Take Care of Your Trails

Ride Them. Respect Them. Take Care of Them.

Take Care of Your Trails is a European campaign built around a simple idea: the trails that make mountain biking possible deserve something back from the people who enjoy them. Every spring, riders, trail crews, clubs, and volunteers come together to repair, clean, maintain, and build trails across Europe.

The campaign turns trail maintenance into a shared community effort. From clearing rubbish and fixing damaged sections to organising dedicated dig days and larger trail-building projects, every contribution helps keep local riding areas healthy, enjoyable, and sustainable for the future.

From Riders to Trail Stewards

Mountain bike trails don’t maintain themselves. Weather, erosion, heavy riding, vegetation, and everyday use can gradually damage the paths and features that riders depend on.

Take Care of Your Trails encourages riders to become active stewards of those places. Instead of simply enjoying the trail and leaving, volunteers can contribute time and energy to keeping it rideable, safe, attractive, and environmentally responsible.

The campaign recognises that even small actions matter. Picking up rubbish, helping with drainage, repairing damaged trail sections, or spending a day with a local crew can all contribute to the long-term health of a riding area. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Join a Trail Event Near You

The campaign brings together trail-maintenance events from across Europe, creating a central place where mountain bikers can discover opportunities to get involved.

Events can range from local clean-ups and volunteer dig days to larger trail-building activities organised by established trail associations and riding communities. The current campaign showcases events from groups and organisations including Aberdeenshire Trail Association, North N Line, MTB Harderwijk, Trails Espot, Corsuet Bike Center, Trailsilvania, Tayside Trails Association, and others. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

• Trail Maintenance: Help repair and improve existing mountain bike trails.
• Clean-Up Days: Remove rubbish and improve the surrounding trail environment.
• Dig Days: Work alongside local crews on practical trail projects.
• Trail Building: Contribute to the creation and development of new riding infrastructure.
• Community Events: Meet other riders and volunteers while working toward a common goal.

Start Your Own Event

You don’t have to wait for someone else to organise a trail day. Trail crews, clubs, and local riding communities can create their own Take Care of Your Trails event and bring their local riders together.

Starting an event gives local communities a way to turn their passion for mountain biking into practical action. A few volunteers, some planning, and a willingness to get their hands dirty can make a visible difference to a trail network.

The campaign provides a platform for these efforts to be highlighted alongside other trail projects taking place throughout Europe, helping individual crews become part of a much larger movement.

Every Trail Has a Story

Trail work isn’t only about dirt, tools, and physical labour. Behind every maintained trail is a group of people who care enough to spend their free time improving it.

Take Care of Your Trails highlights those communities through stories, news, and features that showcase the people making a difference. The campaign currently features stories about trail advocates, beginner-friendly trail development, and individuals who have contributed significantly to their local riding communities. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Celebrating the People Who Dig In

Since its launch in 2017, Take Care of Your Trails has grown beyond a friendly competition between European trail crews. The campaign uses its awards to recognise individuals and groups creating meaningful impact in their local communities.

The awards highlight the people who go above and beyond to improve trails, support their communities, and contribute positively to the wider mountain biking sector. Recognition gives volunteers and trail crews another reason to celebrate the work that often happens behind the scenes. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Trail Advocate of the Year

The campaign also puts individual trail advocates in the spotlight. These stories demonstrate that trail stewardship isn’t only about large organisations or major projects. Individual riders and volunteers can make a significant difference by consistently supporting their local trails and encouraging others to do the same.

Featuring these people helps give the movement a human face while showing new volunteers what meaningful involvement can look like.

Learn Before You Dig

Trail maintenance is practical work, but good intentions aren’t enough. Volunteers need to understand how to work safely, responsibly, and effectively within a trail environment.

Take Care of Your Trails provides tips and advice for trail crews, mixing useful guidance with the campaign’s informal personality. Even the basic recommendations reflect the community-first attitude behind the project: work together, keep morale high, respect others, and don’t take yourself too seriously. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

• Work as a Crew: Coordinate with other volunteers instead of treating trail work as an individual task.
• Keep Spirits High: A positive atmosphere makes long maintenance days more enjoyable.
• Respect the Public: Trail work happens in shared environments, so volunteers should remain considerate of other people.
• Look After Your Team: Encourage and appreciate the people giving their time to the project.

Better Trails, Stronger Communities

The impact of the campaign goes beyond the physical condition of a trail. Volunteer maintenance creates opportunities for riders to meet, collaborate, learn new skills, and build relationships with the people responsible for their local riding areas.

That community connection is important for the long-term sustainability of mountain biking. When riders understand the work involved in maintaining trails, they’re more likely to respect the environment, support local trail organisations, and contribute to future projects.

Protecting the Places We Ride

Mountain biking depends on access to healthy outdoor environments. Sustainable trail use therefore requires a balance between recreation, environmental responsibility, and responsible trail management.

Take Care of Your Trails promotes that relationship by encouraging riders to actively contribute to the places they enjoy. The campaign’s message isn’t complicated: if you value your local trails, help look after them.

See the Work in Action

Trail maintenance is highly visual. Dirt being moved, damaged sections being repaired, new features taking shape, volunteers working together, and riders returning to improved trails all tell the story of what community effort can achieve.

The campaign’s gallery brings those moments together, giving volunteers and riders a visual record of the work happening across the European mountain biking community. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Become a Trail Friend

Take Care of Your Trails is ultimately powered by participation. Whether you join an existing event, organise a local trail day, support a trail crew, or simply encourage other riders to respect and care for their riding environment, you become part of the movement.

Becoming a Trail Friend is another way to stay connected with the campaign and support its mission of better trails and stronger mountain bike communities.

The Trail Is Yours to Care For

Every ride depends on the work of people who build, maintain, repair, and protect the trails. Take Care of Your Trails turns that often invisible work into a visible European movement.

So grab your gloves, find your local crew, and get involved. A cleaner trail, a stronger community, and a better riding experience all start with people willing to give something back.