On May 1st, 2025, Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation, the America the Beautiful Act, to extend the Legacy Restoration Fund—an essential program that has helped address the growing maintenance backlog on America’s public lands. First established through the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, the Fund has been instrumental in restoring trails, roads, and visitor infrastructure across thousands of recreation sites. Since its passage, the Legacy Restoration Fund has invested up to $1.9 billion annually in repairing roads, trails, water systems, and visitor infrastructure on public lands. Without renewal, the Legacy Restoration fund would sunset later this year, leaving many projects unfinished.

Outdoor recreation visits on America’s public lands have increased annually for more than a decade. The value of the outdoor recreation economy has climbed while funding for land management agencies has steadily decreased. This disinvestment in the agencies and programs that steward America’s public lands has led to a long list of overdue repairs and renovations that remain incomplete, affecting user experiences, visitor safety, and long-term sustainability of outdoor recreation infrastructure.

Projects funded through the Legacy Restoration Fund have made a noticeable difference for mountain bikers and other public land users, and many are still under construction. In Vermont, a multi-year project in the Green Mountains will replace or repair structurally deficient bridges essential for public safety and reducing stream sedimentation to improve the trail user experience along mountain bike trail systems, the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail, and the Vermont snowmobile trail network. In Nevada, Red Rock Canyon saw repairs to trails and bathroom facilities. In Washington, Denny Creek Trailhead received funds to expand parking access. In Montana’s Flathead National Forest, popular rental cabins were restored. These kinds of investments improve safety, access, and overall visitor experience. Learn about how Legacy Restoration Fund funding is improving outdoor recreation in your state.

Why does this matter to mountain bikers? 

First, trails and outdoor recreation infrastructure open to mountain biking across the country are benefitting from the Legacy Restoration Fund, with much of the work still in-progress. Second, renewing the Legacy Restoration Fund is about more than catching up on maintenance backlogs—it’s about keeping our trails, parks and public lands safe, accessible, and sustainable for future generations. As more people turn to trails and the outdoors for connection, adventure, and wellbeing, continued investment in outdoor recreation infrastructure is essential.

“IMBA applauds the movement to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund through the America The Beautiful Act” said IMBA Policy Manager, Aaron Clark. “In times of funding cuts and staffing shortages, mountain bike trails and other public land outdoor recreation assets need reliable funding to ensure healthy lands and waters, contribute to personal and community health; and drive economies across the country. Our federal agencies need this funding to restore and protect our trails and public lands. We look forward to working with Congress to support this bill moving forward.”

Mountain bike advocates: now is the time to speak up. Tell your lawmakers in the form below that you support renewing the Legacy Restoration Fund and investing in the future of outdoor recreation.