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.
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.
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.
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.
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. |
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.
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.
Last updated: December 5, 2023