In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed into law a bill that created an additional category of trails: National Historic Trails. Trail users enjoying the Capital Crescent Trail in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Barbara Richey. In 1968 this was a new way to care for public resources, and 40 years later it still is innovative and routinely leads to creative leveraging many times over of the Federal funding provided for these trails by Congress. Today almost 1,300 of these trails have been designated throughout the country. Oversight on the National trails system act of 1968 [United States. 90–543, 82 Stat. 9-543), calls for establishing trails in urban and rural settings for people of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. With the support of the ATC and many in the member trail clubs, the National Trails System Act which became law October 2, 1968. The National Trails System Act of 1968, as amended, calls for establishing trails in both urban and rural settings for people of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. Traveling a National Trail brings you into direct contact with adventure, history, heritage, community, and nature. Fish & Wildlife Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers— play key roles in administering and managing these trails, while the Federal Highway Administration has been an important source of funding for them. It also proposed the study of 11 trails. The National Trails System Act of 1968, as amended, calls for establishing trails in both urban and rural settings for people of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. In 1968, Congress passed and President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Trails System Act. Properly preserved Historic Trail resources evoke a sense of the past that helps visitors to appreciate how the events of long ago forged the way to the world of today. Click here to view the National Trails System Act, National Trails System Act of 1968, as amended. The Act defines four types of trails. SHORT TITLE SECTION 1. The federal designation of the river watershed to the National Trails System comes from the National Trails Act of 1968, which calls for establishing trails in both rural and urban areas. Railbanking, as defined by the National Trails System Act, 16 USC 1247 (d), is a voluntary agreement between a railroad company and a trail agency to use an out-of-service rail corridor as a trail until a railroad might need the corridor again for rail service. This Act opened the door to federal involvement in trails of all types, from city centers to remote backcountry. he National Trails System Act of 1968 1(16 U.S.C. Although steady progress has been made to transform these trails from lines on maps to places in the landscape for people to learn from and enjoy, at the current pace it will be decades before most of them will be fully available for public use. Volunteers— not paid professionals— often take the lead in nearly all aspects of trail resources inventorying and database construction, planning, development, interpretation, preservation, and maintenance. And, essential to all these efforts is an unwavering, impressive, and ever growing cadre of volunteers.". In 1968, the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail were established as the nation’s first National Scenic Trails in the National Trails System Act of 1968. This landmark piece of legislation of 1968 meant that America would also start protecting long, linear parts of our landscape “for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.” They wind through some of the nation’s most striking natural beauty. This Act opened the door to federal involvement in trails of all types, from city centers to remote backcountry. The National Park Service administers 21; the Bureau of Land Management administers one; and the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management jointly administer two. Since 1968, 45 long-distance trails have been studied for inclusion in the system, and 30 have been designated. This people-based approach to public land stewardship also involves communities linked by these trails so that the National Trails System has become a "culture of people-based community conservation.". States are essential partners— especially where an entire trail is within one state as in Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, and Wisconsin— in helping to manage extensive sections of trails and, in Florida and Wisconsin, in acquiring rights-of-way and lands for them. However, the bulk of the work of developing and maintaining these trails is done by volunteers coordinated by dozens of dedicated nonprofit trail organizations. The act promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of trails while encouraging greater public access. 1241 -1251). The National Trails System embodies many strands of America's natural, historic, and cultural heritage. Side and connecting trails provide additional access to and between components of the National Trails System. By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in furtherance of purposes of the National Trails System Act of 1968, as amended (16 U.S.C. Today, the National Trails System includes 11 National Scenic Trails and 19 National Historic Trails authorized by Congress, and more than 1,200 National Recreation Trails including the East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail. From inset: President Johnson signs the National Trails System Act in 1968 Photo by Jack Rottier; The A.T. on Max Patch in North Carolina Photo by Greg “Weathercarrot” Walter. § 1244. National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation Trails The national trails system was established in the National Trails System Act of 1968 (as amended) to promote and provide opportunities for the public. This is the "Decade for the National Trails" leading to the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act in 2018. In 2006 volunteers organized and guided by the non-profit partner trail organizations contributed more than 687,000 hours valued at $12,400,000 to help develop and sustain the national scenic and historic trails and the natural and cultural resources along them. to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. National scenic trails are to be continuous, extended routes of outdoor recreation within protected corridors. 1271 et seq.) Pacific Crest Trail. The National Park Service encourages all public and private agencies to develop, maintain, and protect trails. National Trails System Act of 1968. The act promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of trails while encouraging greater public access. National Recreation Trails (NRT) Database, National Trails Training Partnership (NTTP), 11 National Scenic Trails authorized by Congress, 19 National Historic Trails authorized by Congress, More than 1,000 National Recreation Trails, designated by the Departments of the Interior or Agriculture, spanning more than 11,000 miles in every state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, Thousands of miles of "railbanked" rail trails. The U.S. Forest Service administers six. The PCT is one of eleven US National Scenic Trails, a nationwide network of trails created by the National Trails System Act of 1968. The scenic and historic trails connect over 300 state parks. The National Trails System Act was signed into law October 2, 1968, yet forty years later only the initial two trails—; the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails— are fully available for the public to experience from end to end. See the discussion State and local area recreation and historic trails § 1248. Today the National Trails System totals over 60,000 miles in all 50 states (longer than the Interstate Highway System) and is comprised of: According to the National Trails System Annual Report for FY 2009 "These trails offer unmatched quality of life experiences in outdoor recreation, education, scenic transportation, and access to the precious natural and cultural resources that define us as a Nation. The National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, U.S. This bill called for the Pacific Crest Trail, the Potomac Heritage Trail, and the northern sector of the Continental Divide Trail to be designated as a NST. 9-543), established the process for authorizing and designating new national scenic and national historic trails. National historic trails recognize original trails or routes of travel of national historic significance including past routes of exploration, migration, and military action. "SCARING THE MONSTERS FROM THE TUNNEL," ELROY-SPARTA NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL AND RAIL TRAIL, WI (PHOTO BY GREG WALTHER), Congressionally authorized National Scenic and Historic Trails are complex partnerships. The National Trails System was created by the National Trails System Act (Pub.L. AN ACT October 2, 1968 To establish a national trails system, and for other purposes. STATE fENT OF POLICY S1::c. 2. The National Trails System promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of trails while encouraging greater public access. Fish & Wildlife Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers— play key roles in administering and managing these trails, while the Federal Highway Administration has been an important source of funding for them. It establishes four classes of trails: national scenic trails, national historic trails, national recreation trails, and side and … National Historic Trails … Our magnificent 40,000-mile National Trails System was established by Congress under the National Trails System Act (NTSA) of 1968 through the combined efforts of President Lyndon Johnson, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, and Sens. 1241–1251), the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Public Law 105–178) [see Short Title of 1998 Amendment note set out under section 101 of Title 23, Highways], and other pertinent … The Act defined four categories of national trails: National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails, National Recreation Trails, and Connecting/Side Trails. The National Trails System was established by Act of Congress in 1968. 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