Trip Report: 2025 California Trails and Greenways Conference
In April, the 40th annual California Trails and Greenways Conference brought together trail professionals, stewards, and recreation staff from across California. Organized in partnership with California State Parks, this conference remains a cornerstone for California’s trail community, providing practical training, policy updates, and a space to celebrate project and program successes, to share challenges and new techniques and technologies in the trails and recreation world.
Participants at this year's California Trails and Greenways Conference
Outdoor Alliance partnered with the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership (CORP) and California Mountain Biking Coalition (CAMTB) to host a workshop focused on the dynamic policy environment shaping access to trails and public lands. The workshop included a timely overview of the impacts and uncertainties facing federal land managers, and highlighted the significant advocacy wins from 2024, including the passage of the EXPLORE Act and new national monuments, as well as California Proposition 4.
The workshop also moved beyond policy updates to action. Attendees generated 30 postcards to California Senators in support of the RTP Full Funding Act of 2025, putting the power of grassroots advocacy to work.
Wildfire is top of mind for many Californians and the conference also addressed wildfire resilience, with a well-attended panel on fire-hardened trails featuring Stew McMorrow with Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, John Wentworth, of Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access and Steve Messer with CAMTB. The presentation explained how fire-hardened trail principles can support both recreation and forest management, ensuring access for firefighting and fuels reduction while expanding and improving trail networks. John provided an overview of the Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Wildfire Resilience, of which fire-hardened trails are one suggested solution. He espoused many reasons why jurisdictions should adopt the strategy, as have Mammoth Lakes, California.
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of California Natural Resources Agency
The three-day event closed with Secretary of California Natural Resources Agency, Wade Crowfoot announcing the launch of a new Trails and Greenways program within the agency to manage a $100 million investment in trails, made possible by Proposition 4—a bill and bond measure championed by Outdoor Alliance California, and partners. This investment is a major step forward for California’s 30x30 and Outdoors for All initiative, to expand conservation and recreation access opportunities for communities statewide.
This year’s conference was a resounding success and a powerful reminder of the collective impact of California’s trail community. Outdoor Alliance California is grateful to have helped lead the legislative workshop for a second year and looks forward to continued collaboration to advance sustainable, accessible trails for all.