The Right Crew for the Trail Work

This resource provides a look at the trail crew ecosystem, highlighting the roles of both paid professionals and passionate volunteers in creating and sustaining high-quality trail systems. It outlines how professional crews, with their specialized training and expertise in planning, design, and complex construction, lay the foundation for modern trail networks. Simultaneously, the resource emphasizes that volunteers are the backbone of long-term success, contributing invaluable local knowledge, community advocacy, and the sustained effort needed for maintenance. Ultimately, it champions the professionally built, volunteer-maintained model as the gold standard, demonstrating that the most effective and sustainable trail networks thrive on this powerful partnership between skill and grassroots dedication. Stepping through this resource with your own trail project in mind will help you examine the key questions necessary to plan for success.