National Trails System

National Trails System
Name	National Trails System
Formation	1968
Type	Federal designation
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.

National Trails System

The National Trails System provides federal recognition and protection to long-distance trail corridors across the United States established by statute such as the National Trails System Act of 1968. It links routes associated with historic events like the Lewis and Clark Expedition and natural landscapes such as the Appalachian Mountains and the Pacific Crest Trail corridor. Administered through agencies including the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, the System supports conservation, recreation, and heritage interpretation along routes tied to figures like Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and communities such as the Shoshone Tribe.

History

The National Trails System began with advocacy by outdoor organizations including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Sierra Club and legislation introduced in sessions of the 90th United States Congress culminating in the 1968 enactment signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Early designations drew on corridors connected to explorers and campaigns like the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Trail of Tears displacement of Choctaw Nation and Cherokee Nation peoples. Subsequent amendments in later Congresses and actions by presidents such as Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter expanded riverways like the Mississippi River corridor and established national scenic trails modeled on the Appalachian Trail. Partnerships formed with state agencies such as the California Department of Parks and Recreation and non‑profits including the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Pacific Crest Trail Association to steward routes.

Types and Designations

Statute created several distinct categories: National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails, and National Recreation Trails. Examples of National Scenic Trails include the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail; National Historic Trails include the California Trail, Oregon Trail, and the Trail of Tears; National Recreation Trails encompass myriad local corridors recognized by the United States Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. Designations often reference landmark events and people such as Daniel Boone and the Mormon Trail associated with Brigham Young, and landscapes like the Great Divide Basin and routes across the Rocky Mountains.

Management and Administration

Administration involves multiple federal agencies: the National Park Service oversees many National Historic Trails and Scenic Trails, the United States Forest Service manages trail lands within national forests, and the Bureau of Land Management administers segments across western public lands. Cooperative agreements bind states such as Wyoming, Oregon, and Maine and nonprofit partners including the National Trails Association and local trail clubs like the Appalachian Mountain Club. Funding and oversight flow from congressional appropriations through committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the United States House Committee on Natural Resources. Legal protections derive from statutes and court interpretations involving agencies like the Department of the Interior and case law citing the National Environmental Policy Act as it concerns trail projects.

Notable Trails

Prominent National Scenic Trails include the Appalachian Trail (stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine), the Pacific Crest Trail (from the Mexico–United States border to the Canada–United States border through California, Oregon, and Washington), and the Continental Divide Trail traversing the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Historic corridors include the Oregon Trail, California Trail, Santa Fe Trail associated with William Becknell, and the Trail of Tears routes tied to the Indian Removal Act era and groups such as the Creek Nation. Urban and regional National Recreation Trails include projects in cities like Chicago, Denver, and Seattle linked to rivers such as the Columbia River and landmarks like Gateway Arch National Park.

Conservation and Environmental Impact

Trails serve as conservation corridors connecting protected areas such as Shenandoah National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Glacier National Park, facilitating biodiversity conservation for species including American black bear and bighorn sheep. Management plans address invasive species, erosion, and habitat fragmentation in ecosystems from the Appalachian Mountains' hardwood forests to the alpine zones of the Sierra Nevada. Collaboration among entities like the Nature Conservancy, state wildlife agencies, and tribal nations such as the Navajo Nation aims to protect cultural sites and restore riparian corridors along waterways including tributaries of the Missouri River. Environmental review under statutes like the Endangered Species Act guides trail siting to avoid impacts to listed species and critical habitat.

Recreation and Public Use

Trails support long‑distance thru‑hiking traditions exemplified by hikers who complete the Triple Crown of Hiking (the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail), day use and section hiking in state systems such as New York State Department of Environmental Conservation holdings, and equestrian, bicycle, and paddling activities on routes connected to the Potomac River and the Green River. Volunteerism from organizations like the Volunteer Trail Stewards and clubs such as the Pacific Crest Trail Association and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club provides maintenance, while interpretive programming draws on history associated with figures like John C. Frémont and events such as westward migration. Safety, access, permits, and search and rescue involve coordination with agencies including the National Park Service, United States Coast Guard in coastal segments, state parks departments, and county sheriffs.

Category:Trails in the United States