Cataclysmic weather events wreak havoc on cherished American hiking paths; budget reductions hinder restoration efforts.
Hiking the renowned Pacific Crest Trail or the Appalachian Trail has become a daunting challenge, especially for passionate adventurers aiming to cover the entire span from California to Canada or Georgia to Maine, respectively. Eric Kipperman, the trailhead greeter, is warning hikers to brace for an even tougher trek.
Recently, Kipperman's been sounding the alarm bell due to cuts in funding by the Trump administration. The administration's decision to scrap plans for clearing downed trees and rebuilding storm-damaged stretches in 2025 has left the maintenance of these trails hanging in the balance.
At the trailhead near Campo, California, Kipperman addressed a group of backpackers, cautioning them about the upcoming hardships. He noted that certain sections of the 2,650-mile path through California, Oregon, and Washington state will have no trail at all.
The funding crunch isn't limited to the West Coast. Summary executions of repair projects on the East Coast's Appalachian Trail, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene, highlight the far-reaching effects of President Trump's aggressive downsizing of the US government.
Wildfires and more intense storms, in part due to climate change, have been taking their toll on these legendary trails. These federal cuts threaten their very existence, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, who oversee their preservation in partnership with the government and receive millions in federal dollars.
The US Forest Service acknowledged the situation as "dynamic and evolving," but vowed to prioritize public safety and access to vital recreation areas essential for local economies.
The government has let go over 3,400 workers at the US Forest Service and nearly 1,500 at the National Park Service, including trail repair specialists. The associations reported that the cuts have also resulted in rescinding job offers for seasonal crews with technical skills for rebuilding boardwalks, bridges, and campsites and training thousands of volunteers.
Courts have ordered federal agencies to rehire thousands of workers, but some say they are not returning.
"For hikers, they'll be crawling, navigating, working their way through downed trees across the trail that won't get cut out," said Justin Kooyman, director of the Pacific Crest Trail operations. "It's going to make for a little more rough and tumble."
A backlog of projects has been created, with more than 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail remaining closed following Hurricane Helene. Downed trees could spark wildfires.
Founded by the late forest scientist Benton MacKaye, the Appalachian Trail recently turned 100 years old. Spanning 2,193 miles, it passes through Georgia's Springer Mountain and ends at Maine's Mount Katahdin. Its creator sought an escape from stress following World War I and the 1918 flu epidemic.
Both the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail officially became the country's first National Scenic Trails under the 1968 National Trails System Act. Completing them has come to symbolize the strength of the human spirit, inspiring books and movies.
"I am so concerned with what seems to be a general lack of appreciation for what these protected outdoor spaces can bring to not just our physical well-being but to our souls," said Sandi Marra, head of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. "If we lose these things, we are really going to be lost as a species, and definitely as a country."
The Pacific Crest Trail Association reported a reduction of a third of anticipated federal grant money, while at least $1.5 million is at risk from federal downsizing for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
As the trail's popularity has grown, the associations have hired crest runners to manage registration, provide safety tips, and address maintenance concerns. In 2025, however, funding constraints may limit the presence of crest runners on the trails, potentially compounding the challenges hikers will face.
Despite the hardships, hikers like Joshua Suran and Marias Michel of Germany continue to plow ahead. Suran plans to help restore the trail where possible, while Michel sees the journey as a chance for self-discovery and growth.
"I'm just going to be learning by doing because I don't want to be too much up here," Michel said, pointing to his head. "I want to test myself. No expectations. It's an attempt until you make it."
- The funding cuts, especially those in 2025, threaten the maintenance of the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail, which could result in hikers like us navigating through downed trees across the trail that won't get cut out.
- Justin Kooyman, the director of the Pacific Crest Trail operations, has noted that certain sections of the trail, including those in California, Oregon, and Washington state, will have no trail at all due to the funding crunch.
- The decisions made by the Trump administration, such as the scraping of plans for clearing downed trees and rebuilding storm-damaged stretches, have left the maintenance of these trails, especially the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail, hanging in the balance.
