Jakob Franke, a tireless volunteer and remarkable leader who dedicated himself to the Trail Conference’s mission for the better part of a quarter century, died on Nov. 10. He was 75. Jakob’s influence extended beyond his passion for trails and trail lands to the volunteers he recruited with his friendly, welcoming attitude and infectious enthusiasm.…
In 2016, the Trail Conference served as the stewards of more than 2,100 miles of trails throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. The demand for the Trail Conference’s services continues to grow as we provide the public with trail information, build and maintain trails, and act as advocates for trails and the lands they…
Nobody loves trails quite like our volunteers That’s why the Trail Conference hosted our very first Trail Symposium, an all-day celebration of the outdoors and those who give their time to help connect people with nature, on Saturday, Nov. 5. The event was held at Ramapo College of New Jersey, adjacent to our headquarters in Mahwah,…
Effective August 28, 2016, the trails within the Ramapo Valley County Reservation’s core recreational area have been reconfigured into a five-loop network by volunteers and staff of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. The work involved 7.2 miles of trail, including 1.2 miles of new construction and 6 miles of reblazing, and in the words…
Here is a look at our 2015 accomplishments and a preview of plans for 2016 2015 Look Back Catskills East Hudson New Jersey West Hudson Bear Mountain Cartography and Publications Invasives 2016 Look Ahead Catskills East Hudson New Jersey West Hudson Bear Mountain Cartography and Publications Invasives
Trail and Summit Stewards will be stationed at popular trails on Breakneck Ridge, in the Catskills, and at Bear Mountain State Park MAHWAH, N.J. July 13, 2016—As the allure of unplugging from technology and reconnecting with nature draws more people outdoors, the need to protect our natural places has become paramount. With a generous $30,000 grant…
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Announces Photo Exhibit Promoting the Long Path, “New York’s Greatest Trail” Photos of the Trail by Steve Aaron Will Be on Display at Trail Conference Headquarters Sept. 29 through Jan. 13, 2017 Kickstarter Campaign to Raise Awareness of the Long Path and the Exhibit Begins July 5 MAHWAH, N.J., July…
The Trail Conference has recently achieved Charity Navigator’s highest ranking, the coveted 4-star rating for our sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. This “exceptional designation” (four out of a possible four stars) differentiates the Trail Conference from other charities and indicates adherence to good governance and best practices that demonstrate trustworthiness…
With help from Ramsey Outdoor, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has received an environmental grant of $2,645 from Patagonia, Inc. to fund its trail stewardship work and leadership of the Ramapo Earth Crew. The Ramapo Earth Crew—a partnership between the Trail Conference and the Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization (MEVO)—is a high-energy group of trained volunteers…
The Sam’s Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve will reopen to the public in a partial capacity on Saturday, May 28, 2016. UPDATE: 8/1/2017 Trails connecting the Lake Minnewaska area to the Sam’s Point area are now open. The following trails are OPEN: Currently, Smiley Carriage Road remains closed for restoration from Berry Picker Trail to…
First-of-its-kind interpretive exhibit on the Appalachian Trail explores the Trail’s history and explains the art and science of trail building Special Earth Day event will be held at 12 noon on Friday, April 22, at Bear Mountain State Park in New York A new outdoor learning and activity area is opening on Earth Day 2016…
The 2016-2017 New York State budget shows a level of commitment to open space protection unlike any we’ve ever seen. The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has received a historic level of funding at $300 million—nearly double what was dedicated to conservation efforts and environmental resources last year. Securing these funds didn’t happen overnight. It took perseverance…
Join Us at the 2026 Trail Conference Annual Gala, Thursday, October 8
