Protecting a Treasured Asset

Grantee: Superior Hiking Trail Association

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Superior Hiking Trail Renewal Program contributing as much as 8,000 hours per year. As its popularity and use increases and the trail comes under pressure with thousands of users and climate challenges each year, the Superior Hiking Trail Association is tasked with ensuring the long-term sustainability and resiliency of the 300-mile trail.

The Superior Hiking Trail Association recruits and trains hundreds of volunteers on best practices of natural trail development, how to properly care for this regional asset, and most importantly how to maintain the highest safety standards for people dedicated to working on the trail system.

Training of the volunteer base has taken a more creative approach due to COVID precautions with the use of virtual and video tutorials that reach a wider audience, encourage outdoor recreation, promote more small-scale trail projects, and help instill conservation-oriented trail management approach to trail building and maintenance.