Some trails are easier than others. This statement may be metaphorical in regard to life, but it is
also literal in the sense that some hiking trails are easy, and some are extremely hard. Most are
somewhere in-between. Finding your trail, one you enjoy that matches your abilities, makes
hiking an enjoyable experience. Celebrate National Trails Day by hitting a trail soon.
National Trails Day is celebrated each year on the first Saturday in June. This year it falls on
June 6. The day was created by the American Hiking Society in 1993 as a way to encourage
people to get outside, enjoy trails and give back to the places they love. What started small has
grown into a nationwide celebration. Hikers, bikers, horseback riders, paddlers, volunteers and
public land advocates from coast to coast.
The concept couldn’t be any more simple. Just get outside and use a trail. That may sound too
easy to matter, but it does. Trails are often our first connection to the outdoors. A trail can
introduce a child to wildlife. It can help someone discover a love of nature. Trails provide
exercise, stress relief and adventure. They connect people to public lands and, in many cases,
reconnect people to themselves.
Not all trails are created equally. Some are little more than a mowed path through a county park.
Others disappear into wildernesses so remote you may not see another person during your hike.
Every trail has a destination. Sometimes it’s a scenic overlook, a trout stream or a waterfall. But
again, like in life, it’s not the destination that makes the trail so special, it’s the journey along its
course. When you’re done, you’ll realize it was all the unexpected twists, turns, hardships and
challenges that made the journey rewarding. The destination is just the cherry on top.
The American Hiking Society has spent decades advocating for trails across the country.
Founded in 1976, it remains the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting
and promoting hiking trails and the hiking experience. National Trails Day has become one of its
signature programs and serves as a reminder that trails only exist because someone cared enough
to build and maintain them.
Most hikers probably don’t spend much time thinking about who cut the brush, repaired the
bridge or cleared the fallen tree from the trail. Volunteers do much of that work. National Trails
Day shines a spotlight on those efforts while encouraging new people to become stewards of the
outdoors. It also helps recruit new volunteers. In case you’re interested.
One of my favorite things about hiking is how available it is almost everywhere. Local city parks
often have walking trails. Conservation areas have hiking opportunities. State parks offer some
of the best trail systems in the Midwest. National forests and grasslands provide endless
opportunities for those looking for a little more adventure.
Sometimes we spend so much time dreaming about the next big trip that we overlook what is
available right down the road. You don’t have to travel to a national park or wilderness area to
participate. A one-mile trail through a local nature area can be every bit as rewarding as a famous
trail out West.
If you’re looking for a trail, the U.S. Forest Service recently launched a tool that makes finding
trails easier than ever. The National Forests and Grasslands app helps users locate trails, check
conditions, receive safety alerts and download maps for offline use before leaving home. For
anyone venturing into areas where cell service can be unreliable, that last feature can be
especially valuable.
“Due to the sheer size and remote nature of our 165,000 miles of trails and more than 30,000
recreation sites, we know that mobile service can be limited once you reach your destination,”
said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “We encourage everyone to download the National
Forests and Grasslands app – your own pocket-sized Forest Service guide – to check trail
conditions, download offline maps, and view safety alerts before your trip.”
A trail doesn’t have to be difficult to be worthwhile, and you don’t need expensive gear. It
doesn’t matter how many miles you cover or how many boxes you check. Just go for a hike. See
where the path leads and appreciate the gifts nature gives you along the way.
National Trails Day is a celebration of time spent outdoors in nature. It may be scheduled for
June 6, but you can celebrate the outdoors by taking a hike whenever you like. There is no closed
season, and you don’t need a license to go for a walk. Just get out there. Admire the wildflowers,
watch the birds, and keep your eyes peeled for larger wildlife. Try to take a child with you, or a
friend who doesn’t spend much time outdoors. There is no easier way to introduce someone new
to the glory of nature than simply going for a walk in the woods.
See you down the trail…
Pic: Take a hike to celebrate National Trails Day.
For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or
anywhere podcasts are streamed.
