The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation exists to protect, promote, and enhance
the Virginia Capital Trail and to engage communities around it.
Our vision is to inspire vibrant, healthy communities through the use of a network of interconnected trails.
To learn more about what we do, continue reading!
Strategic Plan
Click here to view our most recent strategic plan. The major goals of the plan are outlined below:
Goal 1: Create a world-class user experience.
Goal 2: Substantially increase the number of Trail users.
Goal 3: Drive public understanding of and engagement with the Foundation.
Goal 4: Be a leader in the stewardship of a collaborative trails network.
As we embark on this next chapter, we do so with a sense of forward momentum and excitement for the Capital Trail and our region. Let us keep moving together with enthusiasm, purpose, and a shared commitment to the Capital Trail.
Unified Voice of the Trail
Our most important function is serving as the unified voice of the Trail. When the Trail was being built, its supporters realized there was a need for an organization to communicate with all the jurisdictions, government offices, supporters, partners, and Trail users. From this idea the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation was born! In the beginning, the Foundation was essential to the completion of the Trail and served as a nonpartisan advocacy partner to provide Trail expertise, to raise public awareness of the Trail, and to seek funding and contributions to enhance and promote the Trail. Today we work hard to continue our mission to protect, promote, and enhance the Virginia Capital Trail, and to serve as a resource, community builder, and connector to other trails throughout the Commonwealth.
Trail Ambassadors
Trail Ambassadors are a group of dedicated, trained volunteers who regularly patrol the Trail. Our Ambassadors do everything from information assistance, basic first aid and bike repair, reporting maintenance issues, and cleaning up litter. All Ambassadors are outfitted with safety vests and provided with supplies to use on their patrols as they assist Trail users. As the eyes and ears of the Trail, the Ambassadors provide valuable information to help keep the Trail safe and beautiful. Trail Ambassadors also help to spread goodwill and a sense of community along the Trail.
Resource for Businesses
We love that the Trail can foster businesses and create an economic impact in the region. We do our part to help these businesses grow by providing them with information, Trail statistics, and promoting them on our social media, in our e-newsletter, and on our website.
Trail Cleanups
The Foundation supports regular Trail cleanups. We provide interested volunteer groups with supplies to clean the Trail such as trash bags, gloves, and litter grabbers. In October 2019, we organized the first trail-wide Cap Trail Cleanup. This event recruited almost 100 volunteers and collected almost 80 bags of trash in one day! Our Trail Ambassadors also conduct regular litter pickups and assist other volunteers with their group cleanups.
VDOT and Maintenance
An important part of the Foundation is our public-private partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation. VDOT is responsible for maintenance of the Trail from making repairs, clearing debris, or cutting the grass. We work together to collect information about maintenance issues and safety concerns to ensure the Trail stays safe and beautiful. VDOT also supports our Trail Ambassador program and their crews work closely with our volunteers.
Marketing
Marketing the Trail is a huge part of our mission and we work hard to spread the word about the Cap Trail as a resource for locals and a destination for tourists. Our team creates resources such as maps, itineraries, lodging and dining guides, and more for visitors. We also attend outreach events to spread the word about the Capital Trail and the Cap2Cap. We also reach out to media organizations about promoting the Trail and all it has to offer!
Trail Connections
Another important component of our work is our infrastructure advocacy. We love trails and we want more! We serve as a resource for others who work to build more trails, bike lanes, and connections to the VCTF. We do this by sharing our research, our Trail counts, and our best practices with our partners. One project we’re passionate about is connecting the Trail to Colonial Williamsburg. We’re asked all the time how to bike from the end of the Trail into Colonial Williamsburg. We continue to advocate to local and government officials to connect the Capital Trail to Colonial Williamsburg (approximately seven miles of trail). It’s our dream to see this project come to fruition.
Outreach Events
Cap2Cap is not just our biggest fundraiser it’s also a great way to bring the whole Trail community together. We love fostering the fun, compassionate, and active community that has grown around the Trail and part of the way we do that is by making Cap2Cap as awesome as possible. Over the years, we’ve added other events like our Cap Trail 10m/5k Run and our Capital Quarantine Challenge. We really enjoy showcasing the Capital Trail through fun outreach events for all athletes!
Visitor Information
The Foundation is the primary source for all Capital Trail information. Every day we receive calls and emails about Trail conditions, parking and lodging options, trip itineraries, and other information that helps the community use and access the Trail. We’re happy to answer any and all Trail related questions. We want to ensure everyone has a fulfilling Trail experience and answering your questions is just one way we work to achieve this goal.
Trail Amenities
The VCTF is responsible for managing the installation of benches, repair stations, bike racks, and rain shelters along the Trail. In 2018, we successfully installed 15 benches along the Trail. It’s no easy task getting these installed. Each amenity needs to be approved, ordered, shipped, installed and maintained. VCTF is also responsible for providing portable toilets along the Trail. We continue to work to install more amenities along the Trail.
Trail Counters
VDOT, Venture Richmond, and the Foundation all work together to manage eco-counters along the Trail that track usage. There are a total of 10 trail counters along the Trail that collect total number of users in each section per day. We can use this data for a number of reasons such as: finding our most popular access point, the busiest times on the Trail, and the distribution of cyclist vs. pedestrian Trail users. Thanks to this technology we're able to showcase just how many people use and enjoy the Trail every day. Not just that, we share our data with other interest groups to help advocate for more trails!
Annual Impact Report
Dear Capital Trail Friends,
What an incredible year! In the pages of this year’s Virginia Capital Trail Foundation Annual Report, we are proud to showcase our organization’s remarkable progress and achievements in promoting healthy living, community engagement, and sustainable transportation. The Virginia Capital Trail continues to serve as a shining example of how partnerships, dedication, and the unwavering support of our trail users and donors can transform vision into reality. Our commitment to connecting communities and preserving the natural beauty of our region remains steadfast, and we look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as we continue to grow and make a lasting impact. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have played a role in this journey, and we invite you to explore the pages of this report to discover the shared passion that has made the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation’s mission a reality.
Happy Trails,
Cat Anthony, Executive Director
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