The New England Trail Conference founded in 1916, is a coalition of some four dozen New England clubs, held together by a common interest in hiking, trail clearing, maintenance_, and conservation. The Conference maintains close ties with neighboring federations, such as the New York--New Jersey Trail Conference and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and is on a publications exchange basis with similar groups across the country.

A Chairman elected annually, and an Executive Committee, whose members serve three-year terms, govern the Conference. The Supervisors of the Green Mountain National Forest and the White Mountain National Forest also serve, ex officio, as members of the Executive Committee.

Although there is no provision for individual membership, all interested persons are invited to attend the annual meeting of the Conference, held each year. At this meeting, the constituent organizations report on the condition of the trails and shelters, which they maintain, including relocations and other significant changes. There are also talks and panel discussions about various aspects of hiking and trail maintenance plus other program features of general interest to the hiking public.

The Conference serves primarily as a clearinghouse for information about the footpaths and trails throughout New England. As such, it welcomes inquiries from individuals and groups, and it will forward requests for specific detailed trail information to the appropriate trail clubs. The Conference itself does not sponsor outings or trips, but provides information about clubs, which do.