2025
International Trails Summit

More than 850 attendees from 17 countries gathered for the 2025 International Trails Summit—a global celebration of learning, connection, and trail-centered inspiration.

The event opened with a powerful keynote by James Edward Mills, setting the stage for three days packed with thought-provoking sessions and meaningful engagement. Whether it was exchanging ideas during networking events or watching Governor Evers operate a mini excavator at the Dirt Demo, the energy throughout the Summit was electric.

Memorable moments included Offsite Day with hands-on equipment demos and immersive field learning, youth participation during NICA Trail Day, and the World Trails Film Festival, which highlighted inspiring global stories of perseverance, community, and the unifying magic of trails.

We’re deeply grateful to every trail builder, advocate, and enthusiast who brought their dedication and insight to Wisconsin. With momentum like this, the future of trails is not just promising—it’s unstoppable.

Conference Proceedings

These proceedings capture the shared knowledge and resources from the Summit, including downloadable presentations and session summaries. Whether you're a seasoned trail builder or a first-time attendee, we hope this archive serves as a valuable reference and inspiration for your ongoing work in creating accessible, sustainable, and inclusive trail systems.

Thank you 2025 Sponsors + Exhibitors!

Summit Sponsor ($15,000)

Tahoe Sponsor
($10,000)

Supporters
($4,000)

Sierra Sponsor
($6,000)

Exhibitors

World Trails Film Festival

The World Trails Film Festival is made by and for trail-loving communities worldwide and is excited to be held in conjunction with the International Trails Summit for a second time. The Film Festival showcased a variety of films with each one coming from a different country. Themes of the films include: mental health, hand-made trails, having hope in the face of challenges, and the power of walking.

About: The World Trails Film Festival is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit arts service organization. To learn more including how to host your own festival, visit https://trails.film.

Film line up:

  • Dolly’s Song (USA): Woman leader in training on cross-cut saws

  • Seeking Judhuri (Lebanon): Discussion of healing family story hiking

  • Durga: Forging a New Trail (Nepal): A Nepali woman breaks barriers in her community as a mountain guide

  • Building the Pamir Trail (Tajikistan): New project, quick progress update

  • From Biocrust with Love (USA): Biking and bio info about dirt in desert

  • Mountains to Sea Greenway (Taiwan): More poetic video showing diverse trail project

  • Sinai Trail Urgent Message (Egypt): Climate change appeal for trail project there

  • Twin Oaks (USA)

  • Breaking Trail (USA): Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Offsite Day

Thursday 4/17, 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
Babcock County Park

Held on Thursday, April 17 at Babcock County Park, the Offsite Day offered a hands-on, engaging experience for summit attendees. From 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM, participants explored over 20 exhibitors in the dirt demo area, tested trail-building equipment like mini-excavators and hand tools, and even rode a Ford Bronco on a demo course. Food trucks and a beer tent added to the lively atmosphere, with shuttles making access easy from the convention center.

Educational highlights included:

  • Drone Demo: live session on using drones for trail assessment, mapping, and planning.

  • Hand-Built Trail Techniques – A workshop on building sustainable trails using hand tools.

  • Crew Leadership & Safety – Guidance on pre-trip planning, safety talks, and fostering inclusive, effective teams.

  • Clinometer Use – A field workshop on trail layout and slope measurement to support sustainable design.

  • Trail Ergonomics – Hands-on instruction in proper body mechanics and tool use to prevent injury and improve efficiency.

The Offsite Day delivered valuable skills, tools, and connections in a fun and interactive outdoor setting.

NICA Partnership

Thursday 4/17, 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
Babcock County Park

20 NICA Youth ages 12-18 attend the Offsite Day and Dirt Demonstration including a panel on career pathways to working in trails, the 1 hour educational sessions, riding bikes on the track, and testing out the equipment in the Dirt Demo.

WI NICA leaders also led a session at the Summit on engaging the next generation and working with your local NICA team.

Confluence of States

PTBA and American Trails were pleased to host the Confluence of States at the 2025 International Trails Summit. State Outdoor Recreation Directors gathered at the Summit for strategy meetings, education, and networking with the trails community.

In addition to gathering as the Confluence of States, Summit events included:
- Chris Perkins, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Plenary Session (4/15)
- Lunch with your State Outdoor Recreation Director (4/16)
- Panel discussion (4/16) on Trail Systems as Economic Drivers featuring: Nathan Reigner (Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation); Jackie Dagger (Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative); Tara McKee (Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation); Brad Garmon (Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry)

Takeover Night - Thursday 4/17

Thanks to Great Dane Brewing & Co. for hosting the Takeover night to close out the Summit on Thursday 4/17!

Attendees and the general public joined this no-host evening for drinks and delicious food within walking distance from Monona Terrace Convention Center. Great Dane graciously donated $1 to ITS for every beer purchased between 5:00pm-10:00pm!

2025 Workshops

Pre- and post-summit workshops provided an optional way for attendees to extend their learning. Workshops are hands-on, small group learning opportunities.

Featured
Visitor Use Management Workshop
Apr 18
Visitor Use Management Workshop

This workshop will provide an overview of the Visitor Use Management (VUM) Framework developed by the federal Interagency Visitor Use Management Council and how it supports managing for high quality trail experiences. It will also discuss application of the VUM Framework at various scales including federal and non-federal lands, site-specific and landscape or regional. Finally, participants will have a chance to visit a nearby trail and practice identifying desired conditions and selecting management strategies in small groups.

Cost: $140

Developing Your Trail Eyes (field session)
Apr 18
Developing Your Trail Eyes (field session)

This interactive workshop explores a PTBA member-designed trail reroute proposed for a popular trail near the conference center. The 1.2-mile Woodland Trail traverses oak woodland and rolling prairie terrain at Governor Nelson State Park. Topics addressed include trail assessment, trail layout, and the architecture of trail management strategies.

Cost: $350

Real Trail Assessment: Seeing the Trail Through the Eyes of a Professional
Apr 18
Real Trail Assessment: Seeing the Trail Through the Eyes of a Professional

This 1/2 day workshop features on the trail education focused on the basics of trail assessment including erosion and user-created problems.

Cost: $250

Universal Trail Assessment Process and High Efficiency Trail Assessment Process (UTAP/HETAP)
Apr 14
Universal Trail Assessment Process and High Efficiency Trail Assessment Process (UTAP/HETAP)

This workshop will discuss the benefits of objective information, the application of UTAP, HETAP, and METAP in diverse environments, how to disseminate Trail Access Information (TAI), and how that dissemination meets the requirements of the new federal accessibility guidelines for outdoor developed areas.

Cost: $200

Develop Your Trail Crew Leader Skills
Apr 12
Develop Your Trail Crew Leader Skills

A two-day Trail Crew Leader Workshop that provides participants with the skills and knowledge to lead effective, safe, and productive trail work teams. The workshop covers “soft skills” topics like communication techniques, risk management strategies, group dynamics, conflict resolution, leadership styles, and teaching methods.

Cost: $700

Stonework and Rigging for Trails
Apr 12
Stonework and Rigging for Trails

Stonework is not for everyone. However, for those with patience, attention to detail, a hard work ethic, and a general love for puzzles, stonework can be one of the most rewarding forms of trail work because of its longevity and aesthetic. This two day workshop will explore the ideal rock size and shapes for structures and construction techniques for stone structures.  Additionally through a combination of classroom and hands-on field time, attendees will learn safe transportation methods and the fundamentals of safe rigging practices.

Cost: $800

Women’s Mechanized Construction
Apr 12
Women’s Mechanized Construction

This two-day workshop offers an introduction to mechanized equipment, focusing on mini-excavators and trail dozers. It combines classroom learning with field instruction, emphasizing hands-on experience and skill-building. With small student-to-instructor ratios, participants will have plenty of time to practice and refine their techniques on the machines.

Cost: $800

Flow Trail Design and Construction
Apr 12
Flow Trail Design and Construction

Leading professionals from Pathfinder Trailbuilding and Kay-Linn Enterprises will provide participants with a literallly top-to-bottom, hands-on demonstration of one of the most challenging mountain bike trail development challenges - a progressive, beginner-friendly flow trail.

Cost: $800

Trail Master Lite: Sustainable Trail Design, Construction and Maintenance
Apr 12
Trail Master Lite: Sustainable Trail Design, Construction and Maintenance

SOLD OUT!
This is a 2-day (LITE) version of Trail Design Specialists’ Trail Master Certification Class (typically 4 days).  This workshop will touch on the latest advances in trail design, construction and maintenance with a focus on long-term sustainability and ease of maintenance. 

Cost: $800

2025 Field Trips

Featured
Yahara River Canoe Trip
Apr 17
Yahara River Canoe Trip

Incorporated into the Offsite Day on the last day of ITS, enjoy a 4-mile paddle on the Yahara River from between Lake Waubesa and Lake Kegonsa, two of the lakes on the Madison chain. The sleepy river stretch is a popular paddle destination and it includes a short boulder garden, which is the remains of a Native American fish weir and an attractive historic truss bridge at Dyreson Road. The paddle will end at Fish Camp County Park, where a recent development project added a new accessible fishing pier, an accessible kayak launch pier and walk-in canoe/kayak ramp.

Cost: $25

Lower Yahara River Trail Bike Ride
Apr 17
Lower Yahara River Trail Bike Ride

Incorporated into the Offsite Day on the last day of ITS, attendees will bike from WGL Lake Farm County Park to Babcock County Park along the Lower Yahara River Trail. This paved off-road trail includes the longest inland boardwalk bridge constructed solely for non-motorized transportation in North America! The mile-long bridge spans Lake Waubesa, connecting the Capital City Trail with McDaniel Park in the Village of McFarland. Once in McFarland, the group will continue using on-road trail segments before ending at Babcock County Park. Stops along the way will discuss the trail planning and design, construction and community impact. Trail surface is all paved or boardwalk. Accessible bike may be available for participants who request one in advance (would be requested from one of our partners Access Ability Wisconsin).

OPTION TO BRING OWN BIKE (same cost). View complete details/instructions by clicking on field trip to learn more.

Cost: $25 (with bike rental or bringing own bike)

Mountain Bike-Optimized Facilities Bike Tour
Apr 14
Mountain Bike-Optimized Facilities Bike Tour

An "on bike" field trip visiting 3 mtb-optimized facilities all connected by an urban pathway. The three sites are Seminole Trails (on Dane County Parks property), Saris Trails (on Saris factory private lands), and Quarry Ridge (on City of Fitchburg property). This field trip will be on bike for attendees to experience the trails at each location for a set period of time and is good for beginners.

OPTION TO BRING OWN BIKE. View complete details/instructions by clicking on field trip to learn more.

Cost: $129 with bike rental ($59 if bringing own bike)

Trek Headquarters Tour + Advanced Bike Ride
Apr 14
Trek Headquarters Tour + Advanced Bike Ride

Start with a walking tour of Trek’s Headquarters and Lodge talk at the Trek Trails with bike ride to follow. Lunch and Trek bike rentals included courtesy of Trek! Learn about the evolution of Trek over the last 49 years and Trek’s sustainability promise and sustainable construction of the Lodge. For the bike ride, attendees will also enjoy the trails Trek has built and maintained over the last 20 years. All riders are required to sign a waiver and will ride one of Trek demo bicycles available.

OPTION TO BRING OWN BIKE (same cost). View complete details/instructions by clicking on field trip to learn more.

Cost: $50 (with bike rental or bringing own bike) (includes lunch)

City of Madison Bike/Ped Facilities Bike Ride
Apr 14
City of Madison Bike/Ped Facilities Bike Ride

A bike tour of bike/ped and green infrastructure projects in Madison with the people who designed them. Visit more than 20 facilities including trails/paths, cycle tracks, bike lanes, bike signals, bike boxes, traffic calming techniques and more. City staff will discuss key components and considerations of design, challenges, public input, and construction. Good for beginners but must be comfortable bicycling on city roads. There may be short segments of steep grades on street.

OPTION TO BRING OWN BIKE. View complete details/instructions by clicking on field trip to learn more.

Cost: $70 with bike rental ($25 if bringing own bike)

Trek Headquarters Tour + Beginner Bike Ride
Apr 14
Trek Headquarters Tour + Beginner Bike Ride

Start with a walking tour of Trek’s Headquarters and Lodge talk at the Trek Trails with bike ride to follow. Lunch and Trek bike rentals included courtesy of Trek! Learn about the evolution of Trek over the last 49 years and Trek’s sustainability promise and sustainable construction of the Lodge. For the bike ride, attendees will also enjoy the trails Trek has built and maintained over the last 20 years. All riders are required to sign a waiver and will ride one of Trek demo bicycles available.

OPTION TO BRING OWN BIKE (same cost). View complete details/instructions by clicking on field trip to learn more.

Cost: $50 (with bike rental or bringing own bike) (includes lunch)

Urban Bike-Park Walking Tour
Apr 14
Urban Bike-Park Walking Tour

Urban park revitalization via development of bike-optimized facilities. Will visit two parks in Madison, Sycamore Park on the eastside and Aldo Leopold Park on the southside. Very accessible sites. Will be navigating gentle trail grades.

Cost: $59

Equitable Development Planning in the 30th Street Corridor Walking/Bus Tour
Apr 14
Equitable Development Planning in the 30th Street Corridor Walking/Bus Tour

Join us for a tour of the proposed 7.2-mile 30th Street Corridor "rail with trail" project on the north side of Milwaukee (lunch included at Lakefront Brewery). At the heart of the trail project is the community led Equitable Development Plan that will provide a blueprint for positive outcomes for workforce development, affordable housing and transportation alternatives that will be undertaken together with the planning and construction of this transformative neighborhood infrastructure project.

Cost: $99 (includes lunch)