Trail Builder Magazine

What actually makes a town a “trail town?”

Having great trails nearby is certainly part of it. But the more I’ve thought about this question, the more I’ve realized that the trail itself is only the beginning.

A true trail town is shaped by the relationship between the trail and the community around it.

For trail builders and trail orgs, that raises an important question: What role does our work play in shaping the communities around our trails?

We explore that question in our latest article. Give it a read.

What Does It Take to Become a Trail Town? — Trail Builder Magazine Discover what makes a true trail town, why trail towns matter to trail builders and organizations, and how trails can strengthen rural communities.

It’s always interesting to talk with rural communities that want trails.

Where do you even start?

What advice would you give a community at the start of building trails, hoping to become a trail town?

SWITCHBACK: Women Building Trails is an upcoming anthology from Mountaineers Books featuring the experiences of women who have spent at least three seasons working on trails.

Editors are seeking prose, poetry, and graphic narratives about the work, the people, the places, and the ways trailwork has shaped your life.

Submissions are due October 9, 2026. Prose and poetry can be up to 2,000 words. Send submissions to switchbackanthology[at]gmail[dot]com.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to see more women from the trail building community represented.

What actually makes a town a “trail town?”

Yes, having great trails nearby is definitely part of it. But it goes far beyond that; it’s about the relationship between the trails and the community around them.

Do local businesses embrace trail users? Are residents connected to the trails? Are there partnerships between trail orgs, land managers, tourism groups, businesses, and local government?

And maybe the bigger question … how do you build all of that in a way that lasts?

A sustainable trail town requires relationships, stewardship, community buy-in, resources, and a long-term vision for how trails fit into the community.

How about you? What makes a great trail town in your eyes?

What are you looking for in knee pads?

Maximum protection? Comfort? Flexibility? Something that actually stays in place?

Or, for those of us who build trails, something that works just as well when you’re kneeling in the dirt as it does when you’re on the bike?

So far we’ve tested two very different options.

The Avision Guardian impressed us with its low-profile feel, abrasion-resistant outer shell, and Fidlock V-Buckle that makes it incredibly easy to put on or take off over riding or work pants. Read more: https://bit.ly/4mrcNZU

The Ride Cased knee pads have made a strong first impression for different reasons: comfort, flexibility, CE Level 2 protection, a secure fit that stays put, and the ability to easily wear them over pants. Read more: https://bit.ly/4xXBDWG

What matters most to YOU in a knee pad, especially if you’re using it for both ride days and dig days?

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Knee pads have one job when you’re riding. For trail builders, they might have two.

Ride Cased sent us a couple of pairs of its knee pads to test, and our early impressions are promising: comfortable, flexible, easy to put on, and they stay put.

But can they work just as well when you trade the bike for tools?

Our latest review looks at the Cased knee pads from both sides: riding trails and building them.

Cased Knee Pads Review: First Impressions for Riding and Trail Building — Trail Builder Magazine First impressions of the Cased knee pads, including comfort, fit, CE Level 2 protection, trail riding performance, and potential use for trail building.

Forget the tools. What gear always comes with you on a dig day?

We talk plenty about McLeods, Pulaskis, saws, and other tools of the trade. But what about everything else?

Knee pads. Gloves. Boots. Work pants. Eye protection. Hydration packs. Packs. Radios.

What piece of non-tool gear has earned a permanent spot in your trail-building kit?

We spend a lot of time talking about our favorite trails.

But how much do we know about the people who made them possible?

Every trail has a story. And usually, there are a lot of people behind it.

Share this and tag someone who helped build yours.

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