Rails to Trails Conservancy has awarded more than $435,000 in funding through its 2026 Trail Grants programme to over 35 community organisations and public agencies advancing the construction, land acquisition and activation needed to build out America’s trail networks in rural, suburban and urban communities.
“RTC’s Trail Grants underscore the profound effect trails have on communities of every size, and on people’s everyday lives,” said Liz Thorstensen, RTC’s vice president of trail development.
“These projects help close critical gaps in trail networks and create more opportunities for people to safely walk, bike and spend time outdoors. Whether it’s improving connectivity, supporting local economies or bringing people together, these investments help turn community vision into lasting impact.”
RTC’s 2026 grantees highlight the need for sustained funding of trail infrastructure. Applications from more than 170 organisations totalled over $3.1m.
“The response to this year’s Trail Grants programme sends a clear message: Communities across the country are asking for more safe places to walk, bike and connect with one another,” Thorstensen said.
“With requests totalling more than $3.1m, demand far exceeds what philanthropy alone can provide. While RTC’s investment of more than $435,000 will help unlock over $5.5m in additional state and federal funding, sustained public investment is essential if we are going to meet the scale of need and deliver the trail infrastructure communities are telling us they want.”
There are more than 150 trail networks in development across the country, with projects developing in every state. This year’s grant recipients include:
Friends of the Lowline (South Carolina): Supporting Phase 1 construction of the Lowcountry Lowline, which will convert a historic rail corridor into a 1.7-mile linear park through the Charleston peninsula.
Equiticity (Northeastern Illinois): Enabling a Phase I feasibility study to explore converting the Altenheim Line into a multi-use trail, part of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways & Trails Plan.
Iron County (Wisconsin): Supporting acquisition of the Hurley to Montreal Trail corridor from Canadian National, which will connect to the existing Iron Bell Trail across the state line in Michigan.
Lotus Rising (California): Conducting a mapping and connectivity analysis for the Altadena Town Trail & Greenway to strengthen trail connections across the community.
Casco Bay Trail Alliance (Maine): Providing matching funds for a preliminary engineering study of the Portland to Yarmouth segment of the Casco Bay Trail.
Special Olympics (regional chapters): Supporting on-trail activation, outdoor camps and trail kits for athletes to encourage community independence and physical activity.
This year’s grantees also include members of the TrailNation Accelerator, RTC’s programme that helps rural and small-town communities plan, connect and activate trail networks that serve people and places equitably. Supported by the REI Cooperative Action Fund, the year-long cohort experience brings local leaders and trail champions together to learn, plan and take action. This year’s Trail Grants funding gives those same communities a critical boost as they work to turn visions into reality.
“Every one of this year’s grantees is doing extraordinary work to make their community more connected and more vibrant,” said Thorstensen.
“At its core, this is about something simple but essential: Everyone deserves a safe place to walk, bike and be active outside, close to home. We’re proud to stand behind these organisations and the communities they serve, and we look forward to seeing the impact these projects will have for years to come.”
The 2026 Trail Grants are part of RTC’s longstanding programme, which has distributed more than $4.5m across more than 480 grants to over 310 organisations.
