Get involved
Become a TrailKeeper
The trails run on volunteer time. Whatever you have to give — a Saturday morning, an annual membership, or a louder voice for trails — there's a place for you.
Ways to help
Four ways to pitch in
Pick the one that fits your time. Every chapter needs all four.
Come to a trail-maintenance day
Chapters host work days year-round — mowing, clearing brush, raking surfaces, and building amenities. No experience is needed and tools and training are provided. Crews like the Steel Valley Trail Council meet weekly through the season.
Become a chapter member
Annual membership is the backbone of chapter funding. Dues are modest, they keep equipment running, and members get a direct say in how their local trail is cared for.
Join a chapter board
Chapters are run by volunteer officers — president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and committee members. If you can give a few hours a month and want a real hand in the work, chapters are always looking for leaders.
Be an advocate
Speak up for trails with your municipality, bring a friend out for their first ride, or simply spread the word. Trail access survives because communities value it out loud.
It's not all mowing and gravel
When Five Star volunteers painted a new mural in one of the trail's tunnels, neighbors of every age pitched in — work days are as much about the community as the trail itself.
Three ways in
Visit, volunteer, or represent
Visit a Trail
Explore our trails and we're certain you'll gain an appreciation for their beauty — and a reason to help keep them open.
See our trails
Volunteer
Organized trail-maintenance days run year-round across all four trail systems. No experience required; training is provided on site.
Find opportunities
Represent Us
A TrailKeeper jersey on the GAP, a cap at a club ride, a patch on a pack — each one extends the community into places no newsletter can reach.
Shop merch
The steady, hands-on work
Resurfacing, patching, clearing drains — crews like the Steel Valley Trail Council meet through the season to keep the tread smooth and safe.
Start local
Connect with a chapter
Volunteering happens at the chapter level. Find the trail nearest you, open its page, and you'll find meeting times, events, and the officers to contact.
Not sure where to start, or want to help RTC region-wide? Email regionaltrail@comcast.net or call (724) 872-5586.
First on the scene after a storm
When a tree comes down across the path, it's volunteers with chainsaws — like this Westmoreland Yough crew — who clear it and reopen the trail.
Prefer to give rather than dig?
A donation funds the fuel, parts, and materials that volunteer hours can't. It's one of the most direct ways to keep a trail open.