Johnson County part of new Rails to Trails Conservancy program

Johnson County is in line for more hiking trails in the near future as the national organization Rails to Trails Conservancy announced its accelerator cohort in 2026. "This is about moving from aspiration to action: Being selected for the TrailNation Accelerator program helps Johnson County, Tenn. take the next steps, turning a shared trail vision into practical, implementable actions with the right technical support in place," Johnson County Trails Association (JCTA) stated. Johnson County is a part of Rails to Trails Conservancy's (RTC) TrailNation Accelerator, a capacity-building program that helps rural and small-town communities advance connected trail networks that support safety, health, economic vitality and quality of life. The county's partners include the Johnson County Trails Association, First Tennessee Development District and Johnson County Tourism Office. "Local priorities stay at the center of the work: While we'll learn from national experts and peer communities, the Johnson County Trails Association Master Plan is shaped by local needs, values and partnerships," JCTA stated. "In Tennessee, partners in Johnson County are planning nearly 100 miles of multiuse trails to link communities across three states, building on decades of grassroots advocacy," Rails to Trails stated. In 2006, Johnson County approved the JCTA's vision of a 100-mile trail network, including Doe Mountain, downtown Mountain Citty and connecting to Virginia and North Carolina. Part of that includes connecting the Laurel Creek Trail to Ralph Stout Park, utilizing the original railbed of the Laurel Railway. Since Helene in September 2024, the JCTA volunteered more than 450 hours and spent $100,000 to repair the 2.5-mile Laurel Creek Trail up to the Virginia state line. The Iron Mountain Trail, which connects Johnson County with Damascus, Virginia, also suffered tremendous damage from Helene. The Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club logged over 8,000 hours in 143 cleanup events from late 2024 through May 2025 to clear the 134-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail from Spivey Gap, N.C., where it crosses U.S. 19 West, to the Tennessee/Virginia state line just north of Backbone Rock and near Damascus, Va. This work ensured the trail was 100% open for the hiking season. Club records note that in some locations, there were over 50 trees blown down on the trail per mile. The JCTA now manages the Iron Mountain Trail through a memorandum of understanding with the Cherokee Forest Service, a subdivision of the National Forest Service. The JCTA has sought to revitalize the Iron Mountain Trail for multi-use. About the Accelerator The TrailNation Accelerator is made possible with "generous support from the REI Cooperative Action Fund" and building on RTC's TrailNation initiative — the organization's flagship program to accelerate the pace of trail network development nationwide through model projects, a playbook for action and a national peer network. "The Accelerator connects local progress to national momentum," Rails to Trails stated. "Through a hands-on, cohort-based experience, participants receive tailored technical assistance, practical tools and peer connections to turn trail visions into actionable, locally driven plans." Over the course of the year-long program, RTC will work with the cohort to adapt economic and community development strategies, like regional collaboration and investment readiness, to align vision, resources, and partnerships for long-term success. By combining capacity building, technical assistance and peer learning, the Accelerator supports resilient trail network planning rooted in local priorities and equips communities to turn vision into long-term impact. "Trails are essential infrastructure for communities of all sizes," said Kelly Pack, RTC's TrailNation Accelerator program director. "Through the TrailNation Accelerator, RTC is able to offer targeted support for rural and small-town communities that are ready to move from aspiration to action, giving the people who live there safe places to connect outside and inviting visitors to experience by trail all that these towns offer." The selected cohort reflects a range of geographies and projects at different stages of connecting local trails, united by ambitious visions for essential trail infrastructure that provides safe transportation options, improves equitable access to recreation and strengthens health, mobility and local economies. "This cohort reflects the creativity, determination and local leadership driving trail development across the country," Pack said. "Individually, these communities reflect diverse needs and visions. Collectively, they're places where limited resources, capacity gaps and persistent inequities really highlight the importance of tailored technical assistance and learning from one another." While the cohort teams will receive customized support, participants will collectively advance locally driven trail networks and contribute practical strategies to strengthen the broader trails movement nationwide. Other cohorts selected for the program are in Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, Washington and West Virginia. The cohort communities will advance their work side by side, making progress on distinct local goals while building the collective capacity necessary for navigating challenges that often constrain rural and small-town initiatives. As the cohort moves forward, the TrailNation Accelerator will equip teams with tools and relationships to advance trail networks that serve people and places equitably. "These communities are strengthening their ability to address longstanding disparities in access and capacity," Pack said. "RTC is excited to connect them with ways to use trail network development as a catalyst for more equitable health, mobility and economic outcomes." Learn more about the TrailNation Accelerator and the cohort's projects at railstotrails.org/trailnation/accelerator.