In this episode of the All Redding Podcast, we sit down with Nathan Knudsen, Executive Director of the Redding Trail Alliance, to explore how one passionate local movement has helped shape the trails, outdoor experiences, and adventure culture that make Redding such a special place to live. What started with a shovel, a love for mountain biking, and a desire to build something better has grown into a nonprofit that has created over 25+ miles of trail, maintains hundreds more, and continues to transform the North State into a true outdoor destination. 🎙️ What You'll Learn in This Episode 🎨 His journey from graphic design into trail building and nonprofit leadership ⛏️ The early days of "outlaw" trail building and how it evolved into community-driven development 🌱 How the Redding Trail Alliance was formed and funded 🛠️ The behind-the-scenes reality of building and maintaining public trails 🤝 Why community involvement is critical to sustaining Redding's trail system 🚴♂️ The impact of events like the Lemurian Classic 🌄 How Redding is becoming a regional destination for mountain biking and trail running 🚀 The vision for future projects — including potential large-scale trail systems like Lakehead ❤️ Why trails are more than recreation — they're community, health, and economic drivers This conversation highlights the passion, grit, and collaboration behind the trails so many in our community enjoy — and shows how everyday people can play a role in building something lasting for future generations. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Welcome to All Redding 0:24 – Meet Nathan Knudsen & Redding Trail Alliance 1:25 – From graphic design to trail building 3:20 – The early days of building trails 6:42 – Trail 58, French Fry Trail & community growth 11:17 – Working with land managers & building legally 14:11 – The reality of trail maintenance 18:47 – Growth of Redding Trail Alliance 20:36 – Building the Enticer Trail & putting Redding on the map 26:05 – Trails for all skill levels & future needs 33:20 – Events: Lemurian Classic 47:34 – Funding, impact & the future of Redding trails 👤 About the Host — Griffith Tonkin https://www.facebook.com/arthoferandtonkin Griffith Tonkin is a longtime Shasta County-born attorney and community leader, partner at Arthofer & Tonkin Law Offices, active in local youth and civic work, and dedicated to justice, mentorship, and service. 🌲 About the Guest — Nathan Knudsen https://www.facebook.com/ReddingTrailAlliance.org/ Nathan Knudsen is the Executive Director of the Redding Trail Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to building, maintaining, and advocating for high-quality trail systems across the North State. With a passion for the outdoors and community development, Nathan has helped lead the creation of miles of trails and regional events that continue to shape Redding into a premier outdoor destination. 🌐 About All Redding AllRedding.com is your local online source for all things Redding and surrounding areas. Our goal is to connect people with businesses, events, and stories within our community that make you proud to live in Redding, California! 👉 www.allredding.com All Redding Explore Your City. Live Local.