Trail Champion Starter Guide

Welcome, Trail Champion! This guide is your first stop for understanding the role natural surface trails play in our communities. Discover their many benefits—from boosting local economies to improving public health—and find initial resources to kickstart your efforts in trail development and maintenance. Trails are not just paths; they're valuable community assets that deliver real, tangible advantages.

Benefits of Trails

Economic Vitality

Boosts Local Economies: Trails attract visitors who spend money at local businesses, creating jobs and generating tax revenue. Check out this resource page with economic studies on the economic impact of trails.

Increases Property Values: Proximity to trails can enhance residential property values.

Public Health

Mental and Physical Health: Beyond the thrill of the descent and the challenge of the climb, mountain biking offers a wealth of physical and mental health benefits that extend beyond the trail. The below resource is where you will find studies that highlight the positive impacts that mountain biking can have on individuals.
Read Studies

Youth Outdoors: In a world increasingly dominated by screens, reconnecting children with the outdoors and fostering active lifestyles is more important than ever. The below resource explores how mountain biking and unstructured outdoor play can be powerful tools for child development, physical health, and emotional well-being.
Read Studies

Community

Attracts & Retains Residents: Communities with robust trail networks are more desirable places to live, drawing in new residents and encouraging existing ones to stay.

Supports Workforce Development: Employers are increasingly looking for communities that offer a high quality of life and recreational opportunities, making trails a factor in attracting and retaining talent.

Improves Quality of Life: Trails contribute to a higher overall quality of life by providing accessible spaces for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction.

Fosters Community Pride & Connection: Trails serve as common ground, bringing people together and fostering a sense of shared ownership and pride in community assets.

Environmental

Protects Land: Trail development can be a catalyst for preserving natural areas, wildlife habitats, and green corridors.

Displaces Negative Use in Parks: Well-maintained and actively used trails can deter illicit activities by increasing positive public presence in park spaces.

Cost-Effective Infrastructure: Compared to many other public amenities, trails are often more economical to build and maintain, offering a high return on investment for communities.

Resources

Trails are Common Ground - Leading with Trails Guidebook

Newest IMBA book - Mountain Bike Trail Development Guidelines

Building Community Through Bike Parks

Videos

IMBA Impacts | We create, enhance, and protect great places to ride mountain bikes. Check out this video series to see the IMBA Impact.

The Importance of Federal Partnerships & Trail Education | IMBA is steadfast in our commitment to providing training development resources and education across the nation.

How an IMBA Trail Care School can Bring a Community Together | Spearfish, South Dakota | Trail Care School helps evolve trails in this western corner of South Dakota.

Trail Champions: Bean Peaks Gravity Flow Trails | Prescott, Arizona | All ages and abilities to nab some fresh laps on this first-of-its-kind system on U.S. Forest Service land in the entire state of Arizona.