The Cumberland Trail has been and continues to be constructed largely by volunteers from many walks of life. This volunteer construction effort is managed by the Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC), a non-profit organization supported by tax deductable donations from supporters like you.

The Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC), the Friends of the Cumberland Trail , private corporations, individuals, and others assist the State of Tennessee in the maintenance and development of the Cumberland Trail. As a member of the Southeast Foot Trails Coalition (SEFTC), CTC assists in protecting, preserving and promoting the Cumberland Trail, and assists with organizing volunteers and supporters to help build, maintain, and provide activities on the Cumberland Trail. This includes trail maintenance and building outings, trail-building training sessions, providing environmental and cultural education, and organizing periodic hikes on the CT.

The CTC places a high priority on interlacing earth and conservation education within the trailbuilding program format, and in a learning format that provides an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the students and volunteers. All CTC programs, backpack and maintenance outings, hikes, and workdays are volunteer activities and are open to the public. CTC provides the required training, safety equipment, and tools. Except for a few special programs, there is no charge. CTC is committed to principles of equal opportunity, equal access and affirmative action.

Still a work-in-progress, the Cumberland Trail will pass through 11 Tennessee counties and numerous communities on the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau. In addition to providing quality outdoor experiences and supporting tourism, the CT brings opportunities for conservation education and the protection of natural and cultural resources. Tennessee's hiking trails are a prime attraction to the most visited parks and provide numerous opportunities for environmental and cultural education. The CT brings watershed and viewshed protection, greenway corridors, and wildlife conservation to this rich ecological region. Located in an economically challenged region; the Cumberland Trail will provide both recreation and viable renewable economic opportunities to the communities of the Cumberland Plateau.