Trails Connect Us to Each Other and to Our Public Lands

Share Your Vision

for National Forest Trails

Trails are more than just paths, they’re connections.

Connections between people and nature. Between rural communities and thriving economies. Between public lands and public access.

Common Ground Trails Collaborative brings together voices from across our region to plan, build, and care for trails that serve everyone—locals and visitors, hikers and bikers, families and solo adventurers. We work across boundaries—geographic, political, and cultural—to ensure that trail development reflects shared values and shared landscapes.

We need your voice — how can we collaboratively increase access and improve trails in the National Forest, right here in the Shenandoah Valley, in the region west of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro, in the Appalachian mountains of Western Augusta and Rockingham Counties.

TAKE THE SURVEY
A man and two young girls standing on a dirt trail in a forest, smiling and holding tools for outdoor work or trail maintenance.

Visit the Trails

The front range of the George Washington National Forest is home to incredible outdoor recreation destinations.

Campgrounds support overnight family adventures.

Modern climbing routes are being developed and celebrated.

New mountain bike routes provide excellent trails for both cyclists and trail runners.

Lakes and forests attract hunters, fishermen, birdwatchers, and nature lovers.

Group events such as trail work, weekend jogs, and large trail running festivals help bring new excitement and support to the trails.

Over 150 miles of hiking trails link to broader region, which supports some of the greatest biodiversity of plant and animal life in the Eastern US.

A person sitting on a rocky ledge under a large overhanging rock cliff, cooking over a small campfire surrounded by trees and a distant mountain landscape.

Contact Us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly.