Trails as Resilient Infrastructure (November 2023) This guidebook demonstrates how trails are part of resilient transportation infrastructure, how trails can be planned and designed to be resilient and sustainable, and how trails have a role in emergency planning and response.
Rails-with-Trails Best Practices and Lessons Learned (May 2021) describes effective practices to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain rails-with-trails facilities.
National Trails Training Partnership
Agencies working together to promote trail training and resources.
National Trails System
A network of scenic, historic, and recreation trails created by the National Trails System Act of 1968. See map.
National Trails Day
NTD introduces people to the many joys and benefits of trails.
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The RTP is an assistance program of the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Federal transportation funds benefit recreation including hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 reauthorized the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) through Federal fiscal years 2022 through 2026 as a set-aside from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside under the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG). The amount set aside is equal to the State's FY 2009 RTP apportionment.* See Funding Levels by State.
Each State administers its own program. Contact your State RTP Administrator for guidance on State policies and project eligibility requirements.
The Recreational Trails Program Project Database lists most RTP projects funded from 1993 through 2021. The 2021 Recreational Trails Program Annual Report describes how the States used RTP funds. The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) recognizes outstanding RTP projects through its Annual Achievement Awards.
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) Section 1524 requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to encourage States and regional transportation planning agencies to use qualified youth service and conservation corps to perform appropriate transportation-related projects. This section of law remains in effect. See:
* Note: From FY 1993 through FY 2012, the RTP funds were distributed to the States by legislative formula: half of the funds were distributed equally among all States, and half were distributed in proportion to the estimated amount of nonhighway recreational fuel use in each State. The RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, and represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from nonhighway recreational fuel use: fuel used for off-highway recreation by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-highway light trucks.
