Trails connect us — to nature, to one another, and to ourselves. At its core, our Soul Dirt program is about cultivating that sense of connection and belonging in the outdoors. This year, Soul Dirt deepened its impact by creating welcoming spaces where everyone feels they have a place on the trail. Through community-driven experiences and partnerships, we worked to remove barriers and foster a true sense of inclusion, because when people feel they belong in nature, they are more likely to care for it, return to it, and find healing within it. Soul Dirt reminds us that the trails are not just for recreation, they’re where we find community, confidence, and shared purpose.
In 2025, Soul Dirt continued to grow not just in numbers, but in the strength of its community. Over the course of 50 hiking, biking, backpacking and trail work events, more than 600 participants came together to share the trail. Collectively, Soul Dirt participants covered over 2,500 miles and spent more than 1,000 hours out on the trails, fostering connection, confidence, and care for our public lands. With nearly 400 hours logged on Soul Dirt bikes, the program removed barriers to access and ensured that everyone, regardless of background or experience, could feel the joy and belonging that comes from being part of a trail community.
In partnership with our friends from Campeones Del Sistema, Exploremos, Mountain Pride, Mountain Recreation, My Future Pathways, The Cycle Effect and others, we experienced a rise in diverse engagement on our trails. This season, 54% of participants identified as Hispanic or Latine. We celebrated the joy of nature alongside 60 LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, and welcomed four members of the Hispanic community on a Spanish-first overnight backpacking trip. Thanks to Vail Resort’s Epic Promise’s inclusive access program, nearly 40 participants were able to explore on-mountain adventures, from scenic hikes to adrenaline-inducing downhill rides.
In 2025, we took another meaningful step toward outdoor equity with the launch of Senderos Para Todos, a collaboration between VVMTA and Exploremos, and supported by Eagle County. Together, we hosted two Spanish-language trail workdays, installed bilingual trailhead signage in Eagle, and began building senderosparatodos.org, an interactive Spanish-language trail and outdoor resource guide set to launch soon. With more signage and community opportunities on the way, Senderos Para Todos is helping ensure that everyone feels welcome and represented on our trails.
As we close out 2025, we’re reminded that Soul Dirt is about more than miles or trail hours, it’s about the connections formed along the way. This year proved that when people feel welcomed and seen in outdoor spaces, they don’t just participate, they thrive. From first-time riders discovering confidence on single-track to families building memories on the trails, each experience added to a growing movement of belonging. With new initiatives like Senderos Para Todos leading the way, we’re excited to continue breaking down barriers, deepening partnerships, and ensuring that every person who sets foot, or wheel, on the trail knows: these trails are for you.
Moments that mattered, told by those who were there...
I’m filled with gratitude for everyone who joined us on the trails this year. Your energy, openness, and sense of community made the 2025 Soul Dirt season one to remember. Together, we shared laughter, challenge, and joy, proving once again that the trails are where belonging begins. Every step taken on the trail, every conversation, every moment of connection reminded us why this work matters. Thank you for showing up, for supporting one another, and for helping grow a community rooted in kindness and adventure. Here’s to another season of dirt-filled fun!
See you on the trail,
Shawna Wood (she/her), Program Manager
Shawna Wants You to Help Us Get Our Community Outside:
Donate now to support our community with:
- Gear: A significant barrier for our community to get outside is simply the right gear. Whether it’s a helmet, bike, water bottle, or backpack, we are always in need of more gear for our participants to encourage them to get outside.
- Resources & Education: Support to increase the resources available to our community to understand how, where, and why they can get outside on the trails. Imagine not knowing you have a trail in your backyard that is free and yours to use. We want to make sure our community knows this and feels welcome to use it.
- Food, Drink, & Swag: Getting out on our trails is a great way to socialize and celebrating a great time on the trails with food, drink, and swag always reinforces the excitement and builds relationships amongst our community.
