Advocates Urge 'Trails for All' Law to Make Natural‑Surface Trails Accessible without Paving

Advocates with lived experience of disability, trail builders and conservation groups urged the Joint Committee to report favorably on S.548 / H.915, legislation to expand access to natural‑surface trails for people of all abilities.

Speakers included representatives from the Appalachian Mountain Club, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (opposition on other bills, supportive of access), the AMC’s conservation trail experts, accessible‑trails activists (Unpaved Trails for All), and multiple witnesses who said accessible trails produced outsized benefits for mental and physical health. Rae Ettinger of AMC described durable, permeable crushed‑stone trail surfaces, managed grades and accessible parking and signage as ways to make unpaved trails usable without “paving through nature.”

Witnesses described large gaps in the current network: testimony cited roughly 4,000 miles of unpaved trails in state parks and only 7.5 miles reported as accessible. Several witnesses who use mobility devices said that “almost accessible is not accessible” and that well‑intentioned designs often miss critical details (surface aggregate, cross‑slope, accessible parking, gates and turn radii). Panelists asked the committee to codify the administration’s Trail Access Working Group into statute by creating a permanent advisory council chaired by people with lived disability experience and a dedicated public trust fund to finance design, construction and multi‑year maintenance.

Lawmakers asked about tradeoffs with conservation; builders and conservationists said that best practices such as compacted crushed stone are permeable and can reduce social‑trail creation by keeping users on defined paths. The bill would not require paving but would fund professional design and maintenance to protect sensitive habitats while providing access.

No committee action occurred at the hearing; committee members encouraged advocates to submit technical standards and pilot project data for review.

Why it matters: tens of percent of state residents have mobility, sensory or age‑related limitations and currently lack equitable access to many outdoor areas. Proponents framed the bill as both a civil‑rights and public‑health measure that also supports inclusive outdoor recreation economies.

Next steps: the working group’s recommendations are expected in early 2026; advocates asked the committee to attach funding and statutory authority to ensure the recommendations are implemented.