On a recent trail scouting mission, I strapped the Clyde Jr to my pack and hit the trail. The route had seen better days—ruts forming, water not shedding properly, and a few stretches that clearly needed drainage work. I wasn’t out there for a dig day. I was scouting. But the Clyde Jr changed the way I approached the task.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making waves in nearly every industry, and trail building is no exception. While the idea of using AI in a field traditionally built on hands-on craftsmanship and creativity might seem contradictory, trail builders are beginning to explore how it can complement their work. To better understand how AI is being applied in trail building today and where it might be headed, I spoke with three trail builders who offered a mix of optimism, skepticism, and practical insights.

Trail building is an inherently rugged and often remote endeavor, where safety concerns are as critical as the trails themselves. While the physical demands and environmental challenges are well understood, the unpredictable nature of accidents remains a persistent risk.

Enter Twiceme, a company pioneering smart safety technology that enhances emergency response and preparedness.

By integrating near-field communication (NFC) technology directly into personal protective equipment (PPE), Twiceme transforms helmets into essential safety tools—allowing instant access to vital medical information, geolocation tracking, and emergency alerts.

In this interview, CEO Christian Connolly discusses how Twiceme’s technology is helping trail builders stay safer, reduce response times in critical situations, and foster a culture where safety is as much a priority as the trails themselves.

Pulling open the side doors of Nacho the Van, I reached for my gloves—damp, muddy, and tucked inside the Small Mesh Bucket from Stōd Gear. The bucket had been bouncing around my van for weeks, stashing and carrying everything from soggy gloves to wet gear after a long day out on the trail. The first thing that struck me about this piece of gear? Its durability.

Trail builders and mountain bikers are constantly managing a mess—whether it’s hauling tools, clearing debris, or stashing gear on a multi-day trip. The last thing we need is flimsy storage that can’t take a beating. Stōd Gear’s Small Mesh Bucket is anything but flimsy.

Cathy Naveaux, a DIRTT Tutor and trail advocate, shares her journey from dedicated volunteer to professional trail builder. Driven by her passion for the sport and commitment to environmental protection, she advocates for education, funding, and community collaboration to create sustainable trails.

For professional and volunteer trail builders, having gear that stands up to the challenges of rugged environments isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. The Trail Builder 35 is engineered to be the ultimate work companion, combining heavy-duty construction with a meticulously designed organizational system that caters specifically to the needs of those who build and maintain our trails. Curious how this game-changing pack can transform your trail work? Read on to uncover its innovative features and see how it stacks up against the competition.

Trail builders are the heartbeat of mountain biking. Without them, the rides we live for—the flowy descents, the technical switchbacks, the long backcountry epics—simply wouldn’t exist. But trails don’t build themselves. They take vision, sweat, and a deep connection to the land. And while much of the work is driven by volunteers and advocacy groups, some brands take it a step further, weaving trail building into their DNA.

That’s where Oregon Territory Outfitters comes in. Founded by Cedar Kyes, this Oregon-based brand isn’t just about guiding epic backcountry experiences—it’s about stewardship, sustainability, and giving back to the very trails that fuel adventure. Their ethos? Build it. Ride it. Protect it.

The world of trail building is changing. Traditionally seen as a male-dominated space, the industry is beginning to evolve, thanks in part to growing conversations around continuing to make the space welcoming for all. But how far have we come, and what still needs to be done? That’s exactly what our new Women Trail Builders Research set out to uncover.

Trail Builder Magazine conducted an in-depth study exploring the perceptions, barriers, and experiences of women in the trail building industry. The findings? Eye-opening. While progress is being made, significant challenges remain, and strategic communication is key to making trail building more inclusive.

On any given dig day, you’re hauling more than just dirt. You’ve got tools, snacks, and maybe a partially consumed coffee in a sealed flask precariously balanced somewhere it shouldn’t be. If you’re like me, you also want to have a camera on hand—because, let’s be honest, a well-crafted berm deserves documentation. The last thing you need? A pack that shifts,bounces, or gets in the way while you’re building or riding. That’s where the Fernhill Co. Flow Finder Waist Pack and LTL Frame Bag come in—two pieces of equipment built for those who live and breathe trail building … oh, and photography, gravel riding, mountain biking, and more.

Adventure tourism and trail building share a deep, often unspoken connection—one that extends beyond singletrack and technical descents to include the broader landscape of outdoor recreation. Gravel racing, like the Apacheria Gravel event in Douglas, Arizona, exemplifies how adventure tourism breathes life into rural communities, sparking economic growth and renewed interest in forgotten or overlooked landscapes. While it may not be a traditional trail-based event, its success underscores a vital lesson for trail builders: the more we invest in creating and maintaining spaces for outdoor adventure, the greater the opportunities for sustainable tourism and community revitalization.