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.
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 30 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 |
(1) Includes both overland and water routes between Tennessee and Oklahoma. |
Last updated: November 9, 2021