It’s that time of year. The flowers are in bloom, the birds are singing and people are lacing up their shoes or hopping on their bikes to visit nearby trails. Meanwhile, trail managers and friends groups are busy planning fun trail programs and events for the spring and summer months. Some trails focus on community stewardship opportunities for National Trails Day (June 5, 2010) or Earth Day (April 22, 2010). Many trails host annual running and walking races or organize clean-up or adopt-the-trail events. Looking for new and exciting ways to get people out on your trail throughout the rest of the year? Here are some examples to get the creative juices flowing:

• Last year, East Bay Regional Park District teamed up with Bay Area Regional Transit to host Tracks to Trails, an event to promote physical activity on the Iron Horse Regional Trail in California's Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Participants were encouraged to “Walk, Run, Roll, or Ride” and visit a series of energy stations along the 24-mile trail.
• The Morgana Run Trail in Cleveland, Ohio's Slavic Village neighborhood knows how to party. As part of Walk + Roll, a large neighborhood walking and biking festival, neighborhood residents took to the streets and the trail to play games, visit local business and organization open houses, paint murals and eat ice cream. Among many other events on the trail, Slavic Village Development organizes Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound, an annual event for dog owners and lovers to enjoy the Morgana Run Trail with their four-legged friends.

Visit American Hiking Society’s website to learn more about National Trails Day and how to participate.

Photo: A young Slavic Village resident enjoys "Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound" on the Morgana Run Trail in Cleveland, Ohio. Courtesy of Slavic Village Development.