UNH Resources for Trails and Outdoor Recreation
Trail Finder – Trail and trailside business map application
Nature Groupie – Outdoor volunteering resources
UNH Extension Tourism, Outdoor Recreation & Nature Economy – Educational resources
UNH Applied Recreation Research Collaborative – Research Links
Northeast Passage - Therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports
UNH Recreation Management and Policy Department – research, B.S. and M.S program, and student interns
UNH Department of Natural Resources and Environment - B.S. and M.S. programs including community planning, conservation, tourism and more
UNH Paul College of Business and Economics - Hospitality and tourism B.S. and minor programs
Trail Professionals and Organizations Directory
UNH Webinars
Building a Regional Identity for Trails and Recreation Webinar 1-30-2024 - UNH Media - Webinar Recording, recorded January 30, 2024
Applying Research and Data for Trail Projects and Outdoor Economy Decision Making - UNH Media - Webinar Recording, recorded March 6, 2024
External Resources (Grants, Education, Research)
Grants and Funding
Northern Border Regional Commission – Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) Program
New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) - Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants.
NH Joint Promotional Program (JPP) - Tourism promotion matching grants.
Trails Capacity Program – Funding for community trails projects.
Legacy Trails Grant Program – Funding for trail projects on U.S. Forest Service land.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative: America the Beautiful Challenge - Funding opportunities for conservation projects; can include projects that enhance access to the outdoors.
New Hampshire Outdoor Council - Be Safe Outdoors: Grants from the NHOC help defray expenses for supplies, equipment, and emergency training.
New Hampshire State Parks Recreational Trails Program - Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a competitive grant program that offers funding for quality public trail projects throughout New Hampshire.
Northern Border Regional Commission - Catalyst Program: The Catalyst Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. NBRC encourages projects that take a creative approach to addressing an economic need or opportunity in the region, alleviate economic distress, and contribute to economic growth.
Research, Data and Policy
Headwater Economics – Library of Trails Benefits
Rails to Trails Conservancy – Active Transportation Policy Hub
NH Rail Trails Plan (2022) - includes rail trail use and economic impact study
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH – Economic Impact Studies on Biking and Walking
Mountain Bike Economic Impact Reports - Studies and examples from West Virginia
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - U.S. Walkability Index
US Bureau of Economic Analysis - Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, U.S. and States, 2022
Granite Outdoor Alliance – NH Outdoor Workforce Assessment (2022)
NH Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) 2024-2028
Education
Granite Outdoor Alliance – NH outdoor industry advocacy, outreach, and networking
NH Trails Bureau – Trails Information and Resources
Northern Forest Center – Elevating Outdoor Recreation
Northern Forest Center Webinars (e.g., trail maintenance, recreational land use, rural economic development)
American Trails – Advancing Trails Webinar Series
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Rural Economic Development Toolkit - ORR Rural Economic Development Toolkit (2024 update)
Trail Maintenance | Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) (outdoors.org)
Sustainable Use, Ethics, and Etiquette
Bike Borderland's Ride with Gratitude Initiative
Hike Safe – Terrific partnership and a mountain safety education program and code developed and managed by NH Fish & Game and White Mountain National Forest
Trail Etiquette - NH State Parks' etiquette guidelines for all types of trail users.
Trail Design/Building References and Guides
American Trails – Basic Elements of Trail Design and Trail Layout
Rails to Trails Conservancy – Trail Building Toolbox
International Mountain Biking Association – Guidelines for a Quality Trail Experience
US Forest Service – Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails
US Access Board – Outdoor Developed Areas: A Summary of Accessibility Standards for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas
NH Bureau of Trails – Best Management Practices for Erosion Control During Trail Maintenance and Construction
Professional Trail Builders Association
NH Fish & Game – Trails for People and Wildlife (guide and data layer for habitat considerations of trail layout and design)
U.S. Forest Service - Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds
12 Resources for Building Trail Stewards - Links to trainings and online toolboxes
AMC's Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance, 5th Edition - Appalachian Mountain Club Store (outdoors.org)
Examples of Regional Trail projects
Bike Borderlands, NH/VT/ME/QC/ - Multi-state/province destination collective
Kingdom Trails, VT - Premier mountain biking destination
Mon Forest Towns, WV - West Virginia University partnership
Capacity Study - Kingdom Trails
Trail Trials: How AMC Trail Crews Adjust for New Challenges | Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) (outdoors.org)
How New Hampshire’s trail workers make hiking possible - New Hampshire Bulletin