Trail Builder Magazine

10/08/2025

The most meaningful exposure is the kind that builds trails.

Brands are asking: What events should we show up at or sponsor?
Trail orgs are wondering: How do we attract the right partners?

Our latest article explores how dig days, summits, and local trail events can build trust, visibility, and lasting community impact.

Discover how brands and nonprofit trail organizations can build real impact through local dig days and trail events. Learn why showing up matters, how to create sponsor-ready partnerships, and how authentic collaboration leads to stronger communities, lasting relationships, and more trails on the gr

10/07/2025

When brands and advocacy groups work together, the impact runs deeper than impressions or clicks.

It’s about shared purpose, combining a brand’s reach and resources with the on-the-ground relationships and credibility of advocacy organizations. Together, they can do more than promote; they can build.

The most meaningful exposure is the kind that builds trails.

09/25/2025

We’ve been exploring what happens when rural communities invest in trail systems. For many, this marks a new era of economic development, encompassing business startups, job creation, and overall growth.

When trails spark economic revival in rural towns, the story can sound simple: more visitors, more money, more hope. But growth isn’t always that tidy. Without care, it can push out the very people who have called these places home for generations.

Adventure tourism has power, but it also carries responsibility. As we build and invite, we must ask: who benefits, and who might be left behind?

How do rural communities chart a future where everyone benefits?

09/23/2025

There are helmets, and then there’s the kind you forget you’re wearing until you need it most. We took the Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS up to Timberline Bike Park and through Portland’s local trails to see if it lives up to the promise: full-face protection when you want it, half-shell freedom when you don’t.

It’s durable, comfortable, and surprisingly versatile. The Arbitrator is the kind of helmet that makes sense for trail builders who ride after a dig day.

The Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS is a true two-in-one helmet, giving riders full-face confidence and half shell versatility. Trail Builder Magazine tested it at Timberline Bike Park and local Portland trails, finding it durable, lightweight, and comfortable for long days. Perfect for trail build

09/22/2025

What certifications or training should someone pursue to become a professional trail builder?

09/19/2025

“Trail development isn’t just about recreation. It’s about transformation ... of economies, communities, and identities.”

If your town is wondering how to become a trail destination from scratch, this free resource is for you.

Download our new ebook, Trail Towns from Scratch: How Small Communities Can Revive Their Economy Through Trails, and learn how rural communities are using trails to spark economic revival.

Sign up for our newsletter to get your free copy: https://bit.ly/3F2ydg6

09/17/2025

In Gallup, New Mexico, a volunteer-built trail system and a few mountain bike events helped generate over $25 million in local economic impact over a ten-year span. And they’re not alone.

Across rural America (and beyond), communities are discovering that trail infrastructure is economic infrastructure; supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and giving young people a reason to stay.

In our latest article, we explore:

▪️How trail systems scale with low-cost, high-reward investment
▪️Why mountain biking is a powerful tool for rural revitalization
▪️What Gallup can teach other communities about economic momentum

Read the full story and imagine what’s possible in your own town.

Can trails really help your town’s economy? In Gallup, New Mexico, trail development and mountain biking events generated over $25 million in impact over 10 years. From youth retention to small business growth, this article explores how rural communities are using trails to spark economic revival ...

09/15/2025

Can trails help keep young people in town?

We’ve seen it happen.

When rural communities invest in trail systems, they do more than create outdoor access. They create reasons for young people to stay. Ride. Build. Dream. Start businesses. See a future close to home.

Outdoor recreation is one of the few sectors seeing steady growth. In Oregon alone, it generates $15.6 billion in spending and supports 224,000 jobs. Mountain biking specifically brings high-value returns in small towns through tourism, jobs, and community investment.

Nationally, more than 168 million Americans now participate in outdoor recreation, up 14.5 million since 2020. The growth is young, diverse, and eager for places to go.

If your town builds trails, it’s not simply building recreation for out-of-town visitors. Instead, it’s building a future.

What are you seeing in your community?

09/12/2025

Whether you’re leading a nonprofit trail organization or volunteering on weekends, understanding how to navigate public land politics is just as essential as knowing how to bench cut.

The process isn’t just bureaucratic red tape. Instead, it’s the roadmap for long-term trail access, funding, and community trust. So how do we work within it without burning out?

Here’s what you need to know ...

1. Understand Who Owns the Land
2. Learn the Language of Agencies
3. Know the Long Game (and Play It Well)
4. Show Up to Meetings ... Yes, Even the Boring Ones
5. Build Coalitions, Not Just Trails
6. Remember: Trail Politics Is Still People Work

But here’s the good news: by showing up, staying informed, and supporting your local advocacy groups, you’re part of the solution. Trail building on public land is slow by nature, but it’s also sustainable, legal, and lasting.

The politics may be muddy, but the trails we build through them are worth it.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4mkUq8M

09/10/2025

You show up early with coffee and donuts. The crew is ready, shovels in hand, eyes on the ribbon of flagged trail that’s been months in the making. But just before tools hit the ground, a ranger rolls up with a clipboard and an apologetic shrug. “Sorry ... still waiting on clearance from the district supervisor.” You sigh, again.

This is the part of trail building that rarely makes the highlight reel. The part where advocacy, politics, and patience collide.

Here’s what you need to know.

Learn how to navigate the complex politics of trail building on public land. This article offers practical advice for nonprofit trail groups and volunteers on working with agencies, understanding permitting delays, and building long-term partnerships. A must-read for anyone serious about turning tra

09/08/2025

Do you trail build more for fun or for impact?

09/02/2025

Trail building stories deserve a bigger stage.

That is why Trail Builder Magazine exists. We inform, inspire, and connect the global trail building community. Our print issues are not just filled with words. They are filled with the real stories of builders, advocates, and communities shaping the future of trails.

We are now accepting article submissions for upcoming issues. Whether you are a professional trail builder, a nonprofit leader, or a volunteer with a story from the field, we want to hear from you.

Your story matters. Your voice matters. Together, we can show the world what trail building is all about.

Submit your article idea today: https://www.trailbuildermag.com/article-submissions