America's National Scenic Trail System

Let's start with the easy question. Have you ever heard of the Appalachian Trail (AT)? I'd be surprised if you answered "no" to that one. How about the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) or the Pacific Crest (PCT) Trail? Still probably a high percentage of positive responses would be heard.

"Um, there are five more?" you ask. Where are they? Hold on... let's talk about what they are first!

In 1968, president Lyndon Johnson signed the National Trails Act, thus creating three categories of federally authorized trails. National Recreation Trails provide a variety of uses to people in or near urban areas. They are generally shorter trails with locally focused users. National Historic Trails are collections of locations having to do with one historic theme. Most recently in the public consciousness has been the Lewis and Clark Trail, as it celebrated the 200th anniversary of the expedition. These trails are followed in a car, preferably with some kind of guidebook or audio commentary to provide enlightenment.

The third category, National Scenic Trails (NSTs), are trails in the traditional sense of the word; you can put your feet on them and hike long distances on them. The AT, which had been around since the 1920's was immediately recognized as belonging to this category, and the Pacific Crest Trail was also authorized in 1968. The CDT was added in 1978. Trails can only be added to the category by congressional authorization. National Scenic Trails are established "for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass."

These three trails follow distinct north-south mountain ridges transecting the nation, with their names serving as geographical descriptions of their locations. Collectively they are known as the Triple Crown of the NSTs. Each is between 2000 and 3000 miles long.

In 1980 two more trails were added to the NST collection, the North Country Trail (NCT), and the Ice Age Trail (IAT). The most recent additions were made in 1983 with the authorizations of the Florida Trail (FT), the Natchez-Trace Trail (NTT), and the Potomac Heritage Trail (PHT).

The longest hiking trail (in the country) is the North Country Trail. It winds through the northern United States from New York to North Dakota for 4600 miles. Portions of this trail have yet to be constructed, but the history and culture of our nation's beginnings, and many natural wonders are showcased along its meandering route.

The PHT and the NTT are historically based, although they are hikeable and thus authorized as Scenic Trails. The Potomac Heritage Trail follows the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal through Washington, DC, and then crosses Virginia and sweeps into Pennsylvania for 700 miles of pathway. The Natchez Trace Trail follows that historic road through Mississippi and Tennessee. Sixty-two miles are developed for hiking.

The two remaining NSTs are located completely within a single state. The Ice Age Trail spans 1000 miles in Wisconsin, following the southernmost boundary of the most recent glacial advance. The Florida Trail is 1300 miles long, providing several alternative paths from southernmost Florida through the panhandle.

These trails are meant to be the premier hiking trails of our nation. Motorized traffic is not allowed. Most of them are crucially underfunded, but they are loved, maintained and promoted by volunteers. Each has a non-profit organization which partners with the trail's managing federal agency (either the National Forest Service, National Park Service, or Bureau of Land Management) to build, preserve and promote the trail.

Next time you hear about hundreds of millions of dollars worth of waste, such as for disposal of contaminated ice that was never used by hurricane victims, consider the irony that most of these trails receive less than $1 million annually yet quietly provide free recreational opportunities to millions of Americans.