TrailLink.com (powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) TrailLink.com (powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy)

Help Us Make a Nationwide Network of Trails a Reality


Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Needs You!

Mapping rail-trails and their connections plays a tremendous role in the transformation of unused rail corridors into trails. Every day, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) uses our mapping technology to work with communities, partners and individuals like you to help create a nationwide network of trail systems for the public.

Maps and the geospatial data support every aspect of our work—from trail building to trail policy to trail awareness. RTC is currently publishing dynamic maps of all open rail-trails on our TrailLink.com Web site. These trail maps are available—free—to the public.

How You Can Help Map:
With your help, our online maps will allow more people to find and use rail-trails anywhere in the nation! You’ll help us create trail connections across the country, building healthier places for healthier people.

Use our interactive Google Maps trail mapping tool to draw the trails that you have an intimate knowledge of and send us the data. Click here to read our detailed instructions on mapping your trail using our interactive Google Maps trail mapping tool.

If you have your own GPS receiver, please feel free to use it. All that we ask is that your GPS receiver be capable of collecting the required data, and has the necessary software tools to download that data to a PC so it can be sent to us.

The specifics of what we require are covered in our Trail Data Submission Standards for GPS document. In general, we need a GPS tracklog and specific waypoints for each trail. Waypoints include restroom, drinking fountain, and parking facility locations, as well as surface changes, bridges and start/finish points.

Submit your GPS data.

Our Contact Info:
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
GIS Specialist
2121 Ward Court, N.W.
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20037 P: (202) 331.9696
E: gpsadmin@railstotrails.org