With 279 state parks and 5,200 miles of trails, California state parks contain the largest and most diverse recreational, natural, and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation.
We believe that the enjoyment of California state parks should be for everyone – and that includes having trails that are high quality and accessible to all kinds of visitors. Whether you’re an experienced backpacker or are just looking for a leisurely stroll, a trail leads the way. And between the state’s beaches, deserts, redwood forests, and mountains, there’s a landscape for everyone too.
Although many trails are present in parks, they may not be safe or accessible for all. Hitting the trail is also a chance to have a dynamic experience that allows for deeper understanding of a park, and all Californians deserve that opportunity.
Through our Trails for All initiative, we are working to improve trails in both urban and rural settings for people of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. This initiative promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of trails, while also encouraging greater public access.
Meet our 2022 Trails for All grantees
Redwood Trails Alliance | Trione-Annadel State Park | $10,000
Project: Volunteers for Trione-Annadel Trails
Redwood Trails Alliance will hire a Volunteer Coordinator to recruit and organize volunteers to work on specific trail projects identified by California State Park staff, as well as ensure volunteers are equipped with the tools and supplies needed.
Impact: This project addresses the significant challenge of improving park trails by coordinating available resources. Improving trails in this park is vital for visitors to maintain access to the interiors of the park whether they are a hiker, runner, mountain biker, or equestrian.
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship | Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Butano State Park, and Año Nuevo State Park | $10,000
Project: Fire Recovery in California State Parks
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship will work with California State Parks to collaborate on next steps in re-opening all state parks in the region, with a focus on Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Butano State Park, and Año Nuevo State Park. To reopen the parks and improve their trails, the project will assess damage and determine scope. This includes work such as removing hazardous fire-damaged trees, re-establishing damaged trail surfaces, repairing drainage structures, and re-routing existing trails for sustainability to adapt to the new landscape.
Impact: The fire recovery work will create safe trails for visitors to experience the park and enjoy. Additionally, once these parks are fully re-opened, they will provide lasting benefits to local visitors from San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties, as well as visitors traveling to experience the health and wellness benefits of these parks.
Trail improvement projects are often supported largely in part by volunteers. If you are interested in helping make trails accessible to all you can reach out to Redwood Trails Alliance or Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship to find out more about their trail volunteer needs. Additionally, California State Parks Foundation has volunteer opportunities throughout the state, which you can learn about and sign up for here.