Statewide Trails Program & Planning

Planning Division

trail header

Trail enthusiasts will find information about exciting new hiking, biking and equestrian trail opportunities within California State Parks by clicking on the following links:
Day Hiker's Guide Trails Search
Visit-A-Park by Activity
Take a Hike!

The Statewide Trails Section provides education and technical assistance to trail managers, recreation providers, open space managers and non-government trails and greenways advocates on non-motorized trail planning, design, construction, funding and management throughout California. Major programs:
Support the California Trails & Greenways Conference and California Trail Days events
Provide trail planning, funding and management tools for trail managers
Link the goals and trails described in the California Recreational Trails Plan to increases in trail access statewide
Support the California Recreational Trails Committee which solicits input from the public on current trail issues and advises the Director and Governor on policy improvements statewide
Formulate trail policy recommendations for California State Parks

What’s New

California Recreational Trails Plan Progress Report

As leaders in training, planning and managing all types of trail systems, California State Parks is committed to assisting the State’s recreation providers by complying with its legislative mandate of reporting the progress of the California Recreational Trails Plan. Click on the report cover to review the progress report that was approved by the Governor on April 17, 2009.

California Trails & Greenways Conference
Since 1984, this conference has offered a great opportunity for trail professionals and enthusiasts to join colleagues for both classroom and outdoor hands-on activities that provide practical skills applicable to virtually every recreational trail system in California. The most recent California Trails & Greenways Conference was held April 22--24, 2009 at Tenaya Lodge, near Yosemite National Park’s South Gate. Click on the logo for more information. If you are investigating strategies for envisioning, planning, funding, designing, constructing, and managing non-motorized recreational trails in California, check out the extensive archive of past conference information.

Our next conference is planned in Cambria on April 21-23, 2010. Check back here for updates or email trails@parks.ca.gov to join our mailing list and receive the most current information automatically.

Trail Managers Toolbox
Sophisticated tools designed to educate today’s trail professionals are available in this toolbox, including grant writing strategies, multi-use trail management ideas, maintenance budgeting spreadsheets, research papers and construction guidelines. The California Trails & Greenways Foundation Grant Program has been updated--check the Toolbox under Grants for the latest information.

Day Hiker's Guide Trails Search
Come and explore popular day hikes in more than 150 state parks as featured in the “Day Hiker’s Guide to California State Parks”. (“Day Hiker's Guide to California State Parks” is published by The Trailmaster, Inc. © 2007. Trail descriptions and maps have been reproduced with the permission of the author.)

Programs

Take a Hike
Hiking in your state parks is more than just a walk in the park. It’s an exciting and affordable way to improve your health, control your weight, and enjoy the magnificent beauty of California with your family and friends. Learn about our Take A Hike! program and featured trails.

California Trail Days
The California Trails & Greenways Foundation has selected the second weekend in April to celebrate this statewide trails event which promotes trail construction and maintenance by volunteers. This "standing weekend" should help organizers of Trail Days events in scheduling resources and project planning. Download the documents below to find out more and register your event. Your trail team can receive a Proclamation from the Governor (Trail Days Proclamation), cool patches and be listed in our summary report. Plan your own event, or sign up to participate with activities already organized by any Federal, State, County, City or private organization in your neighborhood. Be sure to register your event (even if it's not on the second weekend in April), so we can collect those valuable volunteer hours. For more information, contact mailto:californiatraildays@sierratel.com

Trail Days Brochure (262Kb)
Registration Form (169kb)
Rewards Program (194kb)

California Recreational Trails Plan
Plan

Recreation professionals and advocates will find that Phase One of the California Recreational Trails Plan (1 mb .pdf) identifies 12 trail-related goals and lists action guidelines they can incorporate into their activities to strengthen trail access in their communities. The Plan also delineates regional trails of statewide, national and international importance. Does your community have a California Trail Corridor?

Download the Trails Plan above, or contact us for a print copy at (916) 651-0386 or via email at trails@parks.ca.gov. The 2009 Progress Report to the State legislature was approved by the Governor on April 17, 2009.

Public Input

California Recreational Trails Committee (CRTC)

The CRTC is charged with coordinating trail planning and development among local government and nongovernmental organizations for non-motorized recreational trails, and advising the Director of California State Parks and the Governor on statewide and State Parks trail policies. The Committee meets three or four times annually.

         Committee Information
       Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes

The Statewide Trails Manager serves as Executive Secretary. Questions or comments for the committee may be emailed to trails@parks.ca.gov.

California State Parks Trail Policy

Trails Policy (25 kb .pdf): This document describes State Parks' procedure for establishing and approving trails and their appropriate uses, and clarifies the management roles and responsibilties of the various levels of the Department.

Trail Use Change Process (90kb .pdf) describes the process the department uses to assess requests for a change in use of a trail on State Park properties.