Membership

Become A Member of the Cumberland Trails Conference!

Together We Can Close the Gaps!

Why should I become a member of the Cumberland Trails Conference?

Did you enjoy a recent hike on the Cumberland Trail?  Are you planning a hike?  Did you participate in the ongoing trail building project? Though not yet completed, the Cumberland Trail is open and free to everyone.  The Trail is not just another walk in the woods; it is a designated State Scenic Trail and one of the only linear state parks in the country.  Upon completion, the Trail will extend 300 miles across Tennessee from south to north and connect with other trails extending from Alabama to New York.  Today, some 210 miles of the Trail are complete and open to hikers and backpackers, with additional miles of trail being built in an extensive construction effort.

The State is Building the Trail, right?

Well, yes and no.  The Cumberland Trail is being built and maintained under the auspices of Tennessee State Parks.  Construction of the trail is split between paid state park crews, trail crews paid by the CTC and volunteers.  Many volunteers are dedicated workers of long-standing, others offer spontaneous assistance, and many others volunteer through a number of colleges and universities. Nearly all of the enormous volunteer effort is managed by the Cumberland Trails Conference, a non-profit organization with paid part-time staff and volunteer “WagonMasters”. Almost all of our financial support comes from grants, private donations, and — importantly — from memberships.  Every dollar of every membership helps continue trail construction.  Please understand that without your support as a member or volunteer, construction can not proceed at the current pace.

Who are Cumberland Trails Conference members?

While the CTC does not have members in the strictest sense, being a “member” is a group designation given to certain financial contributors and supporters, but it does not confer any governance or financial rights in the Cumberland Trails Conference 501(c)(3) entity. CTC members are people of all ages and from all walks of life. We live in Tennessee and in many other states, and we share a love for hiking and a commitment to finish and to preserve and protect the Cumberland Trail corridor for future generations. It’s through our member’s time and monetary donations that we can do this together.

How do I join?

If you would like to join the other volunteers in this effort to complete the Cumberland Trail, either submit Online using the form below or download, print, and mail the membership form.