Each June, The American Hiking Society celebrates National Trails day, with the objective of getting outside and leaving public lands better than we found them. This year, National Trails Day falls on June 2nd, and collectively, 2,802 miles of trail in the United States will be improved through various work projects, clean-ups and trail activities. Meritage is celebrating National Trails the whole month of June.
The idea is to get out to your local trails and pack out trash, join a work project, clean up a park, and/or just enjoy the beauty and rigor of your public land, together, making simple improvements along the way.
In honor of National Trails Day 2018, there are several events happening all over the Bay area. The below, are happening between June 1st and June 3rd, but the links can guide you to these great trails all year long!
1. Bike with the Adventure Cycling Association
The Adventure Cycling Association is hosting a couple of bike rides in honor of National Trail Day. One 40-mile bike ride starts out at the SF Ferry Building and heads through Mt Tamalpais State Park.
If you are up for spending a night at a haunted hostel in the Marin Headlands, another bike ride starts by train from Sacramento to Martinez and winds up in Marin after passing through San Francisco.
2. Lend a Hand on Mr. Sutro
National Trails Day on Mt. Sutro is a trail maintenance stewardship project beginning at 8:30 am and ending at 1:30 pm. Lunch and refreshing beverages will be served and a National Trails Day raffle will be held.
3. Clean Up The Vine Trail Before Sampling Napa Valley Wine
The Napa Valley Vine Trail is hosting a Cross Town Commuter Path Clean Up. This one is another maintenance stewardship project beginning at 8:00 am and ending at 10:15 am—just in time to start gearing up for some wine tasting!
4. Attend the Give Back Kick Back at Lands End
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is hosting a Give Back Kick Back from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. At this event, you can spend the morning volunteering at Lands End, and then celebrate the work you have done with all-you-can-eat BBQ and adult beverages! There will even be yoga and a raffle.
5. Help protect the Mission Blue Butterfly at Tennessee Valley
National Trails Day at Tennessee Valley is a hike and trail maintenance stewardship project starting at 9:00 am and ending at 1:00 pm. There will also be a focus on restoring habitat for the endangered Mission Blue butterfly.
6. Volunteer at Pilot Knob Trail and Enjoy Lunch at the Summit
Marin Municipal Water is hosting this one, also a trail maintenance stewardship project. It starts at 9:00 am and goes till 2:00 pm. Complimentary lunch at the top with views galore!
7. Take the pledge
Even if you can’t make it out to the trails on June 2nd, you can improve a trail on another day. By pledging to leave a trail or park better than you found it, you are joining a national movement to preserve America’s public trails for future generations.
If you pledge at: https://americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/ you’ll be entered to win weekly giveaways of swag and outdoor gear.
To pledge, you simply have to submit the pledge form.
Everyone who confirms they’ve improved a section of the 2,802 miles of trails, will be entered to win the grand prize.
Collecting trash, maintenance of a trail, or building a new one, all count towards improvement.
To share what you did on June 2nd, National Trails Day, or any other day towards National Trails month improvement, share your photos and stories tagged with #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking on FB, Twitter, and Instagram.
Happy Trails!