Trail Fund

Illustration of four stacked, dark brown oval shapes against a black background.

Giving back to the trails

Trails take us to new places and connect us with people we’d never otherwise meet. We get so much from hiking. Through the Trail Fund Foundation, we give back by supporting the people and organisations who care for these trails.

An initiative by the thru-hiking community - thru-hiking.com, the Trail Fund brings hikers and partners together to support the trails we love and the people who care for them. We - together with our partners, give a percentage of our profit directly back to the trail organisations, help them recruit volunteers, and assist with other requests where we can be of any help.

Why the Trail Fund?

How it started

Behind every trail are people and organisations who keep it open. They repair paths, maintain waymarks, clear fallen trees and work with local communities and landowners. Much of this work happens quietly, often with limited funding and the help of volunteers.

As hikers, we benefit from their work every day we spend on trail. Through the Trail Fund Foundation, we want to turn our community’s love for hiking into support for the people and organisations doing that work.

More about us
Two smiling hikers standing on a trail in the mountains, one holding a shovel and the other carrying wooden planks, with rocky slopes and peaks in the background on a sunny day.
Icon of a camera with a mountain and sun inside, and a USB cable connected below.

Trails we support

A vast landscape of rolling green hills, patches of trees, and a winding dirt road under a clear blue sky.
Orange circle with a capital letter T inside.

Trail we support in 2027

Via Transilvanica

The Via Transilvanica is a 1600 km long-distance hiking trail across Romania, connecting rural villages, forests and centuries of cultural heritage. Stretching from Putna to Drobeta-Turnu Severin on the Danube, this “path that unites” promotes slow, responsible tourism, supporting local communities and helping preserve the traditions and rural way of life along the trail.

viatransilvanica.com
Scenic landscape of a mountain valley with a turquoise lake surrounded by rocky slopes and green trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Black and white logo for Pamir Trail featuring stylized mountain peaks and circular text.

Trail we support in 2027

Pamir Trail

The Pamir Trail is a 1313 km long-distance thru-hiking route across the mountains of Tajikistan, connecting remote villages, high mountain passes and secluded valleys. Stretching from Shing to Vrang, the trail aims to support local mountain communities through sustainable tourism, creating economic opportunities while helping preserve the landscapes and mountain cultures that make this region so special.

pamirtrail.org
Snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky with brown, grassy hills in the foreground.
Logo with a mountain, colorful curved shapes, and the letters GHT.

Trail we support in 2027

Great Himalaya Trail

The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is a network of trails forming one of the longest, and definitely the highest continuous thru-hike on earth. Stretching from Pakistan to Bhutan, the GHT promotes sustainable tourism in remote mountain regions, ensuring that the benefits of adventure reach those who live at the top of the world.

greathimalayatrail.com
Line drawing of a mountain with trees, a road leading into it, and a location pin at the summit.

Apply for funding

Does your trail organisation have a project that needs funding? We’d love to hear about it. Each year, we select a number of projects to support, depending on the funds available. Tell us what you’re working on, what support you need and how your project will benefit the trail and its community.

Apply here

Proudly supported by

Black background with the text 'LOWA' in outlined letters and the phrase 'simply more...' in smaller, lowercase letters beneath it.
Black and white logo with three stylized mountain peaks above the word 'GREGORY' in bold uppercase letters.
Black text reading 'thank you for thinking' with a stylized silhouette of a hand giving a thumbs-up.
A netted fishing net held by two hands with a dark background.
Black and white cartoon drawing of a person sleeping in bed, with a speech bubble indicating snoring.
Get involved
Illustration of four dark brown stones stacked in a vertical arrangement.

Sign up for our newsletter and recieve trail magic in your inbox!

Happy Trails newsletter