Special Designations

National Trails

Definitions

Four types of national trails are defined in the National Trails System Act of 1968. The first two categories can only be established by act of Congress, and are to be administered by federal agencies, although part or all of their land base may be owned and managed by others.

National Scenic Trails are over 100 miles long, and are  "so located as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential, and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass."

National Historic Trails are generally over 100 miles long, and "follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historic significance."Their purpose is the identification and protection of the historic route and its remnants and artifacts for public use and enjoyment.

National Recreation Trails are of any length and are accepted in the system upon approval by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to "provide a variety of outdoor recreation in or reasonably accessible to urban areas." Before designation can take place, the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture must be ensured that the trail will be available to the public for at least 10 consecutive years.

Connecting or side trails provide additional public access to the above three types of trails, or connections between such trails.

Policy and Program Objectives

Little policy  guidance is currently available other than the language of the National Trails System Act itself. The objectives of the Act are to establish a national system of trails lying not only on federal land, but also crossing state and local public lands, as well as private holdings. The Appalachian, Natchez Trace, and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails lie in large part within protected federal corridors. For those trails assigned to it, the NPS management role is one of coordination, encouragement, designation of segments meeting eligibility criteria, and land protection, where allowed by law. Totaling more than 40,000 miles in combined length, these 20 Congressionally authorized national trails (as of 1996) pass through or lie adjacent to 56 NPS units. Within these units, the long-distance trails are frequently established and maintained by volunteer organizations. Three of these trails themselves are officially recognized as NPS units.

Authorities

The primary authority is the National Trails System Act, 1968, as amended.

Relationship to Other Guidance

See DO 2 Park Planning and the Planner's Sourcebook; DO 6 Interpretation; DO 7 Volunteers in Parks; DO 9 Law Enforcement Program; DO 20 Agreements and the Agreements Handbook; DO/RM 25 Land Protection; DO/RM 28 Cultural Resource Management; and DO 52C Sign Standards.

Program Guidance

Congress identifies National Scenic and Historic Trails to be studied for inclusion in the National Trails System. Based on the recommendations of feasibility studies carried out by federal agencies (usually the NPS), selected trails are authorized for establishment and assigned to the most appropriate federal agency. Nominations for recreation and connecting trails can be made at the local and state level, as well as by federal agencies, and are approved by secretarial signature.Once authorized and assigned to a regional (or project) office, each trail's administrative needs are addressed in cooperation with an advisory council appointed by the appropriate departmental secretary for 10 years. Land protection authority in the Act varies from trail to trail, ranging from full condemnation powers to a prohibition on spending federal funds on activities that diminish trail integrity. Management of nonfederal segments of these trails by state and local authorities must occur at no expense to the U.S. government, other than grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Other federal administrative responsibilities include support of volunteer efforts, management planning, interagency coordination, mapping and data collection, resource inventories, compliance, land transfers, interpretation, publicity, marking, route monitoring, and protection of rights-of-way in which there is a federal interest.

Roles and Responsibilities

Administration of 20 Congressionally authorized trails (1999) is divided among the USDA Forest Service (4), the Bureau of Land Management (1), and the NPS (15). In the NPS, the Associate Director, Park Operations and Education, coordinates feasibility and management planning for national trails.The regional offices have management responsibility for 14 national trails. Often parts of these extended trails lie outside the NPS regions administering them.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a unit of the National Park System, manages the Appalachian Trail.