Trails Stewardship Initiative

Solving a problem

As hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts in the United States have come to rely on mobile applications to navigate our public lands, visitors can be led to dangerous or environmentally sensitive areas when these apps include unofficial and unmaintained trails. Many navigation applications pull this trail data from multiple sources and rely heavily on OpenStreetMap data.

Launched in 2021, OpenStreetMap US’s Trails Stewardship Initiative is a collaboration of government, volunteer, and private sector stakeholders working to address issues in trail mapping, outdoor recreation, and public land management. The Initiative aims to:

• Improve EQUITABLE ACCESS to trails for all citizens
• Increase SAFETY for outdoor enthusiasts on public lands
• Promote RESPONSIBLE RECREATION for the protection of our natural environment and out of respect for tribal and private lands

Utah Mapping Campaign

To address how applications use and visualize OpenStreetMap trail data, the Trails Stewardship Initiative is bringing together volunteer mappers, land managers, and app developers to improve trail data in OpenStreetMap across the state of Utah. Through these efforts, navigation apps will be able to better display OpenStreetMap trail data, improve equitable access to the outdoors and trail users’ ability to engage in responsible recreation, and protect our natural world.

Explore Projects

Mapping trails across the country

Utah is just the start of this journey. The Trail Stewardship Initiative will improve and maintain trail data across the United States. Through collaboration with key stakeholders, we’re building:

• A THRIVING NATIONAL NETWORK of digital trail stewards to maintain open trail data in the US
• Effective TOOLS AND RESOURCES that enable land managers, agencies, community advocates, and OpenStreetMap contributors to work together on trail safety, equitable access, and responsible recreation
• A stable and collaborative PARTNER COLLECTIVE of private sector companies, government agencies, and engaged citizens to ensure the long term impact of the Initiative

More information is available on the OpenStreetMap Wiki page.

Join the conversation

Meet fellow trail enthuisasts and see how you can get involved on the OpenStreetMap US Slack in the #trails channel.

If you would like to support efforts towards improved trail stewardship in your area, share more information with us by clicking the button below: