Experienced Placemaker Helping to Build Vibrant Communities
Amy Camp has been at the center of the trail town movement for 15 years. She coaches and supports local leaders and communities in trail town development, strengthening heritage tourism, and accessing the outdoor recreation economy. She also offers nature-based experiences that foster growth and connection.
Meet Amy Camp
Amy Camp is a trail tourism expert, placemaker, and professional coach. She is the founder of Cycle Forward, a consulting agency that supports trail communities across the United States and Canada. Amy helps community leaders better connect to and fully leverage their trails.
Amy started working with trail communities in 2007. Before starting Cycle Forward, one of the major highlights in her placemaking effort was helping to establish the Trail Town Program® along the Great Allegheny Passage. It is also this nationally recognized project that inspired Amy to start her own heritage tourism consulting services in 2013. As a firm believer in the benefits of trails, Amy has seen these natural assets nourish individuals, elevate local economies, and contribute to community vibrancy.
Trail Tourism & Placemaking Projects
WV TRAIL Statewide Trails Plan Framework
A WV VTRAIL meeting participant shares thoughts. Photo by Justin Litton, Lost Trail Film & Photo. West Virginia’s first and only statewide trail plan was published nearly 25 years ago. In a state where the average adult reports feeling physically and mentally unhealthy more often than the average American, access to trails and greenways – and…
The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor: Trail Towns Process Evaluation
Along The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC). Photo courtesy of DLNHC. The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) is a protected region spanning five counties and 165 miles of trail between Wilkes-Barre and Bristol, Pennsylvania. The DLNHC connects people to the region by preserving its rich industrial history, natural resources, and opportunities…
Continue Reading The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor: Trail Towns Process Evaluation
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Amy’s Writing About Placemaking and Trails
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A Look Back at 2025
A New Year’s sunrise in Pittsburgh’s South Side. A New Year always calls for reflection, both on the year that was and the year ahead. Cycle Forward is buckled up for a busy year with the new P2P Regional Master Plan project. Most of our time and energy this coming year will be devoted to […]
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Knowing Better, Doing Better
My professional purpose is deeply tied to helping communities prosper through trails. I’ve been specializing in the Trail Town model since 2007 and spend a lot of time on this topic. And yet, I’m always learning and sometimes even have to reconsider what I thought I knew about Trail Towns. One of these moments occurred in 2023 when I learned that the Florida Trail Gateway Communities program was the first functioning Trail Town initiative. In that very moment, I realized I needed to update my book, Deciding on Trails.
Deciding On Trails: 7 Practices of Healthy Trail Towns
Deciding on Trails is a call-to-action for the local leaders, community residents, and dreamers who want to make a difference in their community by offering better nature experiences and connections to trails. This book is also an excellent tool for trail and community advocates who wish to cultivate a trail culture and spur economic development with a regional or statewide scope.
