Trail Building in 2026 – Why Volunteer Work Is Reaching Its Limits – MTB Report

Growing demand, shrinking manpower, and a system stretched thinner every year.
Published by Radical Life Studios / MTB Report

As the mountain bike community enters 2026, one reality becomes impossible to ignore: the foundation of many trail networks — volunteer labor — is nearing a breaking point. The number of legal trails is increasing, rider traffic is rising, and expectations for maintenance, safety and trail diversity grow with every season. Yet the people who keep these networks alive are often unpaid, overstretched and operating within structures that have barely changed in decades.

For years, the MTB scene has been carried by volunteers who give up evenings and weekends to shape, maintain and repair trails. They clear storm damage, fix drainage, rebuild berms and perform the quiet, invisible work that makes mountain biking possible. In 2026, this system faces pressures from all sides. Many associations report declining volunteer engagement, while the workload has grown significantly due to heavier trail usage, climate-driven erosion and higher legal requirements. The equation has stopped balancing.

A major issue is bureaucracy. In many regions, trail clubs must navigate a maze of landowners, forestry departments and environmental agencies. Renewing permits for trails that have existed legally for years can take months. Some clubs report that a single administrative cycle now takes longer than building the trail itself. Volunteers motivated by shovels and sweat often find themselves dealing with documents, meetings and regulations instead of actually shaping trails.

Finances add another layer. Professional trail crews, machinery and sustainable construction cost money. While many clubs rely on member fees, donations and tourism partnerships, these funds often fail to match the actual maintenance needs of a growing trail network. The more legal trails exist, the greater the responsibility — and the less realistic it becomes to expect volunteers to cover everything free of charge.

The gap between users and builders also becomes more visible. Many riders underestimate how much effort goes into trail upkeep. Calls for “more trails” are common, but without structural support, they remain unrealistic. A modern, well-built trail requires specialized knowledge, expensive tools, and continuous care. Without a reliable system behind it, volunteer labor becomes a form of slow burnout — predictable, but ignored until too late.

Still, there are bright spots. Some municipalities finally recognize the economic and social value of high-quality trail networks. Tourism boards have begun funding maintenance projects, and a few regions now coordinate hybrid systems where professional trail builders work alongside volunteers. These models offer a glimpse of what a sustainable future could look like — but they remain exceptions rather than standard practice.

2026 makes one thing clear: Mountain biking has outgrown the structures that once supported it. If riders, tourism organizations and local governments benefit from thriving trail systems, then they must invest in them. Not only with words, but with funding, staffing, training and streamlined processes.

Volunteers built the foundation of the sport.
The question now is whether the sport will build something for them in return.