National Scenic and Historic Trails - FAQs

What is a trail?

There is no universal legal definition of a trail in the United States. One of the best, used for national recreation trails, is: ... a travel way established either through construction or use which is passable by at least one or more of the following, including but not limited to: foot traffic, stock, watercraft, bicycles, in-line skates, wheelchairs, cross-country skis, off-road recreation vehicles such as motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, and 4-wheel drive vehicles.

What is a "national trail"?

National trails are officially established under the authorities of the National Trails System Act (16 USC 1241-51). There are several types:

National scenic trails are 100 miles or longer, continuous, primarily non-motorized routes of outstanding recreation opportunity. Such trails are established by Act of Congress.

National historic trails commemorate historic (and prehistoric) routes of travel that are of significance to the entire Nation. They must meet all three criteria listed in Section 5(b)(11) of the National Trails System Act. Such trails are established by Act of Congress.

National recreation trails, also authorized in the National Trails System Act, are existing regional and local trails recognized by either the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior upon application.

What is the Federal government's role with National Trails?

Until 1968, the only Federal role in trails was to build and maintain those on Federal lands. The National Trails System Act of 1968 made it Federal policy to recognize and promote trails by providing financial assistance, support of volunteers, coordination with States, and other authorities. As a result, 11 national scenic trails (NSTs) and 21 national historic trails (NHTs) have been established by law (and are administered by the National Park Service, the USDA Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, depending on the trail); over 1,300 national recreation trails have been recognized by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior; and seven side-and-connecting trails have also been certified. In addition, other Federal statutes support and fund trails through programs such as FHWA's Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Enhancements programs, HUD block grants, and the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program.

What is the different between administration and management of national trails?

ADMINISTRATION

Trail-wide coordination -- Each National Trail, established by law, is assigned for administration to one or two Federal agencies by either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as designated by Congress. Subject to available funding, the administering agencies exercise trail-wide responsibilities under the Act for that specific trail. Such responsibilities include coordination among and between agencies and partner organizations in planning, marking, certification, resource preservation and protection, interpretation, cooperative / interagency agreements, and financial assistance to other cooperating government agencies, landowners, interest groups, and individuals.

MANAGEMENT

On-site jurisdiction -- Various government and private entities own or manage lands along each National Trail. Management responsibilities often include inventorying of resources and mapping, planning and development of trail segments or sites, compliance, provision of appropriate public access, site interpretation, trail maintenance, marking, resource preservation and protection, viewshed protection, and management of visitor use.

For example, the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, but runs through Yosemite so this section of the trail is managed by the NPS.

What Federal agencies are responsible for administering trails?

Every land-managing Federal agency has trails that provide access to their lands and waters. The 32 NSTs and NHTs created as part of the National Trails System cross numerous jurisdictions, with various segments managed by a variety of land owners or agencies. Each NHT and NST, however, is officially administered by the following agency or agencies:

Trail Name	Year Est'd	Authorized Length (miles)	Adm. Agency
Appalachian NST	1968	2,158	NPS
Pacific Crest NST	1968	2,638	USDA-FS
Continental Divide NST	1978	3,100	USDA-FS
Oregon NHT	1978	2,170	NPS
Mormon Pioneer NHT	1978	1,300	NPS
Lewis and Clark NHT	1978	4,900	NPS
Iditarod NHT	1978	2,350	BLM
North Country NST	1980	4,600	NPS
Overmountain Victory NHT	1980	275	NPS
Ice Age NST	1980	1,000	NPS
Florida NST	1983	1,300	USDA-FS
Potomac Heritage NST	1983	700	NPS
Natchez Trace NST	1983	95	NPS
Nez Perce (Nee-me-poo) NHT	1986	1,170	USDA-FS
Santa Fe NHT	1987	1,203	NPS
Trail of Tears NHT	1987	5,045 (1)	NPS
Juan Bautista de Anza NHT	1990	1,200	NPS
California NHT	1992	5,665	NPS
Pony Express NHT	1992	1,966	NPS
Selma to Montgomery NHT	1996	54	NPS
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro NHT	2000	404	NPS & BLM
Ala Kahakai NHT	2000	175	NPS
Old Spanish NHT	2002	2,700	NPS & BLM
El Camino Real de los Tejas NHT	2004	2,580	NPS
Captain John Smith Chesapeake NHT	2006	3,000	NPS
Star-Spangled Banner NHT	2008	290	NPS
Arizona NST	2009	761	USDA-FS
New England NST	2009	190	NPS
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route NHT	2009	2,020	NPS
Pacific Northwest NST	2009	1,200	USDA-FS
Chilkoot NHT	2022	16.5	NPS
Butterfield Overland NHT	2023	3,292	NPS
(1) Includes both overland and water routes between Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Do states get involved in national trails?

States vary widely in their interest in and support of national trails. Some have statutes modeled on the National Trails System Act; many have statewide trail plans and state trail coordinators. Most Federal NSTs and NHTs have ongoing cooperative agreements with States for the provision of motor tour route signs, law enforcement services, land protection, and other areas of common interest. Some States have dedicated revenue sources for trails and others subsidize trail maintenance because of the proven economic benefits these trails bring the State. For example, every State along the Lewis and Clark NHT organized a state council to help commemorate the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in the years 2003-6.

Who builds and maintains national trails?

Most trails in America are publicly built and managed. However, most of the enduring ones occur in a partnership between agencies and concerned citizens. A classic of this kind is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail where thousands of volunteers each year contribute hundreds of thousands of hours to keep this trail clear, safe, well-marked, and well-monitored. The recent trend of converting abandoned railroads to recreational trails has been fostered by the largest national trails organization -- the 75,000-member Rails-to-Trails Conservancy -- linking citizen advocacy with state and county projects that have captured over 10,000 miles of former railbeds for trails.

Where can I get additional information?

Click here to get contact information for national program staff.