacred Sites. In important religious or ceremonial sites, some trail sections had to be closed or rerouted.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established millions of acres of protected wilderness lands. These lands are set aside to use and enjoy in ways that will keep them wild for future generations. The act protects many of the country’s undeveloped trails from changes by mechanized equipment. At the same time, many trails were abandoned due to lack of use.

Some other acts affect all trails:
  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969
  • Endangered Species Act of 1973 - This act protects habitat for threatened or endangered species.
  • Clean Water Act of 1977 - This act provides guidelines to protect floodplains and wetlands.
These laws require national park staff to protect natural areas and endangered species. Trails must not damage habitats or disrupt important lands or waters. Before building a trail, park staff have to analyze potential impacts. They also have to complete a public review process. At times, these reviews cause some trail closures during nesting or migration times. Other trails have affected wetland areas, so trail crews have built more boardwalks. To protect cultural and natural resources, park staff move trails around sensitive areas. Trail planning now requires full public involvement and consideration of workable alternatives.
Five people hike in vast open tundra with mountains in the distance
Almost 6 million acres of Denali National Park and Preserve is designated wilderness, which means most of the park is trail-less.

NPS Photo / Neil Blake

Planning, Environment and Public Comment

The National Park Service prepares a variety of planning and environmental documents to help guide the management of parks. Any trail documents and projects open for public comment in the planning process will be displayed below. We encourage your participation.

Documents Open for Public Review

    Other Plans and Projects

    A list of park projects without documents open for review may be found at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/.


    Curated Trail Management & Maintenance Articles

    Read about different trails projects in the NPS.
    Showing results 1-10 of 38

    • Cuyahoga Valley National Park

      When Was That? Key Dates in Making Cuyahoga Valley National Park

      • Type: Article
      • Locations: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
      Eight people, some uniformed rangers, line up by a historic red building holding dirt in shovels.

      In honor of our 50th anniversary year in 2025, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is compiling this list of key dates in our history.

    • Great Smoky Mountains National Park

      Great Smoky Mountains National Park completes three-year restoration of Ramsey Cascades Trail

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Date Released: 2024-11-18
      A red ribbon with a bow being cut and falling in front a group of park rangers and Friends of the Smokies staff. Fallen leaves, trees, and a moss-covered rock are in the background.

      In collaboration with Friends of the Smokies, the National Park Service (NPS) has a completed a three-year restoration of the Ramsey Cascades Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the Greenbrier area, this popular trail ascends through beautiful hardwood forests to the 105-foot Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in the park. The trail is now open seven days a week following an extensive reconstruction and rehabilitation.

    • Autumn trailbuilding along the Cross Plains Segment of Ice Age National Scenic Trail

      • Type: Article
      • Locations: Ice Age National Scenic Trail
      • Offices: Regions 3, 4, and 5
      People use hand tools to remove vegetation in a golden-leafed forest.

      Between October 18 and October 22, 2023, 268 volunteers donated 4,776 service hours to build trail along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

    • Point Reyes National Seashore

      Closures of Palomarin and Sky Trailhead Parking Lots and Part of Sky Trail for Resurfacing and Trail Work

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Point Reyes National Seashore
      • Date Released: 2024-09-05
      A road grader on a dirt road in a forest.

      In September and early October 2024, Point Reyes National Seashore will be closing the Palomarin Trailhead and the Sky Trailhead parking lots and the Sky Trail from the Sky Trailhead to Sky Campground to conduct resurfacing and trail work.

    • Grand Canyon National Park

      Bright Angel Point Trail Closure to Begin June 21 on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Grand Canyon National Park
      • Date Released: 2024-06-13
      A group of young adults view the canyon landscape from Bright Angel Point

      Beginning Friday, June 21, the Bright Angel Point Trail on the North Rim leading to Bright Angel Point will be closed for construction. This closure is necessary for the protection of staff and visiting public during an extensive repair effort to the Bright Angel Point Trail. The trail will be closed to all pedestrian traffic as National Park Service (NPS) personnel replace asphalt, move large rocks, and operate equipment in these areas.

    • Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

      Big South Fork Reschedules National Trails Day to June 22

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
      • Date Released: 2024-05-29
      IMG_0826

      For the safety of both staff and volunteers, Big South Fork’s National Trails Day workday will be rescheduled from Saturday, June 1 to Saturday, June 22.

    • Great Smoky Mountains National Park

      NPS to implement weekday closures of Ramsey Cascades Trail starting April 15

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Date Released: 2024-04-12
      A staircase made of logs ascends a trail lined by trees

      Starting April 15, the National Park Service (NPS) will close Ramsey Cascades Trail on weekdays while trail crews finish the full-scale rehabilitation work started in 2022.

    • Obed Wild & Scenic River

      Volunteers Needed for Annual Cumberland Trail Day

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Obed Wild & Scenic River
      • Date Released: 2024-01-27
      Volunteer Trail Work

      Join us as Obed Wild & Scenic River, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, and Cumberland Trail State Park hosts the annual Cumberland Trail Volunteer Day on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

    • Obed Wild & Scenic River

      Volunteers Needed for 2024 Trail Keeper Program

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Obed Wild & Scenic River
      • Date Released: 2024-01-11

      Obed Wild & Scenic River Trail Keeper program is a volunteer program for those who love the park’s trails and want to help take care of them. The goal of the program is to provide an extended presence in the backcountry while providing park staff with important information on current trail conditions.

    • Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

      Volunteers Needed for 2024 Trail Keeper Program

      • Type: News
      • Locations: Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
      • Date Released: 2024-01-11

      Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Trail Keeper program is a volunteer program for those who love the park’s trails and want to help take care of them. The goal of the program is to provide an extended presence in the backcountry while providing park staff with important information on current trail conditions.

    Tags: trail maintenance trail rehabilitation trail work trail crew work trail construction trail building trail crew trail improvements trail sustainability
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    Last updated: June 28, 2024

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