Adopt-A-Trail Program: Become a Trail Guardian
What Does It Mean to Adopt a Trail?
The Rotorua Trails Trust Adopt-A-Trail program offers community members the opportunity to become stewards of their favorite trails. Unlike financial sponsorship, trail adoption is about dedicating your time, care, and attention to maintaining and enhancing our trail network.
​
Trail Adoption vs. Trail Donation
It's important to clarify that adopting a trail is not a financial arrangement—it's a commitment to hands-on stewardship. While we always welcome financial contributions to support our broader trail development efforts, the Adopt-A-Trail program focuses on direct, personal involvement with trail care.
​
That said, if you're able to donate in addition to adopting, your financial support helps the entire trail network thrive!
​
What Trail Adopters Do
​
As a trail adopter, you become the primary caretaker of a chosen trail. This typically involves:
​
-
Regular inspections to identify maintenance needs
-
Basic maintenance such as clearing fallen branches and debris
-
Vegetation management to keep the trail corridor clear
-
Digging and maintaining a functional and effective drainage system
-
Reporting larger issues that require specialized tools or expertise
-
Acting as "eyes and ears" for the trail, noting user patterns and concerns
-
Being a positive influence in the forest, educating and encouraging positive engagement with the land.
Understanding Trail Adoption Responsibilities
When you adopt a trail, you're taking on specific responsibilities while working within our community framework:
​
-
Shared Stewardship: While you serve as the primary caretaker, you do not "own" the trail. Other volunteers and trail crew may work on the trail you adopted without prior notice as part of our collaborative approach to trail maintenance.
​
-
Work Reporting: You aren't required to report planned work before you do it, but you must report completed work. These reports are crucial as they:
-
Document community engagement
-
Help us secure additional funding by demonstrating active volunteer participation
-
Allow us to track the overall health of the trail network
-
Provide valuable data for planning future trail development
-
​
-
Safety Requirements: All trail adopters must wear high-visibility clothing and display a "Trail Maintenance in Progress" sign when working on trails.
-
Continuity: To maintain active stewardship, adopters must submit at least one work report every 6 months. If no reports are received within this timeframe, the trail may be reassigned to another interested adopter.
Benefits of Becoming a Trail Adopter
Personal Connection:
Develop a special relationship with the trail you adopt and give back to the trails we love.
​
Learning Opportunity:
Gain skills in trail maintenance techniques
​
Authorized Trail Work:
Being an official trail adopter is the only way to safely conduct trail work in the forest. Any unauthorized work will risk trespass from the forest.
​
Trail Input:
Provide informed feedback on potential trail improvements
​
Satisfaction: Every one gets something from the forest. This is your chance to give something back. Experience the reward of creating enjoyable experiences for all trail users.
How to Adopt a Trail
The process is simple:
-
Contact us at comms@rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz with the subject line "Trail Adoption"
-
Let us know which trail(s) you're interested in adopting
-
Attend a brief orientation session about trail maintenance standards
-
Receive your high-visibility vest and trail adopter handbook
-
Begin your trail stewardship journey!
-
​
We highly recommend attending a First Sunday Working Bee to learn the ropes and see if trail maintenance is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
​
Q: How much time commitment is expected?
A: This varies by trail and season, but typically adopters visit their trail at least once a month for basic maintenance.
​
Q: Can groups or organizations adopt a trail?
A: Absolutely! Families, friend groups, businesses, and organizations are welcome to adopt trails collectively.
​
Q: What if I notice a major issue requiring significant work?
A: Report it promptly through our trail issue reporting system, and our professional trail crew will assess and address it.
​
Q: Can I make modifications or improvements to my adopted trail?
A: Yes! We want all trails to be fresh, fun and always progressing and getting better. That is the dream! However, everything must remain within the grade of the trail, and any significant changes must be approved by the Rotorua Trails Trust trail manager before implementation. This is to ensure someone riding a trail they often ride, does not hit an unexpected new feature and crash.