Think about the last time you stepped onto your favorite trail. Maybe you noticed the moisture on the dirt from an afternoon monsoon rain (woohoo!), the sound of birds singing, or the view of the Gore Range as you reached the top of a climb. Maybe you appreciated a conversation and the time with a friend or the rare chance for some solitude and reflection. It may not be hard to tell but I have fortunately experienced all of those on my recent trail experiences.
Now think about what you did not notice.
You probably did not see the drainage carrying water away from the trail beneath your feet. You did not see the tree that had been cleared before you arrived, the erosion that had been repaired or the crew that hiked in carrying heavy tools to build that bridge. You likely did not see the years of planning, permitting, collaboration and funding that made your experience possible.
A great trail can feel completely natural, but it does not simply happen. Trails require ongoing care, and the need for that care is growing.
Our public land managers are responsible for enormous landscapes with limited staff, funding and resources. They care deeply about these places, but the demands on our trails are increasing faster than the capacity available to address them. More people are discovering the physical, mental and social benefits of outdoor recreation, and that is something worth celebrating. But increased use also brings increased responsibility.
That is where the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance (VVMTA) comes in. Our role is to turn a shared love for trails into coordinated action. Listening to and working alongside our community, we identify needs, build partnerships and bring together the people and resources required to care for our trails.
At the VVMTA, we bring those pieces together. We work with land managers and the community to identify priorities, then connect those needs with the crews, volunteers, partners, donors and grantors who can help. That collaboration allows us to organize volunteers, hire skilled crews, take on complex projects and provide consistent stewardship across the valley.
That is what “Love Your Trails” means. It means understanding that enjoying our trails and caring for them go hand in hand and turning that care into action together.
For some, that starts with responsible recreation through respecting seasonal wildlife and muddy trail closures, staying on designated routes, packing out waste, managing dogs responsibly and giving wildlife the space it needs. Sometimes it means picking up a piece of trash from the trail or helping another person understand how one small decision can protect a trail or wildlife habitat.
For others, it means showing up with gloves and work boots. VVMTA volunteers contribute thousands of hours to stewarding, maintaining and improving local trails. They clear fallen trees, repair erosion, improve drainage, and close unauthorized routes. Trained crew leaders make it possible for volunteers to work safely and effectively while developing a deeper connection to the places they enjoy.
It can also mean advocating, educating or building partnerships. Caring for trails is not limited to physical labor. It includes speaking up for sustainable access, helping trail users understand their impact and bringing people and organizations together around shared solutions.
And for many, loving our trails means donating. Even volunteer powered trail work requires planning, training, tools and coordination, while professional crews and education programs depend on reliable resources. Financial support helps turn our community’s care into meaningful work on the ground. Every contribution matters because VVMTA’s work is only possible when our community acts together.
Trail stewardship is never a one time effort. Trees fall, erosion returns and growing use creates new challenges. Our trails and public lands require steady care and a long term commitment to remain healthy, resilient and accessible.
Visit vvmta.org to volunteer, donate and help ensure that the trails we love today remain vibrant for generations to come.
The VVMTA’s mission is to maintain, create, and advocate for sustainable trail systems that connect people to nature, promote environmental stewardship, and strengthen community well-being. The VVMTA is the trusted and enduring leader in trail based recreation, connecting a diverse community to well loved trails, supporting health, quality of life, and economic vitality, while championing a model of access and stewardship of our public lands that benefits everyone.
