A Trail Worth Following: Zach Adams and Appalachian Dirt

When most of us lace up our hiking boots and head into the mountains, we rarely stop to wonder how the trail beneath our feet came to be. But behind every step is a story—and behind every story is someone who built the path.  

For Zachary Adams, trail building isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. As the founder of Appalachian Dirt, he and his crew spend most of their time designing and building trails across their home state of West Virginia and throughout the surrounding region. From small pocket parks to sprawling 10-mile routes, Appalachian Dirt brings expert craftsmanship and a passion for the outdoors to every project they take on.  

Woodlands Community Lenders was introduced to Appalachian Dirt back in 2021 when Zach approached us for his first loan. Now, 4 years later, we’re happy to announce our support for his business once again. Supporting companies like Appalachian Dirt is more than just good business—it’s central to our mission. Zach says the decision to return was easy, given the relationship built over time. 

“Woodlands is a great fit for us because we’re not super traditional. A lot of the folks that we deal with, like through insurance, through bonding companies, don’t understand what we do, and they don’t want to understand what we do. Finding a group like Woodlands, a community-based lender that will work to understand what we do and what we need makes a huge difference for the business.” 

That focus on values and long-term relationships has been central to Appalachian Dirt since the beginning. Before approaching Woodlands, Zach had already laid a strong foundation for the business. He started building trails in 2013 and launched Appalachian Dirt in 2016. Since then, he and his team have completed a wide range of projects across West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Zach is intentional about keeping most projects within a four-hour drive from home. It’s a conscious choice—to give his crew the chance to maintain a life outside of work and spend more time with their families. In an industry where many trail builders live on the road full time, that kind of balance is rare. 

Their field season typically runs from March through December, depending on the weather, with January and February spent cleaning and maintaining machinery— giving employees time to rest and reset. This schedule supports year-round employment and allows Appalachian Dirt to offer high-quality jobs with consistency and stability. Zach employs around nine year-round staff—seven full-time and two part-time—and a few seasonal workers in the summer.  

In the field, trail building is far more than just moving dirt. Each project Appalachian Dirt takes on requires a careful balance of planning, problem-solving, and physical labor—often in remote or rugged terrain. The team does a lot of light excavation and wilderness landscaping that includes raking, naturalizing the landscape—restoring natural conditions and minimizing the impact on the surrounding area—and transplanting vegetation. They use various types of machines and tools to complete these tasks and follow up with a lot of finishing work.

One standout example of Appalachian Dirt’s work is the Monday Lick Trail System in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The project was created by the SHARC Group (Snowshoe Highlands Area Ride Center) and was brought to life through a partnership with Appalachian Dirt, Rock Solid Trails, and the US Forest Service. Designed as a bidirectional, multi-use natural surface trail, the system emphasizes bike-optimized flow, especially for intermediate and advanced riders. Out of the 27 total miles, Appalachian Dirt was responsible for constructing about 14. The trail system officially opened to the public on May 17, 2025. 

For Zach, projects like Monday Lick capture what he loves most about the job—not just building trails but building experiences.  

“Making things, making trails—I like all of it,” he said. “We’re construction-based, but what we’re really doing is building experiences. So, the people out on the trail are kind of what keeps it fresh and very satisfying and rewarding to do. Because without them, we’re just ditch diggers.” 

That sense of purpose—of creating something meaningful for others—is part of what makes Appalachian Dirt so special. It’s also one of the many reasons we’re thrilled to recognize them as the recipient of our 200th loan. This milestone isn’t just a number; it’s a celebration of the kind of businesses that strengthen communities, open access to the outdoors, and build experiences that last well beyond the final mile of trail. 

Thanks to a loan made possible through our partnership with the Richard King Mellon Foundation, we were able to support Zach and his crew as they continue building and revitalizing our outdoor recreation areas.  

The R.K. Mellon Foundation loan helps us to support small, growing businesses that contribute to outdoor recreation economies in and around the Monongahela National Forest. Their funding has already made a meaningful difference—helping to launch restaurants in towns like Elkins and Franklin, West Virginia.  

Appalachian Dirt is the latest example of how strategic investment can help outdoor-focused businesses thrive while contributing to the health and resilience of local communities.