About the Trail Conference

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Mission

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a federation of member clubs and individuals dedicated to providing recreational hiking opportunities in the region, and representing the interests and concerns of the hiking community. The Conference is a volunteer-directed public service organization committed to:

• Developing, building, and maintaining hiking trails.
• Protecting hiking trail lands through support and advocacy.
• Educating the public in the responsible use of trails and the natural environment.

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Vision

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference will maintain its position as the leading hiking trail organization in the region. In pursuit of that goal, the Trail Conference will:

1. Continue programs of developing, building and maintaining hiking trails.
2. Expand its role as an advocate for better stewardship of trail lands.
3. Enhance efforts to preserve and protect trail lands.
4. Increase visibility and cooperation with member clubs, partners and the public.
5. Sustain a high level of quality volunteer participation.
6. Produce high-quality publications.
7. Broaden the demographic base of its membership.
8. Strengthen the financial base of its operation.

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Meetings

Bylaws

Brief History

In 1920, the NY-NJ Trail Conference was formed when local hiking clubs gathered to plan a system of marked hiking trails to make Harriman-Bear Mountain State park more accessible to the public. In this same park, Trail Conference founders constructed and opened the first section of the Appalachian Trail in 1923. During the 1930s, more trails were built and a system of trail maintenance was developed, giving each hiking club a share of the responsibility. 

By the time the 1970s came, The Trail Conference began to do more than just maintain trails, e.g. begin to publish hiking maps beginning with Bear Mountain/Harriman State Parks.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Trail Conference moved the AT off of roads and onto NPS property purchased to permanently protect it. It marked the beginning of expansion of the number of miles of trails the Trail Conference maintained.

Today, this maintenance network covers 1,600 miles of foot trails from the Delaware Water Gap north to beyond the Catskills. The Trail Conference is also involved with other not-for-profits and governmental units to ensure that the public has access to hiking trails. 

More history

• Vistas and Vision The definitive history from the beginnings to the 75th anniversary in 1995. (out of print) Free download of 32 Mb PDF.
• Trail Conference People - Presidents, Executive Directors, Awardees and some of their history.
• Wikipedia entry
• Forest and Crag: A History of Hiking, Trail Blazing, and Adventure in the Northeast Mountains, Laura Waterman, Guy Waterman (Editor), 928pp, November 1989. ISBN 091014673X. (The early years)
• Visit the office and dig though the archives.

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Funding and Support

Our work is supported through membership dues, publication sales, and private donations. In addition, our volunteers have devoted tens of thousands of hours to current projects and issues affecting the hiking trails. Some recent work includes:

• Managing and monitoring responsibility for almost 8,000 acres of National Park Service Appalachian Trail lands in NY and NJ. including cooperative planning with local citizens and park agencies.
• Working with other groups in coalition efforts to preserve trail lands including Sterling Forest, the NY-NJ Highlands Region and land in the Shawangunks and Catskill Forest Preserve.
• Securing continued hiker access to trails on private lands (about 25% of our system), and working with towns and municipalities to include these trails on their land-use master plans.
• Planning and building extensions of the Long Path, including the Shawangunk Ridge section and a northern extension to link the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves.
• Planning and building the Highlands Trail which will connect the Delaware and Hudson Valleys. Many sections are ready for hikers.

Interested in becoming a member? Membership benefits including discounts on books and maps and discounts at area camping stores.

Thinking about volunteering? Look at ways you can support the trails you love. Some are short-term and others are long-term or on-going commitments.

Our 990 tax forms are online at GuideStar.

See our annual reports.

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Strategic Plan

• Strategic Plan 1999-2002

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Trail Conference Structure

The Board of Directors, staff, committees, and member volunteers are committed to developing, building, and maintaining hiking trails, protecting hiking trail lands through support and advocacy, and educating the public in the responsible use of trails and the natural environment. The work is done in partnership with government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and 85 affiliated hiking clubs.

• Board of Directors
  The 15-18 members of the Board of Directors serve 3 year terms, with five members being elected every year. The president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer are elected by the board from the board members every year. In addition to serving on the board, all board members are expected to take an active role as a volunteer. Board members serve on committees, often, but not necessarily as chairs.
• Staff
  Under the direction of the Executive Director, the staff provide the day to day operations. Staff members include the Administrative Director, Trail Director, Development Director, Volunteer Projects Director, Administrative Assistant, Membership/Sales Coordinator, Consultants (p/t)- Trail Lands, ADK partnership/advocacy, Managing Editor Trail Walker (p/t)and Membership and Fulfillment employees (p/t). Office volunteers compliment and supplement the duties of paid staff.
• Partners  
  The representatives from the Trail Conference work with government and not-for-profit organizations, attend meetings as an advisor, active participant or observer, and testify at public hearings. In addition, volunteers serve on short term advisory committees dealing with issues such as parkway management plans, park unit master plans, cell towers, etc. To keep trails open as well as educate the public, the Trail Conference finds funds for parks beleaguered with funding problems.
• Clubs 
  The Trail Conference has a membership of affiliated clubs who lead hikes or provide other social opportunities for their members, something the Trail Conference does not do. The combined total of their membership of about 100,000 gives the Trail Conference a larger voice as an advocate for trails.
• Delegates-at-large
  Voting members of the Trail Conference who represent the membership (1 per 400 members).
• Active Member Delegates
  Voting members of the Trail Conference who are active volunteers as supervisors, subcommitees chairs or office volunteers.

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Trail Conference Committees

Most of the work of the Trail Conference is carried out by the volunteer committees. Typically these are chaired by a board member and have a staff person assigned to attend meetings and carry out some of the tasks. The committees have a charge set forth by the By Laws or directive from board and in the governing document.

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Trail Conference Past Officers, Staff and Awards

Much of what we have accomplished in the past is due to our previous staff members, trail conference officers and those we have choosen to honor with awards (Honorary Member, Raymond H. Torrey Award, William Hoeferlin Award, Leo Rothschild Conservation Award, Corporate Partner Award, Major William A. Welch Trail Partner Award, and Next Generation Award.)

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