Event · Parks & Public Lands
National Trails Day
National Trails Day falls on the first Saturday of June every year, drawing families across the country into parks, forests, and greenways for organized hikes and hands-on trail work. It is the largest single-day trails event in America, hosted by the American Hiking Society and local trail partners. A morning of digging, clearing, or walking with a crew is one of the best ways to show kids that public lands belong to the people who care for them.
This page from Outside, the family adventure app, covers National Trails Day, an annual event held on the first Saturday in June and organized by the American Hiking Society. It explains what the day involves, how families with children ages 4 to 14 can participate in group hikes or volunteer trail-maintenance projects, and how to plan a full weekend around it. The page includes planning tips, what to bring, and answers to common family questions about the event.
| Cost | Free or low cost at most events |
|---|---|
| When | First Saturday in June, annually |
| Region | Nationwide |
| Best ages | 4 and up; tool work suits ages 7 and up |
| Organized by | American Hiking Society and local partners |
What National Trails Day is
Every first Saturday in June, the American Hiking Society coordinates hundreds of events at trailheads from Maine to Hawaii. Local trail clubs, land trusts, national park partners, and forest service crews organize the day's activities, which fall into two broad types: group hikes open to any skill level, and volunteer stewardship projects where participants do real maintenance work. Both are free or low-cost. Both are open to families. The day has run continuously since 1993, making it one of the longest-standing outdoor traditions on the American calendar. Think of it as a national barn-raising, except the barn is a ridgeline singletrack or a riverside interpretive path that your family will walk again for years.
What families actually do on the trail
Stewardship events put tools in your hands. Crews typically clear brush, move water bars, rebuild eroded tread, or paint blazes. Children old enough to carry a small hand tool, usually around age seven or eight, can work alongside adults under crew-leader supervision. Younger kids are often welcome to participate in easier tasks like picking up debris or moving small rocks. Group hikes are the right fit for mixed-age families: a ranger or volunteer naturalist leads the walk, points out plants and animal signs, and keeps the pace manageable. Some events combine both, starting with a short work session and finishing with a celebratory hike. Either way, kids leave having contributed something real to a place they can point to on a map.
How to find an event near you
The American Hiking Society publishes an event finder on its website each spring, searchable by state and activity type. Most listings go live in April and fill steadily through May. Search early, because popular trailhead events in busy parks can cap registration weeks out. Beyond the official finder, check with your nearest REI store, state parks department, and local trail-running or hiking clubs, all of which frequently host their own affiliated events. National parks sometimes coordinate separate, park-specific programs that run alongside National Trails Day but operate under their own registration. A five-minute search in mid-April will give your family a solid shortlist to choose from.
Planning a full weekend around it
Because the event falls on a Saturday, a two-night trip turns it into a proper family adventure. Drive in Friday evening, set up camp, and let the kids explore the trailhead area before the main event Saturday morning. After the organized hike or work session ends, the afternoon is yours: a swim, a picnic, a slow walk back to camp with no agenda. Sunday morning is ideal for a family-chosen trail on the same land you helped take care of the day before. That sequence, arrive, contribute, explore, return, gives the weekend a shape kids remember. If camping is not practical, a day trip still works well. Pack lunch, plan to stay through midday, and leave room for a spontaneous detour on the way home.
What to bring
For stewardship events, organizers typically provide tools and gloves, but confirm this when you register. Wear clothes you do not mind dirtying and closed-toe shoes with ankle support. Bring plenty of water for each family member, sunscreen, and a hat. A small first-aid kit is always worth carrying. For group hikes, standard day-pack gear applies: water, snacks, layers, rain shell, and a basic map of the area even if a guide is leading. Kids over about age six can carry their own small packs, which builds ownership of the outing. Bring a field notebook or sketchbook if your children like to record what they find. Many trailhead events have a sign-in table where kids receive a small patch or certificate, so leave a little space in the pack.
Why this day sticks with kids
There is a difference between visiting a trail and caring for one. Children who spend a morning moving dirt or clearing drainage with a crew of neighbors and rangers develop a relationship with public land that a passive visit rarely builds. They understand, in a concrete way, that trails do not maintain themselves and that ordinary people keep them open. That understanding tends to outlast the day. Families who return to a trail they helped repair the previous June often find that kids remember exactly where they worked and want to check on it. That kind of attachment is the foundation of a lifetime of outdoor engagement, and it begins with one morning and a good pair of gloves.
Write about a spot on today's trail that your family helped take care of. What did it look like before you worked on it, what did it look like after, and how do you want it to look the next time you come back?
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to register in advance for National Trails Day?
Most events ask for advance registration, and some popular trailhead events fill their volunteer rosters weeks before the first Saturday in June. Check the American Hiking Society event finder in April and sign up as soon as you find an event that fits your family. Walk-in spots are sometimes available, but registering early guarantees your place and helps organizers plan for the right number of tools and crew leaders.
Is National Trails Day appropriate for toddlers and young children?
Group hikes are generally welcoming to young children, including preschool-age kids in carriers or on foot. Stewardship work sessions are better suited to children around age seven and older who can handle light tools safely. When you register, ask the event organizer about the pace, terrain, and minimum age for tool use. Many events are designed with families in mind and will tell you exactly what young participants can do.
What if there is no event near us?
If the official finder does not show an event in your area, contact your nearest state park office, local trail club, or land trust directly. Some organizations host affiliated events that do not appear in the national database. Alternatively, your family can observe the spirit of the day independently: pick up a trail permit, pack out any litter you find, and spend the day on a trail you love. The American Hiking Society also offers guidance on organizing a small local event if you want to start something in your community.
Are tools and equipment provided, or do we need to bring our own?
Stewardship events almost always supply hand tools such as pulaskis, loppers, and McLeods, along with work gloves. You should still bring sturdy closed-toe shoes, sun protection, water, and snacks. Confirm the specifics with the event organizer when you register, since gear availability can vary by group size and location. For group hikes, standard day-hike gear is all you need.