World Trails Network - Hub for the Americas

The World Trails Network - Hub for the Americas (WTN Americas), also known as Pan American Trails, is a New Hampshire nonprofit that partners with the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF), New Hampshire State Parks (NHSP), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), and others to steward trails, engage volunteers, and provide training and educational opportunities.

The Partnership to Restore the Franconia Ridge Loop is a multi-year effort to address the severe erosion of Franconia Ridge Loop trails: the Old Bridle Path, Falling Waters Trail, upper Greenleaf Trail (section Greenleaf Hut to Mount Lafayette), and the Franconia Ridge Trail (section Mount Little Haystack to Mount Lafayette, also part of the Appalachian Trail). This loop begins in Franconia Ridge State Park and enters the White Mountain National Forest. WTN Americas’ raises funds and leads trail restoration work on New Hampshire State Park sections of these trails.



The Franconia Ridge Loop also traverses the rare and fragile White Mountain Alpine Zone. WTN Americas hires a Chief Summit Steward who supervises paid Summit Steward college interns. Summit Stewards do weekly alpine trail maintenance, environmental monitoring, while also providing information and education to the more than 40,000 visitors to Franconia Ridge each year. 

This is also a partnership program: WTN Summit Stewards work collaboratively with West End Trail Tender (WETT) volunteers, AMC volunteer Alpine Stewards, and WMNF Backcountry Rangers.