Grand Canyon Active Trails to Kick Off 2012 Season

Grand Canyon Active Trails participants walk the Rim Trail

NPS Photo by Michael Quinn

Date: April 17, 2012
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, Ariz. -- At a time when it is difficult to keep up with all your various social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, Foursquare, and LinkedIn, Active Trails presents you with the opportunity to take your social network out-of-doors! Grand Canyon National is proud to announce the return of Grand Canyon Active Trails. The Grand Canyon Active Trails program, initiated last year with National Park Foundation funds, encourages healthy physical activity and promotes community and visitor use of park hiking and biking trails. 

The Grand Canyon Active Trails Team will hold their first event of the 2012 season on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 in conjunction with fee-free National Park Week. At 5:30 p.m., the Team will begin a three-mile walk along the Rim Trail from Bright Angel Trailhead to Mather Point. Walkers may arrive at the departure point as late as 6 p.m. to participate. As with all future Active Trails events, participants are encouraged to bring water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen, and sturdy footwear to this event. Children under the age of 12 are to be accompanied by an adult. 

The Grand Canyon Active Trails Team has sixteen events planned for the spring, summer, and fall of this year, including walks, hikes and bike rides. There are also Active Trails events planned for National Trails Day, National Get Outdoors Day, and National Public Lands Day.  Community members and park visitors alike are encouraged to participate in these fun, family friendly activities. 

Funding for this year's Grand Canyon Active Trails program is being provided by the park's cooperating association and fund raising partner Grand Canyon Association. 

Tentative schedule of Grand Canyon Active Trails events for 2012:

Walks	Bike Rides
April 25 (National Park Week)	May 9
May 21	June2 (National Trails Day)
June 4 (Partial Lunar Eclipse)	June 9 (National Get Outdoors Day)
June 25	July 9
July 23	August 6
August 20	September 3 (Wilderness Month)
September 17 (Wilderness Month)	September 29 (Public Lands Day)
October 15
October 29 (Season Finale)

Details on, and changes to, proposed events will be posted on the Grand Canyon Active Trails Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Grand-Canyon-Active-Trails/127828990655457?bookmark_t=page and the Active Trails Webpage http://www.nps.gov/grca/supportyourpark/active-trails.htm. Anyone with questions regarding Grand Canyon Active Trails can reach the Team on Facebook or call [phone].

-NPS-