Our 2020 Membership Drive has begun!
Join us November 1- December 31 for our membership drive! When you renew or become a member of Idaho Trails Association, you are joining an organization and community that cares about Idaho’s wild places. Not only do we need volunteers to make our projects succeed, but also members to financially support the hard work of keeping trails open. Help us reach our goal of $25,000 to support the 2021 trail season! ... Read More
10 Awesome Hikes- Board/Staff Picks
This blog is part of our series honoring ITA's 10-year anniversary! There is one thing that all of the members of our board and staff have in common- a passion for trails! Here are 10 hikes hand-picked just for you. Kane Lake Trail (#66) in the Pioneer Mountains east of Ketchum Kane Lake is a great trail for hikers of all ages and would make an excellent beginner backpacking trip. Although ... Read More
10 Backpacking Tips for Beginners
This blog is part of our series honoring ITA's 10-year anniversary! By John Plat, ITA Advisory Board member John Platt has been backpacking for over 50 years, mostly in Idaho. He is a climber, backcountry skier, an Eagle Scout, and a volunteer with Valley County Search and Rescue. He has backpacked and camped in wild country all over the west in all seasons, and still enjoys adventuring into the wild spaces. ... Read More
Top 10 Trail Tools
This blog is part of our series honoring ITA's 10-year anniversary! By Jeff Halligan, ITA Executive Director It's important to have the right tool for the job. These ten items will have any trail cleared in no time! Crosscut saw- This has been the backbone of trail work for a couple hundred years. The vintage saws (that is all ITA uses) are hard to find and and a saw filer to make ... Read More
Top 10 Essential Backpacking Items
By Clay Jacobson, ITA Trails Program Director Whether you are going out on an ITA project or planning your own backpacking trip, these items can help make your time in the backcountry a little more enjoyable! Hand Sanitizer – In the post-pandemic world, we have become increasingly familiar with the benefits of clean hands. These same habits can help you stay healthy in the backcountry, where hygiene is sometimes overlooked. ... Read More
Discovering Old Trails: ITA volunteers survey historic Three Blaze Trail
Earlier this summer, ITA, in partnership with the Payette National Forest Heritage Program, helped complete a survey of the historic Three Blaze Trail in the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness. The Three Blaze Trail was built in 1902 during the Gold Rush days to connect the mining town of Dixie, Idaho with the Thunder Mountain mining district over 90 miles of rugged terrain. Many miners traveled the route ... Read More
ITA Seeking Executive Director
Idaho Trails Association is seeking a full-time Executive Director. The chosen candidate will lead ITA into its second decade of promoting the conservation and enjoyment of Idaho’s backcountry on foot. Working collaboratively with the Board of Directors and ITA staff, this position will focus on seven main responsibilities: strategic vision and plan implementation, fund development, financial and organizational management, operational management, staff management, board development and management, and external relations, ... Read More
Executive Director Jeff Halligan announces his retirement
Dear friends of Idaho Trails Association, After six years as Executive Director of ITA, Jeff Halligan will be retiring at the end of this year. Jeff has been involved in ITA from the start and has helped lead us through periods of rapid growth and great achievements. We are so grateful for the leadership and compassion that Jeff has brought to ITA and his commitment to making Idaho a better place. ... Read More
New Motorized Partnerships
Here at ITA we love Idaho's trails. We also appreciate that there are many types of trail users, and different forms of recreation to enjoy. At times, there has been some conflict between the Motorized and Non-motorized trail users as these groups struggle to fund and maintain trails with limited resources. We were recently contacted by ExtremeTerrain and asked to participate in their Clean Trails Initiative. ITA received a $250 ... Read More
Celebrate National Trails Day on June 6
Anyone who submits a report to ITA's new trail reporter anytime from Saturday to the end of the day Monday the 8th will be entered into a drawing for a Gossamer Bumster lumbar pack. Our trail reporter is a simple survey that you fill out after your hike about trail conditions you encounter. These reports help ITA know where to focus trail maintenance efforts in the future and keep community ... Read More