National Trails System
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The National Trails System was created by act of Congress, October 2, 1968. This Act created a series of 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: National Scenic Trails, National Recreation Trails, and connecting-and-side trails. The 1968 Act also created two national scenic trails -- the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails -- and requested that an additional 14 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: National Historic Trails. Since 1968 over 40 trail routes have been studied for inclusion in the System. Of these studied trails, 21 have been established as part of the System Today (2006) the National Trails System consists of 8 national scenic trails, 16 national historic trails, almost 1000 national recreation trails, and two connecting-and-side trails. Added together the lengths of all these trails totals well over 50,000 miles.
As Congressionally-established long-distance trails, each of the scenic and historic trails is administered by a Federal agency: either the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the USDA Forest Service, or the National Park Service (NPS). Two are jointly adninsitered by BLM and NPS. Sometimes these agencies acquire lands to protect key sites, resources, and viewsheds. More often, however, they work in partnership with states, local units of government, land trusts, and private landowners to protect lands and structures along these trails to enable 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 secretaries of the Interior or Agriculture.
[edit] See also
National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails,
Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, Florida National Scenic Trail, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, North Country National Scenic Trail, Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail,
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, California National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, Iditarod National Historic Trail National Historic Trail, Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail, Old Spanish National Historic Trail, Oregon National Historic Trail, Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail, Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail,
Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Please note: These trails are way more than just hiking trails. Many are open to hikers, but some also welcome horeseback riders and auto campers.
