Eureka, California — On January 8, 2026, a wide network of organizations working across northwest California came together for the Third Annual Wilderness & Primitive Trails Summit, convened and supported by the Bigfoot Trail Alliance. From federal land managers to nonprofit trail crews, the gathering created space for collaboration across forests, watersheds, and communities that depend on healthy backcountry trails.
The Summit was rooted in a shared purpose: to strengthen regional trail partnerships, align work across organizations and national forests, and tend the connective tissue that keeps both trails and the people who care for them resilient. Participants met to share work plans, compare field experiences, align funding strategies, improve coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, and chart a collective vision for the future of wilderness and primitive trails.
These conversations spanned the landscapes of the Klamath, Six Rivers, Mendocino, and Shasta-Trinity National Forests, where steep terrain, wildfire, heavy winter storms, and limited resources make cooperation not just helpful, but essential. By bringing partners together in one place, the Summit helps ensure that trail work is thoughtful, efficient, and guided by shared priorities rather than isolated effort.
2026 Summit Partners
The Third Annual Wilderness & Primitive Trails Summit was made possible through the leadership and participation of:
- Bigfoot Trail Alliance
- Pacific Crest Trail Association
- Ascend Wilderness Experience
- Del Norte Trails Alliance
- Siskiyou Mountain Club
- California Conservation Corps
- Backcountry Horsemen of California
- U.S. Forest Service — Klamath, Six Rivers, Mendocino, and Shasta-Trinity National Forests
Together, these partners represent thousands of miles of trail, decades of experience on the ground, and a deep commitment to keeping northwest California’s wild places accessible and cared for.
“Every one of these organizations carries an important piece of the landscape,” said Michael Kauffmann, Executive Director of the Bigfoot Trail Alliance.
“When we come together and stay in communication, those pieces begin to line up. That collaboration is what helps us care for these trails in a thoughtful way, so the places we love don’t slip through the cracks but remain open, healthy, and connected for the people and wildlife who depend on them.”
The Bigfoot Trail Alliance plans and supports the Summit as part of its broader mission to build strong, coordinated stewardship across long-distance and backcountry trail systems in northwest California. By creating an annual space for dialogue, shared learning, and collective planning, the Alliance helps ensure that wilderness and primitive trails remain viable in a time of changing climate, increasing visitation, and limited public resources.
As participants returned to their home forests and watersheds, the Summit left behind a renewed sense of shared responsibility — and a clearer path forward for caring for the quiet routes that guide people through some of California’s most remarkable landscapes.
Organizations not yet represented are warmly invited to take part next year.
If your group works in wilderness or primitive trail stewardship and would like to join future Summits, please contact bfta@bigfoottrail.org.
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