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"Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver 🌿📖

Trail News | April 2025

In this issue: Happy Earth Week : Honoring our extraordinary volunteer community : Protect AmeriCorps : The best hikes in Columbia County : Preserving the native New England cottontail : Breakneck Ridge closure begins : Stock up for spring : Volunteer event spotlight : Our featured park of the month : Upcoming events

It’s Earth Week, trail family, a time to celebrate the wild spaces we love and transform that passion into action.

Over the last 100 years, the Trail Conference has evolved into a leader in trail stewardship, conservation, and volunteer-powered momentum. We know firsthand that the future of our trails depends on the strength of our community and the vitality of our public lands—yet those lands are under pressure like never before.

As extreme weather intensifies, invasive species spread, and federal funding grows uncertain, the responsibility to protect our natural resources increasingly falls on us and supporters like you. 

This Earth Week, your action matters more than ever. Now through April 28, every dollar you give will be matched up to $10,000—fueling urgent, boots-on-the-ground work to preserve our trails and forests.

Together, we can be a force for nature and protect our cherished wild spaces for generations to come.

Alongside Earth Week, we’re celebrating National Volunteer Week and honoring the incredible volunteers who power our mission year-round.

This Saturday, April 26, we’ll gather for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event, where we’ll toast the achievements of our community and present awards to those who go above and beyond. Stay tuned for highlights—we can’t wait to share news of our awardees!

Honoring the trailblazers who give back

The Trail Conference could not do what we do without our volunteers. Last year alone, 2,000 volunteers dedicated 86,000 hours to preserve our parks and trails. Behind every blaze painted or mile of trail maintained are devoted individuals whose stories embody the spirit of our organization.

Volunteers like Dawn Rivera, who received the Hit the Ground Running Award in 2024. In June 2023, Dawn took on the Wyanokies-Ramapo West Trail Chair role after an 18-month vacancy and revitalized the area. In her new position, she personally recruited a fresh team of Trail Maintainers and Trail Supervisors and helped increase volunteer hours in crucial sections by more than 700%!

Like Andy Garrison, who received the Jakob Franke Award for Conservation in 2024. Andy is a 20-year Trail Conference member who has played an instrumental role in protecting thousands of acres of land across our region. An ardent proponent of the Long Path and Shawangunk Ridge Trail, Andy leads the way in advancing these iconic long-distance trails through his vision, dedication, and generous spirit.

Photos of our volunteer community, from top left to right: Dawn Rivera; Andy Garrison; Bong Kim; Rich Rockwell; Connie Stern (second from right); and Lou Baldanza

Like Bong Kim, who received the Hit the Ground Running Award in 2022. Bong has worked tirelessly at our Welch Trail Education Center, leveraging his building expertise to complete challenging repairs. His warmth and dedication to sustainable building practices make him a joy to work with, and he often recruits help from his own hiking club.

Like Rich Rockwell, who received the Rising Leader Award in 2021. Rich's boundless enthusiasm has made him a standout volunteer with our Stewardship team, mastering invasive species management as the first-ever Invasives Strike Force volunteer crew leader in New Jersey.

Like Connie Stern, who received the Rising Leader Award in 2020. Connie first began volunteering with the Trail Conference in 2009. She has since risen in the ranks to become co-leader of the Westchester Trail Tramps, inspiring volunteers and community partners alike to tackle an array of on-the-ground challenges.

And volunteers like Lou Baldanza, who received the Elizabeth Levers Award for Engagement and Inclusivity in 2022. An active Trail Supervisor in the Neversink Gorge area, Lou is often out on the trail, maintaining our pathways and helping hikers. His welcoming demeanor reflects the generous heart of volunteerism. "As long as I can,” he says, “I will.”

These are just a few of the many inspiring stories from our volunteer community. It’s dedicated individuals like those above—and supporters just like YOU—who help preserve and protect our public trail lands. Thank you for your extraordinary efforts!

Interested in joining our volunteer community? We’d love to hear from you. Click below to learn more!

AmeriCorps, a vital national service program that promotes volunteerism across the country, is at risk of shutdown—and it’s crucial we contact our lawmakers to fight for its preservation.

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference proudly partners with AmeriCorps as part of our Conservation Corps program. The positive impact our Corps members have on the environment is immense. They log thousands of hours on sustainable trail building programs and native habitat restoration projects, safeguarding our precious landscapes and transforming into the next generation of environmental leaders.

The recent elimination of the National Civilian Community Corps and the furlough of 85% of AmeriCorps agency staff has put the agency’s funding and its future in jeopardy.

Join us in advocating for AmeriCorps’ preservation. Click below to find our sample letter and contact your elected officials. Let them know: We must protect AmeriCorps at all costs and preserve its contributions to the lands we all love.

Image credit: Sean O’Dwyer

Hit the trails, Columbia County

Longtime Trail Conference supporter Sean O’Dwyer runs mountain-hiking.com, an online resource of hyper-detailed hiking content about the Hudson Highlands, Shawangunks, Catskills, and beyond. He also writes for the Times Union, and recently penned a profile of the best hikes in Columbia County, New York.

Between the Hudson River and the Taconic Mountains, Columbia County is home to some of the Hudson Valley’s richest landscapes. From riverside meadows to rugged ridgelines, the county offers a range of hiking opportunities for all skill levels, whether you’re seeking a peaceful stroll in nature or a challenging mountain hike.

Click below to read Sean’s article. Before heading out on your own Taconics adventure, make sure to pick up our South Taconic Map!

Get ready for an insightful trip into the thicket…

When you think of a rare species, a rabbit might not be the first animal that hops to mind. However, you may be surprised to learn that New York is home to two types of rabbits—one thriving, the other struggling for survival!

The New England cottontail, a Species of Special Concern in New York State, was once abundant throughout New England and eastern New York. Beginning in the 1960s, however, this native rabbit species experienced a dramatic decline in population. Today, it occupies just 15% of its historic range due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and competition from the prospering Eastern cottontail.

Thankfully, our Stewardship team and intrepid Conservation Dogs Program are here to help protect this threatened native species and ensure its habitat prospers!

Last month, we informed you about the upcoming closure of the Breakneck Ridge Trailhead and Wilkinson Memorial Trailhead, along with the Breakneck Ridge Train Station, beginning April 21, 2025. This is a friendly reminder that the closure in the Hudson Highlands is now in effect.

👷Why? The team at Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail has begun construction on the Breakneck Connector and Bridge project, which will make the area safer for hikers and motorists, organize parking, and bring much-needed improvements such as restrooms and trash and recycling receptacles to the area. The closure is expected to last for two years.

🥾 To learn more about the project and discover alternative hike recommendations, please visit breakneck.info, the official Breakneck Ridge closure hub.

Calling all outdoor gear retailers, bookshop owners, and more!

Spring is finally here and it’s time to freshen up those shelves. The Trail Conference is pleased to offer special bulk order pricing for those who wish to establish a wholesale account with us. Stock up today and beat the springtime rush of outdoor enthusiasts with our award-winning maps and essential guidebooks, covering all the best adventures across New York and New Jersey.

Click below to learn more and place your order. Know of a store that should carry our map sets and guidebooks? Let us know at [email protected]!

Join us for a rewarding day of giving back to this iconic park

On Saturday, May 3, we’re partnering with Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct for a fun and engaging work trip at Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. During the event, which is part of New York State’s I Love My Park Day, experts from our Stewardship team will teach volunteers how to safely identify and remove invasive species, helping to protect this beloved park in Westchester County.

All are welcome and identification and removal training will be provided on site. Click to learn more and register!

Location: Tuxedo, Orange County, New York

GPS: 41.198746, -74.256816

Why we love it: A vital natural sanctuary set within one of the country’s most densely populated areas, Sterling Forest State Park spans nearly 22,000 acres. The serene deep-forest preserve is rich in biodiversity and provides a crucial habitat for black bear, songbirds, native plants, and more. Its multi-use trails offer outdoor enthusiasts miles of scenic paths to explore, including a hike to a historic fire tower and an enchanting stroll along the shore of Sterling Lake.

Grab your map of Sterling Forest State Park and start exploring today!

Sunday, April 27 @ 10 am

Intro to Trail Maintenance Workshop

Neversink River Unique Area

Rock Hill, NY

Sunday, April 27 @ 11 am

Wild Earth Fest 2025

Watchung Reservation

Union County, NJ

Sunday, May 4 @ 10 am

Habitat Helpers Workday

Trail Conference Headquarters

Mahwah, NJ

Friday, May 9 @ 9 am

Catskill Lean-to Crew Workday

Baldwin Memorial Shelter

Phoenicia, NY

Saturday, May 10 @ 9 am

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop

Trail Conference Headquarters

Mahwah, NJ

Have an inspiring story or trail experience to share? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected].