Nominate your favorite trail

Have you hiked the Monterey Pass trail or walked one of the trails at Caledonia State Park? Paddled the Conococheague? If you have a fave among more than 12,000 miles of trails within Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is encouraging you to nominate your favorite trail to be named the 2022 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year.

Each year, the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee designates a Trail of the Year to help build enthusiasm and support for trails and raise public awareness about the value of Pennsylvania’s Trail network. DCNR recently honored the 38-mile D & H Rail Trail as the 2021 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year and department officials are eager to see nominations for 2022.

In early 2022, the winning trail will be recognized publicly by the advisory committee and DCNR and through a commemorative poster for statewide distribution, a trailhead marker along the trail, promotion on ExplorePATrails, and a grant for educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection on the trail.

“Pennsylvania is home to some of the most beautiful trails in the world and DCNR is proud to recognize the impact of one of our top trails each year,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Whether it is the gentle pathways threading through miles of preserved greenways or rugged trails scaling the state’s magnificent mountains, the commonwealth has it all. We want to hear from those who enjoy our wonderful trails and help spread the word about the top trail of the year.”

For consideration, a nomination form and supporting documentation must be submitted online by Nov. 12, 2021.