Across Armenia’s mountains and forests, a new kind of trail work is underway: not just with tools and boots, but with local knowledge, energy, and long-term vision.
HIKEArmenia launched a multi-region training initiative this spring to prepare newly formed maintenance crews for the 2025 trail work season. From Syunik to Tavush, crews received targeted, in-depth training to ensure Armenia’s trails are cared for by people who not only know the terrain but also call it home.
The crew formation process began months ago. Over the course of five months, HIKEArmenia sought out locals with strong ties to their communities and a genuine interest in seasonal outdoor work. Each of the four target regions—Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Lori, and Tavush—now has two crews of four. The structure was designed to allow crew members to remain close to home and return each day, making the opportunity more accessible and appealing to a broader range of residents.
Training sessions began in late March with two separate week-long workshops. The first covered crews in Syunik and Vayots Dzor, while the second focused on Lori and Tavush. These sessions were organized in partnership with Trails for Change NGO, whose professional trainers covered the fundamentals of trail maintenance.
Crew leaders and project supervisors then underwent an additional intensive course that covered more advanced topics. Together with Gerry Cusini from Allegra International (a member of the Professional Trail Builders’ Association), they practiced erosion control on the thread, rerouting damaged trails and building trail infrastructure such as retaining walls and bridges. Meanwhile, essential first aid training is being delivered in each region ahead of the maintenance work kick-off in May.
“Since its inception, HIKEArmenia has been committed to the idea of consistently improving the trail network by marking and maintaining the existing trails and building new trails according to international standards,” says Shahane Halajyan, Executive Director of HIKEArmenia. “While building the Armenian National Trail, we realized how fast the trail kilometers grew and how fast we needed the trail-building knowledge to spread to the regions.”
Looking ahead, HIKEArmenia plans to build on this model not only to create seasonal jobs in the regions but also to pass the trail stewardship on to the locals. “We hope to conduct training sessions for new skills every year, so we can keep everyone in high spirits,” Halajyan adds.
In 2025, HIKEArmenia is building 118 km of new trails in Tavush and maintaining over 570 km of trails. With hiking gaining momentum in Armenia, the work happening today will help ensure that the country’s natural beauty remains accessible and responsibly maintained for years to come.
