National Trails System

The National Trails System was created by the National Trails System Act (Pub.L. 90–543, 82 Stat. 919, enacted October 2, 1968), codified at 16 U.S.C. § 1241 et seq.

For the National Trails of the United Kingdom, see National Trails.
Signs used along the historic and scenic trails to mark the modern roads and significant points.
Map of the system with trail markers

The Act created a series of National trails "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation." Specifically, the Act authorized three types of trails: the National Scenic Trails, National Recreation Trails and connecting and side trails. The 1968 Act also created two national scenic trails: the Appalachian and the Pacific Crest; and requested that an additional fourteen trail routes be studied for possible inclusion.

In 1978, as a result of the study of trails that were most significant for their historic associations, a fourth category of trail was added: the National Historic Trails. Since 1968, over forty trail routes have been studied for inclusion in the system. Of these studied trails, twenty-one have been established as part of the system. Today, the National Trails System consists of 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails and over 1,000 National Recreation Trail and two connecting and side trails, with a total length of more than 50,000 miles (80,000 km). These National Trails are more than just for hiking, many are also open for horseback riding, mountain biking, camping and/or scenic driving.

As Congressionally established long-distance trails, each one is administered by a federal agency, either the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, or National Park Service. Two of the trails are jointly administered by the BLM and the NPS. Occasionally, these agencies acquire lands to protect key sites, resources and viewsheds. More often than not, they work in partnership with the states, local units of government, land trusts and private landowners, to protect lands and structures along these trails, enabling them to be accessible to the public. National Recreation Trails and connecting and side trails do not require Congressional action, but are recognized by actions of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture. All of the National Trails are supported by private non-profit organizations that work with the various federal agencies under the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS).

The Act is codified as 16 U.S.C. §§ 1241–1251. However, it has been amended numerous times since its passage,[1] most recently on October 18, 2004 (Pub.L. 108–342 (text) (pdf)).[2]

National Scenic Trails

National Scenic Trails were established to provide outdoor recreation opportunities and to conserve portions of the natural landscape with significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural importance.[3] Most notably, the National Scenic Trail system provides access to the crest of the Appalachian Mountains in the east via the Appalachian Trail, to the Rocky Mountains of the west on the Continental Divide Trail, and to the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges on the Pacific Crest Trail. Other places of note include the southern wetlands and Gulf Coast on the Florida Trail, the North Woods on the North Country Trail, and the wide variety of southwestern mountain ranges and ecosystems on the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Of the eleven national scenic trails,[4] Appalachian, Natchez Trace, and Potomac Heritage are official units of the NPS.

Trail nameYear establishedLength authorized (miles) States on route
North Country National Scenic Trail19804,600 Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail19783,100 Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail19682,650[5] California, Oregon, Washington
Appalachian National Scenic Trail19682,181[6] Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
Florida National Scenic Trail19831,300 Florida
Ice Age National Scenic Trail19801,200 Wisconsin
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail20091,200 Montana, Idaho, Washington
Arizona National Scenic Trail2009807 Arizona
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail1983700 Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail1983695 Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi
New England National Scenic Trail2009220 Massachusetts, Connecticut
Total:18,734

National Historic Trails

National Historic Trails are designated to protect the remains of significant overland or water routes to reflect the history of the nation. They represent the earliest travels across the continent on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail; the nation's struggle for independence on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail; epic migrations on the Mormon & Oregon Trails and the development of continental commerce on the Santa Fe Trail. They also commemorate the forced displacement and hardships of the Native Americans, on the Trail of Tears. There are 19 Historic Trails.[7] Most of them are scenic routes instead of non-motorized trails.

National Historic Trails were authorized under the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-625),[8] amending the National Trails System Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-543)

Trail nameYear establishedLength authorized States on route
Oregon National Historic Trail19782,170 miles (3,490 km) Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail19781,300 miles (2,100 km) Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail19783,700 miles (6,000 km) Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.
Iditarod National Historic Trail19782,350 miles (3,780 km) Alaska
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail1980275 miles (443 km) Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina
Nez Perce National Historic Trail19861,170 miles (1,880 km) Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana
Santa Fe National Historic Trail19871,203 miles (1,936 km) Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail19872,200 miles (3,500 km) Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail19901,200 miles (1,900 km) Arizona, California
California Trail19925,665 miles (9,117 km) Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon
Pony Express National Historic Trail19921,966 miles (3,164 km) California, Colorado,Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada,Utah, Wyoming,
Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail199654 miles (87 km) Alabama
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail2000404 miles (650 km) New Mexico
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail2000175 miles (282 km) Hawaii
Old Spanish National Historic Trail20022,700 miles (4,300 km) New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail20042,580 miles (4,150 km) Texas, Louisiana
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail20063,000 miles (4,800 km) Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail2008290 miles (470 km) Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail2009600 miles (970 km) Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, District of Columbia
Total:33,002 miles (53,112 km)

National Connecting and Side Trails

The act also established a category of trails known as connecting and side trails. To date, only two national side trails have been designated, both in 1990: The ten-mile Timms Hill Trail, which connects the Ice Age Trail to Wisconsin's highest point, Timms Hill, and the 86-mile Anvik Connector, which joins the Iditarod Trail to the village of Anvik, Alaska.[9]

  • Timms Hill Trail
  • Anvik Connector

National Geologic Trail

The first National Geologic Trail was established by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.

See also

Notes and references
  1. Notes on 16 U.S.C. § 1241-1251
  2. The Act, from the National Park Service
  3. "History of the National Trails System - American Trails". www.americantrails.org. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  4. National Trails System brochure, National Park Service & Bureau of Land Management, Dept. of Interior; and the Forest Service, Dept. of Agriculture
  5. "PCT FAQ - Pacific Crest Trail Association". pcta.org. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  6. "Appalachian Trail Conservancy Puts New Official Length of the Appalachian Trail at 2,181.0 Miles". www.appalachiantrail.org. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  7. National Trails System, National Park Service & Bureau of Land Management, Dept. of Interior; and the Forest Service, Dept. of Agriculture
  8. Notes on 16 U.S.C. §1244
  9. About.com article on National Trails system Archived 2015-04-05 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
  • Karen Berger, Bill McKibben (foreword) & Bart Smith (photography): America's Great Hiking Trails: Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, North Country, Ice Age, Potomac Heritage, Florida, Natchez Trace, Arizona, Pacific Northwest, New England. Rizzoli, 2014, ISBN 978-0789327413
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