National Scenic Trails

National Scenic Trails
Name	National Scenic Trails
Location	United States
Length	various
Established	1968
Governing body	National Park Service; United States Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management

Contents

National Scenic Trails are federally designated long-distance footpaths that traverse landscapes of outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational value across the United States. Established under landmark legislation, these routes connect Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Crest, and other major regions while linking federal agencies such as the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management with non-governmental organizations like the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. They provide corridors for long-distance hiking, horseback riding, and conservation stewardship, intersecting with places such as Shenandoah National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and routes near Mississippi River tributaries.

Overview

National Scenic Trails are part of a federal system created to preserve continuous recreational routes across diverse American landscapes, linking regions such as the Appalachian Mountains, the Cascade Range, and the Sierra Nevada. The trails often traverse or abut lands managed by the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and state agencies like the California State Parks and North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, while partnering with nonprofits such as the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and regional trail clubs. Trail corridors cross federal designations including Wilderness Area (United States), National Forests of the United States, and National Monuments of the United States, and intersect historic routes like the Santa Fe Trail and the Old Spanish Trail (trade route). These routes support activities tied to cultural landscapes, for example access to Chiricahua National Monument, Badlands National Park, and the Denali National Park and Preserve region.

The modern network traces to the National Trails System Act of 1968, sponsored in part by members of Congress and influenced by conservation advocates and organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy. The Act created categories including scenic and historic trails and established roles for the National Park Service and United States Forest Service, reflecting precedents from earlier conservation measures like the Organic Act of 1916 and the Wilderness Act of 1964. Subsequent amendments and designations involved presidents, committees of the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and legislation such as the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which affected corridors and management plans. Implementation has required cooperation with state legislatures, local governments like Los Angeles County and Montgomery County, Maryland, and tribal governments such as the Navajo Nation and the Yurok Tribe.

Designation of a National Scenic Trail requires federal study, congressional approval, and management planning involving agencies including the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Management frameworks use partnerships with nonprofit organizations like the Appalachian Mountain Club and trail stewardship groups such as the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club to coordinate volunteer maintenance, signage, and landowner agreements with entities like Amtrak when crossing rail corridors. Plans must consider federal statutes including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and coordination with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation when routes intersect historic districts like Independence National Historical Park or archaeological sites such as Mesa Verde National Park.

Recreational use raises challenges involving trail erosion, invasive species, and impacts on habitat for species protected under the Endangered Species Act such as the red wolf and sage grouse. Conservation planning often references studies by the United States Geological Survey and inventories by the National Park Service and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and requires coordination with conservation NGOs including the Trust for Public Land and the World Wildlife Fund (U.S.). Conflicts can arise with energy infrastructure projects permitted by the Bureau of Land Management or proposed pipelines that affect corridors near regions like the Powder River Basin and legal cases adjudicated in federal courts such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Access and facilities are provided through a mix of federal trailheads in units managed by the National Park Service and United States Forest Service, state park systems like California State Parks, and local agencies such as county park departments. Amenities include shelters maintained by organizations like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and permit systems administered by parks such as Grand Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park. Safety guidelines reference cooperation with emergency services including National Park Service Search and Rescue, state patrols like the California Highway Patrol, and federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency for wildfire and flood responses. Trail users planning long-distance trips consult resources from NGOs like the Pacific Crest Trail Association, guidebooks published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, and scientific briefings from the United States Geological Survey.

Category:Hiking trails in the United States