{"id":229032,"date":"2026-02-17T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/shimano-announces-2026-trail-born-projects-and-continued-expansion\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:00:00","slug":"shimano-announces-2026-trail-born-projects-and-continued-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/shimano-announces-2026-trail-born-projects-and-continued-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Shimano Announces 2026 Trail Born Projects and Continued Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Trails don\u2019t build themselves. Not only is it hard work, but modern trail construction can often be quite expensive. From tools and machines to labor costs, paperwork, and all the other things that go on behind the scenes, the cost to build new trails can really add up. With construction costs estimated to be between $10,000 and $45,000 per mile<\/em>, trail organizations have their fundraising work cut out for them. To ensure that mountain bike trails continue to get built, Shimano started its Trail Born Initiative in 2024<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With Trail Born, Shimano committed a whopping $10 million to trail development, advocacy, and community over a 10-year period. According to the brand, \u201cTrail Born is designed to enhance the overall mountain bike experience by investing directly in trail infrastructure, advocacy organizations, and the people who maintain and steward these spaces. The program supports projects that not only expand and sustain trail networks, but also help revitalize the communities that surround them<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Dropping into the Mt. Hough trail network, one of the places where Trail Born is helping to fund more trail development. (photo\/Heather Benson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ve seen the impact of Shimano\u2019s Trail Born program firsthand. In my area, the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) receives support from Trail Born, which helps to fund the continued expansion of the growing trail network on Mt. Hough in Quincy, CA. This multi-year project has resulted in miles upon miles of excellent mountain bike trails and is part of SBTS\u2019s much larger Connected Communities Project<\/a>. The trails on Mt. Hough started well before Trail Born, but now, they continue to be built with funds from the program. Quality trails have turned Quincy into a mountain-biking destination while positively impacting the town\u2019s economy and community by enhancing recreational opportunities.<\/p>\n

When Trail Born was announced in 2024, Shimano initially focused on <\/span>areas in North America, Europe, and Oceania. At the time, Shimano stated that<\/span> it planned to \u201cexpand into Asia, Africa, and Central and South America by 2026<\/em>.\u201d Now, the brand is making good on that promise, expanding to more continents and countries around the world. Of the 45 project submissions received for 2026, Trail Born is funding 19 new projects worldwide while providing continued support for several ongoing projects.<\/p>\n

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Riders on the Shimano Trail at the Peak Mountain Bike Park in Nanjing, China. (photo\/Shimano)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the Press Release:<\/h2>\n

Trail Born By the Numbers<\/h3>\n

Since breaking ground in August 2024, SHIMANO Trail Born has:<\/p>\n