NATI A E I ON L SC N C, A HI T RI ON L S O C, AND RECREATION

$It$ . 3 ' 1989 1990 99’

January 1991

National Park Service Department of th e Interior CONTENTS

prepared by

National System Branch Introduction Recreation Resources Assistance Divis ion National Scenic Trails i D C . Wash ngton, Appalachian

T O O O Continental Divide rail O O O O O O O O O O O O United States Department of the Interior Trail

T . North Country rail 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 cover photo credits

Cyclin g is a popula r a ctivity along the Des R a a i a Na H T Moines iver Tr il , recently des gn ted National istoric rails r T tional a a a . t S . Recre tion l Tr il Photo cour esy U . Idita od rail E i Corps of ng neers . Juan Bautista De Anza Trail

and T 0 0 0 0 Lewis Clark rail 0 0 m : Bi a i a Ba t i a Nez iddle g Hole N t on l tlef eld long the Perce Mormon Pioneer Trail a a $ i a . . N t on l Historic r il hoto by Jock hitworth - - T P Nez Perce (Nee Me Poo) Trail bottom: Ca noeists enjoy the tran$ uil Delawa re Canal in ’ Overmountain T a a m a a t Victory rail Pennsylv ni , one of A eric s newly design ed Na tional Recrea tion Trails . Photo courtesy Mary T T a and c a xa a VA . rail of ears Me ns Asso i tes , Ale ndri ,

Photo this page National Recreation Trails At 7320 feet along the Pa cific Crest National Scenic Tra il a t La an a a c i a . Devils Pe k, Cr ter ke be seen in the d st nce Tables and graphs :

$ ia m . Photo by Nick ill s National Recreation Trails Status of National Trail Plans NSTS and NHTS : Established and

Actual Trail Lengths . NPS Long-Distance Trails Expenditures

Trails to the 21st Century : Th e Challenge Ahead INTRODUCTION

This report tells how made available and the several million from by Congress in fiscal year (FY) 1989 and in FY USDA Forest Service budgets for the trails it - 1990 1990 for long distance trails was spent by the manages . In FY was authorized N NPS - National Park Service ( PS) . It also describes again for the long distance trails

the four types of trails that make up the program . under the authority of Th e t Th the National Trails System Act . sta us of is report describes the many ways that the 17 national scenic and national historic these funds have been used resourcefully to ’ trails in the system is also given . enhance the Nation s trail system .

National Trails System Act National Trails System Branch

The National Trails System Act of 1968 created Tracking these funds is one duty of the : al T three categories of trails Nation rails System Branch , a new program within the NP S Division of Recreation

- National Sceni c Trails are continuous extended Resources Assistance . Other long distance routes of outdoor recreation within protected trails activities in the branch include helping The P NPS - corridors . Appalachian and acific Crest develop new policy for long distance i T . rails were the first of these tra ls management, offering professional train ing for trails managers and cooperating o al e o T r di i a Nati n Recr ati n rails are existing trails g oups, tracking and coor nat ng nation l

recognized by the Federal government as part recreation trails, cooperating with the H of the national system of trails . American iking Society to publish and distribute a quarterly bulletin called Pathways o T al Acro America Side and C nnecting rails provide addition ss , and participating in a variety access to and between components of the of conferences and consultations involving T a i co- . h National r ils System national tra ls issues, suc as sponsorship of the 1990 National Trails Symposium in

1978 . In , a fourth category was added Iowa National Historic Trails which recognizes Th e T past routes of exploration, migration, and National rails System Branch also coor il r T d inates T P m ita y action . hese are not necessarily the National rails lan which is being $ : al continuous and feature outstanding high carried out at three levels loc , State, and $ n potential trail sites and segments . regional . Inventories of trails by i terstate region form the database for regional planning 1968 15 Since , more national scenic and efforts and are also published as regional trails

r . historic trails have been added to the National di ectories for public use In addition, trail T NP n rails System . Of these the S administers plans are bei g assisted in selected States and 12 o 4 . , the USDA F rest Service manages , and metropolitan areas La T the Bureau of nd Management one . hese 17 trails crisscross the country from coast to Public-Private Partnership

coast and border to border. Th e special appropriation of funds to the Appropri ations for Long Distance Trails National Park Service for long- distance trails is an indication of the significance of these trails Th e d lands and waters on which national trails to the American public . Although few ad i are located may be publicly or privately tional miles have been added to the system as

. i owned at the local, State , or national level a d rect result of these funds so far, solid Certain Federal agencies responsible for these groundwork has been laid for building the trails have sometimes been reluctant to trails in ways unimaginable even two years ni t T T i address their unique admi s rative and ago . hroughout the National ra ls System operational issues whi ch often li e outside the government agencies are working together ’ agencies principal mi ssions of managing with private citizens to preserve and make

parks , forests , and public domain lands . available for future generations many of the ’ i sites and routes of our Nation s great tra ls . To ri help b dge this gap , Congress made a new appropriati on of to the National Park Servi ce for long- distance trails in the 1989

budget . It augments the million for the

Trails for All Americans Trail Success Stories

NPS As r In cooperation with , the USDA Forest a result of the two yea s of congressionally L - Service, and the Bureau of and Management, appropriated long distance trails funds the national trails advocacy group called totalling a number of immediate American Trails recently released an analysis success stories can be highlighted : of the state of trails across the Nation today At about the time that these funds were Th e entitled Trails or All Americans . report u f first available, a small vol nteer group, contains a series of recommendations for l T T nf ca led the Natchez race rail Co erence, ini s obta ng steadier funding and support in the in Jack on, , came together to future . Some of the recommendations that build and promote the Natchez Trace ’ - i : will affect the Nation s long distance tra ls are National Sceni c Trail alongside the T T Natchez race Parkway. his funding 0 Stronger protection of national scenic and t helped the group obtain tools, supplies, national historic rail corridors under the f . tw o 20 and signs A ter only years, miles T al National rails System Act, especi ly out of trail are nearly ready to be opened for side Federal boundaries . public use . 0 Cost sharing with States to protect trail In the loth anni versary year of the or o n r corridors . establishment of the N th C u t y National Scenic Trail and the North 0 More active technical assistance and T NCTA Country rail Association ( ) , funds organization building to benefit local trail were made available (by cooperative clubs . agreement between NCTA and NPS) to help

0 r establish a paid executive position for the Federal research on the envi onmental, NCTA m association . Now can expect greater social, and econo ic benefits of trails . success in acquiring private sector 0 l ni Development of a nationa trail sig ng and participation and donations, as well as

standards system . greater management effectiveness, visibility,

and continuity. Re— l estab ishment of a Federal interagency m h national trails committee to coordinate Someti es istoric trail routes overlap, as they do along the Platte River in Nebraska Federal agency trail activities . and Wyoming where the Mormon Pioneer and Oregon National Historic Trails Th e NPS National Trails System Branch plans n - coi cide . Aided by long distance trails to build on these ideas to strengthen the NPS T i funding, staff responsible for both , w National ra ls System Act to ork more these trails worked closely together to closely with State and local governments to coordinate solutions to common problems ensure cooperative trail protection and promo and minimize duplication and confusion tion, to meet regularly with trail personnel of the Bureau of Land Management and the among local trail groups and cooperating sites . USDA Forest Service, and to help link the The Overmountain long- distance trails to other urban and rural entire allocation for the Victory National Historic Trail in FY 1990 trails . was used to fund interpretive services informing the public of the trail’ s history Tied closely to this work are other efforts r within the NP S Division of Recreation and importance . A video prog am and - ’ seven free standing displays were prepared, Resources Assistance to increase the Nation s u f a o or all of which are now sed in museums and supply of signi icant river and tr il pp il ni T historic sites along the trail and are ava able tu ties . hese efforts include technical - assistance to States and local communities for off site educational programs . NPS Trail staff are now working actively to obtain through regional offices , greenway plan ni u t certification for many of the identified high ng, analysis of Federal s rplus proper y for Santa Fe tiona l al - potential segments along the Na l recreationa potenti , coordination of rails to H T e o . tu i ist rical rail At the same time, th y are trails oppor nities , and the comp lation of t preparing a manual on obtaining certification the Na ional Trails Plan . that will be a model for the entire National T rails System and, it is hoped, prompt many

more certifications . (Although certification is the recommended way of officially recognizing protected segments of national historic trails as well as related historic and interpretive sites fewer than 100 such

certifications have been consummated . ) NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS

Appala chia n these agreements promote early and con Natio nal Scenic Tra il tinuous consultation and encourage compati

National Park Service ble management practices .

- A computerized land management system is The mile Appalachian Trail is the $ al T being inaugurated in cooperation with the agship of the Nation rails System . Its sup ’ porters helped pass the National Trails System trail s affiliated clubs . More than a third of a - m 1968 ile boundary survey program has been Act in , and they were also instrumental Th e in getting important amendments passed in completed . USDA Forest Service has pro vid ed in Recreation Challenge Cost 1978 . Since then, more money has been spent by the Federal government to buy land and Share funds in the past two years (mostly for $ $ t trail cons ruction and management) , matched provide staff for the AT than for all other

t . - To NP by trail club con ributions and volunteer labor . S long distance trails combined date, has spent more than $110 million to protect f For further in ormation, contact the trail corridor in 14 States . It is estimated that an additional $50 million has been spent Appalachian Trail Conference 807 for land protection by the USDA Forest P O. Box H 25425-0807 Service within the eight national forests that arpers Ferry, WV The 304 535 -6331 lie along the trail . trail is approaching ( ) $ maturity$ all but 78 miles are now per man ntl e protected . y NPS Appalachian Trail Project Office Harpers Ferry Center NPS - fu None of the long distance trail nds in H 25425 arpers Ferry, WV FY 1989 and FY 1990 were allotted to the (304) 535 - 6278 T Appalachian rail , because it already receives for administration and about $7 million for land acquisition each year.

1984 NPS By special agreement in , delegated many management responsibilities for lands acquired along the trail to the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) and its 31 affiliated T clubs . oday the AFC is responsible for the a c re of more than acres of Federal land .

Within the past two years, more than acres have been acquired for trail protection NPS 14 di by at a cost of $ million . In ad tion, ’ the ATC s Trust for Appalachian Trail Lands has acquired full and partial interest in other n lands adjoini g the trail . Hikers rest along the Appal a chian National Scenic Trail at ’ a B i S a a a a a 1988 w the H wk s ill n hen ndo h N tion l P rk . Photo by In , volunteers orked more than

a a S . i 1990 200 Rich rd Fre r, NP hours along the tra l . In , almost peo t ple hiked its entire leng h , and hundreds of thousands have used it for shorter day hikes ni or over ght trips .

Th e public is largely unaware that there is a Management of the trail is decentralized . Net ’ s of National Trails System . We must get people s work park, forest, and local land managers along the trail carry out this cooperative attention so they come to love these long

. r NPS scenic and historic trails in the same way they effort A series of ag eements among ,

ATC f s love our national parks and forests . and its a filiated clubs, national park and forests, and State agencies, are already

P James M . Ridenour signed in ennsylvania and New Jersey, and P within the and the Director, National ark Service Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic 1990 P r a k . Agreements with five other states and l three nationa park units are in progress . All NATIONAL SCENIC TRA ILS

Continental D ivide a o a c n c T a N ti n l S e i r il o 3 USDA F rest Service, Region U DA Fo c S rest Servi e Federal Building 17 5 S $ . Gold Avenue, Th e n i T NM 87102 Conti ental Divide National Scen c rail Albuquerque, provides a spectacular backcountry experience (505) 842-3234 for miles along the crests of the Rocky

Mountains . It is considered the most rugged of all America’ s trails and was added to the

National Trails System in 1978 .

Although guidebooks from the Society have existed for many years, no parts of the trail route were officially marked until the first 795 miles in Montana and Idaho from the Canadian border to Yellowstone National Park were dedicated by the USDA Forest Service in June 1989 . (Only 59 miles of new trail had to be built to link existing trails in order to complete this T section . ) his newly dedicated portion of the

trail is open to , pack animals, and , in Specta cular views are seen along the Continental Divide - ' . . , E some places off road motorized vehicles nd a a S a a Val G a a a N tion l cenic Tr il in Cutb nk ley, l cier N tion l - ( 25 to end trail use is light about through a . a S . P rk Photo by Ch rles Potter, NP en hikers per year) , but thousands of others il joy shorter trips along segments of the tra . Florida Nationa l Scenic Trail Much of the trail in Colorado has been USDA Forest Service

established but not yet dedicated and marked . In Wyoming and New Mexico major gaps still occur outside national forest boundaries Li l T i T l ke the Appa achian ra l, the Florida rai where the fin al alignment has not been set . In was conceived and initiated by volunteer each of these States, significant unmarked T l activists, who formed the Florida rai segments can be enjoyed on foot, horseback, T - Association in 1964 . his mile trail - Th e al or off road motor vehicle . nation forests became a national scenic trail in 1983 and in Colorado have been challenged to complete links the western end of the Florida pan 1995 . their portions of the trail by Lak handle to e Okeechobee, continuing on to

the Big Cypress National Preserve . It is well Th e trail enjoys volunteer support from many known for the many different types of terrain individuals, local outing groups, and the all it passes through, including three of Student Conservation Association, as well as ’ T t Floridas national forests . In several places, the Continental Divide rail Socie y. side trails and loop trails join the main route

nf to offer connections to nearby historic sites For further i ormation, contact and other points of interest . Continental Divide Trail Society O 2 P . 3000 i Box More than m les are completed, mostly 2 14 - , 08 1988 r 110 Bethesda MD on public land . In , the fi st mile sec 0 1' tion was certified as an official part of the

$ 300 . o 1 trail now the total is about miles Some USDA F rest Service, Region segments on private land are not open to the n PO. 7669 Federal Buildi g, Box nl MT 59807 public but o y to the members of the Missoula , F T . (406) 329 - 3150 lorida rail Association In the summer of 1989 m - i , for the first ti e, three through h kers

completed the entire trail route . 2 USDA Forest Service, Region 1117 7 8 25127 1989 1990 T W. th Avenue, Box In both and the Florida rail I a 80225 kewood, CO Association contributed and more than 2 - 1 (303) 36 950 hours of volunteer labor to the trail . In NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS

t r l I ce A e Na ona c n c Tra u n, through the Recreation Cha lenge Cost g ti l S e i il P Share rogram, the USDA Forest Service National Park Service matched those contributions with

Currently, negotiations are under way with As the Ice Age was coming to a end private timber companies to create trail rights thousands of years ago, glaciers retreating of-way across their lands without the use of from North America left behind a ridge of Federal land protection . At the same time, a hills that defined the edge of their southern land resource study is being conducted to T i advance . his chain of mora nes snakes for a assess the status and ownership of lands in thousand miles across Wisconsin from the - - the 20 mile wide trail corridor. P Door eninsula to the Saint Croix River. Th e Florida National Scenic Trail was A scenic trail along that ridge was conceived i i ’ developed as a hik ng tra l and , like the by Ray $ illmer in the 1950 s and documented T Appalachian National Scenic rail, will pro by Congressman Henry Reuss in On the Trail i H bably remain primarily for h kers . owever, o the Ice A e. f g On the basis of that description, emphasis on recreational use of the corridor is Congress established the trail in 1980 without i being sh fted from hiking only to more i T a feasib lity study. oday, with strong, solid diverse multiple uses . A State trails council cooperation by the State of Wisconsin and the has been formed to coordinate the develop P T al Ice Age ark and rail Foundation, most

i . ment of tra ls for different types of users 450 l half, or miles, of the trai is open to the

public . nf For further i ormation, contact Florida Trail Association Th e State of Wisconsin has made available a P 13708 O. Box matching fund of up to annually for 0 n FL 32604 1 . Gai esville, years to protect and develop the trail Cer 904 378-8823 : 800 343-1882 ( ) , or Florida only ( ) tain sections have become popular sites for - marathons, ski races, and ultra running (a - i Th e l new, marathon l ke sport) . annua Ice Age o r USDA F rest Se vice Trail Hike -a-thon attracts thousands of partici National Forests in Florida pants and raises more than each year. 227 Bronou h 4061 North g Street, Suite T FL 32301 allahassee, This trail enjoys the distinction of having the (904) 681-7293 Nation’ s first side and connecting trail designated by the Secretary of the Interior under Section 6 of the National Trails System Act $see page

The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation is mov ing forward rapidly to protect threatened cor rid r o lands before they are irrevocably lost . In

one instance, subdivision lots were acquired to H protect the ridge line corridor. ( owever, the trail was soon halted by court order initiated ’ by a local homeowners association . ) In

another example, the Foundation acquired a a t -of-w a l rge ract , retained the trail right y, and sold the balance for compatible residential v de elopment at a profit .

In 1987 the NPS Midwest Region created a trail office for the Ice Age National Scenic T 1 . 990 rail in Madison, Wisconsin In the office was expanded to include the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the North Country T l NP National Scenic rai . None of the S long There is no job too difficult or challenging for Florida distance funds were made available to the Ice a National Scenic Trail volunteer crews . Photo by M son Age National Scenic Trail because it already U i S S . Miller, DA Forest erv ce receives a sturdy annual base . NATIONAL SCENI C TRAILS

’ u : il al H For f rther information, contact tra s princip source of volunteers . alf the ’ 1990 Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation trail s FY allotment was spent on tools, il 630 r supplies, and materials for volunteer tra pro PO. 422 Riverf ont, Box 53082 j ects along the 20-mile Jackson segment and Sheboygan, WI 22- i (414) 457-8608 the m le Nashville segment . Additional i grading, dra nage structures, bridges, and signs are needed before these segments can NPS Ice Age National Scenic be open to public hiking and horseback use .

P O. 5463 Box Th e rest of the funds were spent to publish a $ I 53705 -0463 Madison, bicycle tour guide of the Natchez Trace (608) 833-2788 P arkway and install assorted trail signs .

f For further in ormation, contact National Park Service 1 NT-143 Rural Route , T 38801 upelo, MS (601) 842-1572

Natchez Trace Trail Conference

P O . Box 6579 39282 Jackson, MS (601) 373-1447

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail completely circles ’ ' i La m a Dev l s ke, seen here fro the Devil s Doorw y, in ’ i La Dev l s ke State Park . Photo courtesy of the $ isconsin a tm a a Dep r ent of N tur l Resourc es .

Natchez Trace National Scenic Tra il This wooded segment of National Park Service the old Natchez Trace is typical of the terra in along Th e T T a Natchez race National Scenic rail was the Natchez Trace Parkw y. established in 1983 and lies within the boun NPS Photo. d aries T P r 450 of the Natchez race a kway, a mi le that runs from Natchez, l T The No h Coun Mississippi, to Nashvi le, ennessee . rt try parkway commemorates the historic Natchez Nationa l Scenic Trail T r race, an ancient oad that began as a series National Park Service of animal paths and Native American trails . It ’ a a ai - was later tr veled by e rly explorers, K n First conceived in the mid 1960 s and established $ l , , , l i 1980 tuck boatmen post riders and mi itary men as a nationa scenic tra l in , the North including General Andrew Jackson after his Country Trail links together seven northern r t victo y at the Bat le of New Orleans . States, stretching from the Adirondack Moun tains in New York to the Missouri River in ’ 1987 T am In the trail s comprehensive plan four North Dakota . oday about a third of this - i - high potential segments were ident fied$ of bitious mile trail is marked and open for

, a 110 il these three (tot ling m es in length) have public use . Most of these segments cross i Th e been selected for development as hik ng and Fe deral and State parks and forests . more i T horseback tra ls . hey are located near difficult task of completing the trail across

l , T , Nashvi le ennessee and Jackson and local public and private lands still lies ah ead .

, is . u n 10 Natchez Miss sippi D ri g the past years, the Association (NCTA) has grown into a In 1989 the Conference robust, committed organization with more wa s al founded and has ready become the than 500 members . NATI ONAL SCENIC TRAILS

In 1989 the Rails -to -Trails Conservancy helped Pacific Crest trail staff assess the potential of using aban National Scenic Tra il i d oned rail lines to help complete the tra l . USDA Forest Service Th e losin the Ga al resulting study, C g ps, an yzed 600 i m les of former rail corridors and found Following the ridge of the Cascade and Sierra that more than 200 miles offered excellent Nevada mountain ranges for miles from opportunities to augment the trail . In other i Canada to Mexico, this tra l is the West Coast ul r areas, abandoned canal routes wo d fu ther T version of the Appalachian rail . Inspired in ’ help complete it . l 930 s the by the idea of a ridgetop, interstate

trail, citizen activists worked with the USDA 1990 r T a In September , a No th Country r il Forest Service and the Bureau of La nd Tenth Anniversary Hike was organized by the Management to built it along the mountain

NCTA . T Several thousand participants hiked . P crests With the Appalachian rail, the acific the existing sections of the trail throughout its Crest Trail was established as a national scenic T s . entire length rail map brochure were dis trail in 1968 . tributed to people who walked across the Mackinac Bridge, where the North Country Today it draws hikers and pack train campers ’ T t rail crosses between Michigans Upper and from across the Na ion . It passes through

Lower Peninsulas . s 25 seven national park and national forests,

reaching an elevation of feet . Although Th e allocation for the North Country Trail in there is no way to record how many FY 1989 and FY 1990 funded various trail thousands of people hike segments of the n n activities, i cludi g staff salaries and travel, 20 25 trail, it is estimated that to people travel

, , supplies office costs a cooperative agreement its entire trail each year. with the NCTA for help in establishing a pro fessional di staff, printing and stribution of a Because 85 percent of the trail route lies on map brochure, and tools and materials to Federal lands, trail protection issues have not enable volunteers to clear and construct trail . been as challenging or as expensive as along a T i Th e the App lachian National Scenic ra l . For further information, contact trail was completed in Oregon and Washington 1 North Country Trail Association in 987. In recent years the USDA Forest Ser 311 t PO. Box vice has succeeded in connecting the rail 49349 White Cloud, MI across all but a few parcels of private land in - m Cond em (616) 689 1912 California a total of only 30 iles . nation powers made available in 1978 have on l y been needed in two cases . In addition, the NPS North Country National Scenic Trail Bureau of La nd Management has just com 5463 PO . Box pleted protecting 195 miles of trail corridor in di $ I 53705 -0463 Ma son, southern California . (608) 833-2788 Th e USDA Forest Service and five regional committees of the Pacific Crest Trail Confer ence are now working together to develop volunteer trail management and maintenance

strategies . One example of this effort is an $ $ adopt-a-trail program whereby Boy Scout troop masters receive training as trail bosses to lead scouts in doing trail maintenance

work .

For f further in ormation, contact Pacific Crest Trail Conference d o 365 West 29th Avenue 97405 Eugene, OR Snowshoers follow the North Country National Scenic (503) 485-5550 Trail in the Finger Lakes Trail segments of New York a La a St te . Photo courtesy of the Finger kes Tr ils

Conference . NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS

H l T igh ands . his route, however, has not been

- o 6 officially designated or marked as part of the USDA F rest Service, Region

3623 . P O. Box national scenic trail P 97208 ortland, OR (503) 326 -3644 Many of the management issues facing this ’ trail Should be addr essed in the trail s com h prehensive plan, whic , however, has not yet - o 5 - , i USDA F rest Service Region been successfully funded . No long d stance 630 Sansome Street trail funds were applied for or disbursed for 94111 San Francisco, CA use along the Potomac Heritage National 415) 705-2889 T 1 ( Scenic rail in either FY 989 or FY 1990 .

For further information, contact Potomac Heritage Trail As sociation c/o Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

1718 N$ . N Street, 20036 Washington, DC

NPS National Capital Region— LUCE 11 00 . Ohio Drive, SW 20242 Washington, DC (202) 619 -7027

A pack train approaches Upper Palisades La ke in Se$ uoia a a a a a a a N tion l P rk long the P cific Crest N tional Scenic Tr il .

NPS photo .

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Tra il National Park Service

Initiated by President Lyndon Johnson in a 1965 speech, this trail has always been more ma a a al S a of a Federal than a citizen effort . Without a The Poto c Herit ge N tion cenic Tr il follows the a a and O a a a m $ a large or well- organized advocacy group this Ches pe ke hio C n l towp th fro shington,

a NPS . D C m a a . 700-mile trail has not developed much since it , to Cu berl nd , M ryl nd photo 1 was established by Congress in 983. Almost half already exists : the 184-mi1e towpath of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic P a 18 - ark in M ryland, the mile i E , Trail alongside the George Washington very tra l has its own demands and needs l P 75- its own politics and ecosystems . But viewed as Memoria arkway in , and the mile l a nationwide system of trai s, the whole is La urel Highlands Trail in . None of these segments is yet marked as part of the more than the sum of the parts . By making a strong case for an expansive national trail Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail . all i system, encompassing manner of tra ls, we r hope to help trail efforts eve ywhere . South of Washington, in the tidewater coun of n ties and Virgi ia, no action has American Hiker 1991 Editorial , , Winter taken place . In western Maryland, members of the Potomac Heritage Trail Association have created a 55-mile hiking route from Cumberland north to Pennsylvania’ s highest point (Mount Davis) and on to the La urel

10 Trail Corridor Protection

Although most people agree that preserving La nd protection is the most controversial ' - i . America s outstanding scen c, historic, and aspect of long distance trails management In recreation trails is worthwhile, there is fact, many tools other than outright purchase i n disagreement about how to get the trail land exist to help protect tra ls, i cluding l actually set aside for public use . Much of the easements, leasebacks, donations, and loca H r n . citizen action that suppo ted the passage of conservation zo ing owever, much is the National Trails System Act in 1968 came required to carry out a trail land protection from Appalachian Trail enthusiasts wanting program : a sound knowledge of the lands e F deral help in acquiring lands to protect the affected, a committed and knowledgeable trail from development and damage . In later staff, resourceful volunteers, and an ability to t years, res rictions were added to the Act track the status of the lands in question . ’ limiting the Federal Government s powers of Scarce funds and low priorities have not yet condemnation and fee - simple acquisition out enabled many of the Federal offices responsi rotec side Fe deral boundaries along certain trails . ble for trails to embark on such land p tion programs for most of the Nation’ s long Th e . land acquisition for a national trail , as a distance trails truly cooperative venture, should involve l Federa managers, State governments, county and local governments, land trusts and in d and Conn n Tra conservancies, citizen organizations, and Si e ecti g ils dividual landowners . In recent years, the Federal Government has taken the lead in Th e first tw o side and connecting trails under purchasing the remaining lands necessary to the National Trails System Act were d esig P nat d 199 complete the Appalachian and acific Crest e a month apart in 0 . T H National Scenic rails . owever, it will be ’ Th e 10- il T H T many years before any of the other trails m e imm s ill rail, principally a

- . t approach completion cross country ski rail, connects the Ice Age T Rib L National Scenic rail near ake , Wiscon ’ T ' In Florida and Wisconsin, strong State pro sin, to Wisconsin s highest point, imm s i The P grams are helping acqu re lands for the Hill . local chapter of the Ice Age ark a n T Florida and Ice Age Nation l Sce ic rails . In and Trail Foundation can take credit for this most States, however, tight budgets mean little successful application which was approved by

. If L L help is available the and and Water Con Secretary of the Interior, Manuel ujan, in

1990 . servation Fund were expanded in the future, March it could help aid States build their parts of the T il Th . e Th e n L National ra s System American followi g month, Secretary ujan approved H T 86- i r - eritage rust bill, under consideration by the designation of the m le Idita od Anvik r 1989 75 o T Cong ess in , included a percent C nnecting rail in Alaska . At the request of acquisition cost incentive to help States pur the advisory council of the Iditarod National

. H T L chase trail lands istoric rail, the Bureau of and Manage ment prepared the research and documenta Non- profit land trusts offer an opportunity to tion that preceded the designation of this trail Th t i . e buy and hold lands for ra l use segment, which had not been included in the T i ’ T T l Appalachian ra l Conference s rust for officially established Iditarod rai route . l T La T Appa achian rail nds holds easements for hrough signing, land protection, and support

. r L thousands of acres adjoining the trail pathway se vices , the Bureau of and Management Th e Oregon- Association has plans to manage this side and connecting trail acquired key parcels along the Oregon in the same way that it manages many por l H T Th T il a . e T Nation istoric rail Florida ra and tions of the main route of the Iditarod rail . Potomac Heritage Trail Associations have con cluded many handshake agreements with landowners allowing trail users across their private lands . Unfortunately, such agreements are fragile and often cease when lands change hands .

11 NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS

I ditaro d Historic Places are being prepared for some 25 National Historic Trail historic properties along the trail in the al Bureau of La nd Management Chugach Nation Forest .

For Th e Iditarod is a network of trails made further information, contact famous by prospectors and their dog teams in Bureau of Land Management the Alaska Gold Rush during the late 19th Anchorage District 2 h The 6881 Lo and early 0t centuries . main route is Abbott op Road 99507 900 i Anchorage, Alaska miles long, wh le the entire system totals

miles . Most of it is usable only during or ’ 6- Alaska s month winters . It was established Iditarod Trail Committee in 1978 and is administered by the Alaska Pouch $ State office of the Bureau of Land 99645 Wasilla, AK

Management .

l Many winter sports events are held a ong the Jua n B autista D e Anza r — i trail . Each yea the renowned m le National Historic Trail Iditarod Sled Dog Race is run between Seward National Park Service and Nome$ the 1990 winner set a new record

11 2 1990 ’ of days and hours . Also in , the As England s American colonies were ready 80 -mile Iditaski race was won by a Soviet ing themselves to declare independence from 40 skier as temperatures approached degrees 1775 the British crown in , a party of Spanish 210- i below zero . A mile segment of the tra l is colonists under the command of Colonel Juan u Iditabike a used ann ally for the mount in bike Bautista De Anza set out from Mexico under 18 race . And teams entered the Alaska Gold orders from King Carlos to establish an Sn w m hine Rush Classic o ac race$ the winners T overland route to California . hey intended to 42 completed the race in hours . found a garrison (presidio) and mi ssion overlooking the Golden Gate and secure the 1990 In April , Secretary of the Interior, Manuel area as a port from threats by the Russians L 86- ujan, certified an mile connecting trail and the British . from the Iditarod town site on the trail to the ll k vi age of Anvik on the Yukon River, ma ing it T 30 m 12 his party of fa ilies, soldiers, and an official part of the trail network as a side cattle, horses, and mules spent three or connecting trail . $see page months crossing the deserts of the Southwest before reaching the missions of the California r Va ious volunteer groups worked with the Th e coast . journey up the coast to the Golden La i Bureau of nd Management to bu ld shelters, Gate took an additional three months . In mark segments of the trail, and construct side 1975 -76 al re- , a tot enactment of this expedition trails . Nominations for the National Register of H took place from orcasitas, Mexico, to San

Francisco .

Based on the 1986 feasibility study that recom mended its inclusion in the National Trails - System, this mile trail corridor was established as America’ s newest national

i 15 1990 . historic tra l on August , Funds for conducting the trail’ s comprehensive manage ment and use plan have not yet been made

available .

nf For further i ormation, contact NPS Western Region P n lan ing, Grants , and Environmental am ma n and k a I ar Dog te s, snow chi es, s iers tr vel the dit od $ uality Divi sion National Historic Trail during the peak use months of 600 Harrison St . Suite 600 B a e a and a . F bru ry M rch Photo courtesy of the ure u of 94107- 1372 San Francisco, CA La nd Management . (415) 744- 3975

12 NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS

River across most of Missouri . Currently the foundation is working with the USDA Forest Service to create a Le wis and Clark inter retive p center in Great Falls, Montana , and preparing a computerized videodisc for ’ schools about Lewis and Clark s trip .

With the allocations for FY 1989 and FY 1990

various trail functions were funded , including

staff salaries and travel, office equipment and

computers, signs and logos, map brochures,

and interpretive and publicity materials .

’ For further information, contact The object of De Anza s expedition in 1776 w as to claim

Le T i H . G G a S a i . a o i the olden te for p n Tod y, F rt Po nt below the wis and Clark ra l eritage Foundation, Inc

e a t G G at B i . PO 3434 Pr sidio is dw rfed by he olden e r dge Photo by . Box

a a a a a S . Rich rd Fre r, N tion l rk ervice l MT 59403 P Great Fa ls,

NPS L H T Lew is a nd Clark ewis and Clark National istoric rail PO Box 5463 National Historic Trail 53705 -0463 Madison, WI National Park Service (608) 833-2788

1804 P T In , resident homas Jefferson commis sioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired Louisiana $ $ Territory and the Oregon Country beyond .

Setting out from what is today Wood River,

Illinois, and following the Missouri River Le upstream, the wis and Clark expedition eventually reached the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1805 and

returned east the following year. At times on the return trip they split into several different T parties and followed different routes . heir voyage was recorded in journals that are now

widely read classics .

i 1978 Established as a national historic tra l in , ’ L -m most of ewis and Clark s ile expedi a ta a North of Helen , Mon n , the Missouri River enters the $ $ . Le w and a tion route may be retraced today Much of it G ates of the Rocky Mounta ins . is Cl rk thought w as a a t as a lies along the rivers followed by the expedi it w ll of s one, but they proceeded , the c nyon a m as if a i and tion . In Idaho and western Montana, the w lls see ed to turn , on h nge, they were m a route follows roads and trails to cross the able to continue deeper into the ount ins . Photo

courtesy of the Montana Highway Commission . Rocky Mountain passes . Some States indicate nearby motor routes and have built roadside interpretive markers and museum exhibits tell Mormon on r T 66 Pi ee ing the Lewis and Clark story. oday non Natio nal istoric Tra il Federal trail—related sites have been certified as H National Park Service official parts of the trail .

Th e - member Lewis and Clark Trail Mormon emigration was one of the primary Heritage Foundation has produced an inter forces of settlement in the American West .

pretive videotape and slide program for sale . Departing from Nauvoo, Illinois, in February 1846 Th e foundation has helped with the develop , the Mormons crossed into Iowa and ment of Fort Clatsop in Oregon and the spent the next winter in what is today Council - 4 T uf . 18 7, 200 mile Missouri River State rail (also Bl fs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska In known as the $ Katy Trail$ ) along the former Brigham Young led an advance party west M$ T rail corridor which follows the Missouri

13 NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS

P l along the latte River, para leling the Oregon T o i rail, to F rt Bridger, Wyom ng, where they NP S Rocky Mountain Regional Office La k turned southwest toward the Great Salt e Planni ng and Compliance Division i basin and eventually settled . It is st ll possible 25287 P O. Box - i to follow this m le course, established as 12795 West Alameda Parkway 400 a national historic trail in 1978 . About L 80225 akewood , CO

i La o - miles of the tra l, from Fort ramie to F rt (303) 969 2834 l Bridger, overlap with the Oregon Nationa T Historic rail .

Today 41 miles of the trail on Federal land in Wyoming are considered initial protection segments$ as described in the 1981 com 75 prehensive plan for the trail . None of the non-Federal high-potential sites along the trail Th e - 1 has yet been certified . mi e auto tour route in five States which closely follows the trail’ s actual route is generally

- marked with 18 inch logo markers .

’ Since the completion of the trail s compreh en 1981 sive management and use plan in , much In many places the Mormon Pioneer Na tional Historic Trail has occurred , including the printing of a trail ma a as it c is rked by ro d signs , here where rosses the Des map folder and the marking of the entire Moines River in Iow a . NPS photo . highway route with signs provided to the

States . Interagency agreements and memoran dums of understanding to improve trail Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) corridor management and coordination were National Historic Trail completed with all affected Federal agencies USDA Forest Service Th e and States along the route . Bureau of Land Management produced a recreation guide and a gifts catalogue for the Mormon Th is -trail route commemorates the heroic attempt by the Nez Perce Indians to escape Pioneer and Oregon Trails in Wyoming to n US . . I 1877 capture by the Army , several encourage public support . bands of Nez Perce were forced to leave their A number of studies are being conducted to ancestral homelands in the Wallowa Valley and along the banks of the Snake and Salmon assess the trail and its resources : a threatened sites study to identify historic places needing Rivers (near the Oregon- Idaho border) for a L a . reservation east of ewiston, Id ho During protection$ an historic resource study to iden t this journey, hostilities broke out between ti y and evaluate historic events and sites $ $ white settlers and the non-treaty Nez Perce along the trail$ an interpretive plan to identify and recommend appropriate strategies to con who $ ed rather than enter the reservation . n vey the trail story$ and a field i spection P P US . ursued by Army cavalry, the Nez erce report of the entire route, including a contact made their way east to the Rocky Mountains, list of local officials and interested citizens . crossing Lo lo Pass and following ancient buf

P . P 1989 FY 1990 ’ l falo trails to reach the Great lains ( arts of During FY and , the trail s a loca tion was used to fund those special studies this route also coincide with that covered 72 years before by the Le wis and Clark Expedi al . listed above, as well as staff s aries and travel Le d tion . ) by a series of fearless commanders,

including the remarkable Chief Joseph, they For further information, contact u t eluded capt re for months, raveling through Foundation the mountains and the newly established 5300 South 360 West Yellowstone National Park . Just short of La UT 84123 Salt ke City, reaching the Canadian border in Montana , (801) 261-2424 most of the party were overtaken and sur ’ rendered near the Bear s Paw Mountains . Many of the Nez Perce died of disease and

deprivation in their subsequent captivity.

14

NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS

nf brochure was funded, and some signs and For further i ormation, contact T markers were made . aken together, these two Overmountain Victory Trail Association years of effort have re-established NPS 632 PO. Box momentum for admini stering and promoting P 22111 Manassas ark, VA H T i the Oregon National istoric ra l . or

For NPS further information, contact Southeast Regional Office P n an d Oregon- California Trail Association lan ing Compliance Division

75 . Spring Street, SW 30303 64051-0519 Atlanta, GA Independence, MO (404) 331-5465 (816) 252-2276

NP S Pacific Northwest Regional Office Recreation Programs 83 212 South King Street, Suite t 98104 Seat le, WA (206) 442-4720

Overmou ntain V ictory National Historic Trail National Park Service

l 1780 In the fa l of , during the American

Revolution, upcountry patriots in the Cumberland Valley of Virginia organized a militia to drive the British from the southern a m a n men as a a H rdy ount i , such this p triot, trekked cross T 14- colonies . his trail marks the day trek of the Appalachia ns along the Overmountain Victory those militiamen across the Appalachian a a a 178 a B N tion l Historic Tr il in 0 to defe t the ritish . NPS n P Mountai s to the iedmont region of North photo . l Carolina and South Caro ina, where they defeated British troops at the Bat tle of Kings i T Santa Fe Mounta n . his victory set in motion the rout National istoric Trail that led to the British surrender at Yorktown . H a u re- National Park Service In recent ye rs, history b ffs have enacted

this patriotic event every fall . Following the removal of Spanish trade restric Th e 1821 US . trail was established as a national historic tions after Mexican independence in , trail on the commemoration of its bicentennial and Mexican traders developed the Santa Fe T 1980 . T n in oday much of the trail route consists rail, usi g ancient Native American travel 20-mil The of roads and highways . Only a e portion and trade routes . trail quickly led to com

remains a foot trail across the mountains . A merce between the two countries and it spurred - US motor route is closely associated with the a three way interchange among the , Mex 3 - nl 13 ul . official mile historic route (of which o y ican, and Native American c tures It was 21 . t miles are actually certified) In most places, also used by roops during the Mexican and

t i . roadside signs indicate proximity to the ra l Civil Wars . With the arrival of the railroad in l 1880 r A guide to the seven wa king sections of the , the trail was la gely abandoned to be

i 1986 . trail is available . established as a national historic tra l in

The FY 1989 allocation funded a map Of the miles of primary route and n i brochure (about to be released) and highway cutoffs between Old Fra kl n, Missouri, and Th e 1990 200 signs to help mark the route . FY Santa Fe, New Mexico, more than miles of funds were spent on six portable exhibits for ruts and other traces of the old trail remain i 30 i are display at tra lside museums and centers and visible . Some m les protected as Federal Th e - e the first phase of a video describing the trail, components . certification of non F deral - l re . with live footage from historical enactments sites and segments is under way, fo lowing closely the approval of the comprehensive

management plan for the trail in May 1990 .

16 NAT IONAL HISTORIC TRAILS

1990 T a of T Also in , the Richard King Mellon Foun r il ears dation acquired and presented to the Federal National Historic Trail - L Government the acre Forked ightning National Park Service Ranch surrounding the Pecos National Th e Historical Park in New Mexico . property After the discovery of gold in the mountains a i - struc ’ includes import nt tra l related sites, a 1830 s US . of North C rolina in the late , the i r r . tu es, and ruts A s milar effo t is under way Army evacuated members of the to protect significant trail sites and segments Cherokee Nation to lands west of the

o , near F rt Union National Monument also in Mississippi River. Various bands followed a

. T l New Mexico t . varie y of routes oday, the official y recog nized trail follows two principal routes : a

Th e trail benefits from an annual base budget . - T mile water route along the ennessee, Th e FY 1990 allocation supplemented this base i Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas R vers$ and and helped with regional office costs and an 826- il an m e overland route, which is today

. Th e interpretive prospectus for the trail pro generally marked along the nearest highways . s ectus p explores the entire route and outlines . Few, if any, original traces remain In addition, i r appropriate v sitor interpretation prog ams miles of auxiliary routes associated with and media for wayside exhibits, museum other parties of the Cherokee evacuation have exhibits, publications, and other programs for been mapped . sites along the trail . In addition, several w a publications are under y, including an n interim brochure, preservation guideli es, a r u $ ce tification g ide, and a visitor lea et on safety and resource protection .

u For f rther information, contact Santa Fe Trail Association Santa Fe Trail Center Route 3 La 67550 rned, KS (316) 285 -2054

NPS Southwest Region Branch of Long Distance Trails P 728 O. Box Fe 87504-0728 Santa , NM (505) 988- 6888

$ agons ford the Little Piney River in Missouri during the m a a 1988 comme or tive retr cing of the . Photo

courtesy Ray Morris .

Th e Trail of Tears was established as a na tional historic trail during its sesquicentennial 1988 celebration in 1987. In a commemorative wagon train retraced the overland route from T h Red Clay, Georgia, to a lequah , Oklahoma, alerting thousands of people along the w ay to this chapter of their local heritage and its ' place in America s history.

$ $ m 1923 lm $ a A scene fro the silent fi The Covered gon a l Since the tr il was established, the principa l a Sa a Fe a a depicting ife long the nt N tion l Historic Trail . Federal effort has been the completion of the Po La a S t La $ S . Courtesy rt rned Historic l ocie y, rned, congressionally required comprehensive plan . Th e first draft is now out for review, and a

17 NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS

’ u Th e separate map vol me is under way. trail s advisory council has been appointed and will tirn 1 be convened for the first e in early 991 . l T In the Nationa rails System Act, I clearly see a vision : a network of trails spanning An allocation was assigned to this trail only in America, celebrating and cherishing our FY 1989 . Some funds were used to develop T historic and scenic resources . hese trails highway signs and the trail logo, which are both long and short will cater to all being carried out through the State of North appropriate types of uses, including hiking, Carolina with the assistance of Cherokee ar horseback riding, motoring, cycling, and ski tists . Th e rest was applied to a map brochure Th e ing . long distance interstate trails are the f and sta f travel, conferences, and training . backbone connecting together the regional and

al . loc trails When in place, they will bring nf For further i ormation, contact recreational opportunities within easy reach of NPS Southeast Regional Office most Americans linking them to our

75 . Spring Street, SW precious parks, forests, rivers, mountains, and

30303 . Atlanta, GA historic sites (404) 331—5465

James M . Ridenour r P Di ector, National ark Service 1990

NATIONAL RECREATION TRAILS IN 1989 - 90

13 l In the past two years, more nationa recrea clarifying the definition and purpose of tion trails have been nominated to the national recreation trails, National Trails System and approved by the distributing a periodic national recreation r T i Secreta y of Interior $see table$. hese tra ls l $ trai s bulletin, re ect the geographical, functional, and administrative diversity that characterizes offering training for local trails managers, national recreation trails : five are managed by providing technical assistance, U the S . Army Corps of Engineers in lakeside

P n , recreation areas, two are within ennsylvania conducting periodic mo itoring of trails tw o State parks, are in privately operated and historic cemeteries, two are operated by promoting national recreation trails n mu icipal governments, one is in a national nationwide . S historic ite, and one is a cooperative inter state project . The more than 780 national recreation trails now in the National Trails System range in In addition, numerous trails that were length from a fraction of a mile to almost 500 designated national recreation trails ten or miles . It is hoped that designation as a l more years ago have app ied for recertification national recreation trail will mean greater NPS under Department of Interior guidelines . protection for the routes and settings of trails is examining the national recreation trails and greater opportunity to showcase program to strengthen it consistent with the ’ America s premier trail experiences . Adding intent of the National Trails System Act and to more trails in the future will bring about t give these rails more recognition . Measures u f rther connections among trails, tying cities being considered are to parks and forests, rivers to highlands, and

future generations to their varied past . NATIONAL RECREATION TRAILS IN 1989 - 90

AT L C AT T L C TOB 1 1988 N IONA RE RE ION RAI S ADDED SINCE O ER ,

Date of Trai l name Certification California Junction Trail Woodlands Heritage Trail Saugus Iron Works Nature Trail Trestle Pond Trail Mul ti Purpose Trail Laurel Hill Cemetery Trail Delaware Canal Heritage Trail Frank Raab Nature Trail Chief Illini Trail Johnson Tract Trail Stowe Recreation Path Des Moines River Trail 16 1 9 L . 9 0 (Saylorville ake Segment) Nov , T i P . 13 1990 ennsylvania Seaway ra l Dec ,

Nation a l Recre atio n 1968 -90

By Year Designated By Management Type

Nati onal Park

US . Army Co Of Engineers 4 89 90

19 I nterpretive V isitor Centers

Based on authorities in Section of the These proposals range in size from small in T i al - - National ra ls System Act, the Feder formation stations to multi million dollar Th e Government is becoming involved to varying theme parks . Federal Government may r n all deg ees with helping provide i terpretive ser not play a role at (as in the Independence,

l . . vices a ong the national historic trails Missouri , center) At the other extreme (as at H ll Flagstaff i , Oregon, and Great Falls, i 1990 a - n Unt l , most tr il oriented i terpretation Montana) , the Federal Government may carry lr r occurred at a eady existing national park and out the enti e project, including land acquisi ni - forest sites , such as Fort U on along the Santa tion, design, construction, and long term T T f . Fe rail or Scotts Blu f on the Oregon rail operations of the facility. Often the potential 1990 z In early the City of Independence , for local economic benefit spurs citi en sup s f n t Mi souri with generous undi g assistance port, although no s udies have been done to from the State of Missouri and strong support prove whether these centers actually bring - T from the Oregon California rails Association such gains . opened the National Frontier Trails Center in Independence to interpret for the public So that trail visitor centers do not divert the story of the Santa Fe , Oregon, and public attention and support from protecting

T L , l California rails . ocated near the point the trails themselves the Federa role in such where the three trails set out westward from centers needs to be clearly defined . As sug

R T , the Missouri iver, the center houses a gested in the National rails System Act the museum, auditorium, and archives of pioneer Federal role may involve assistance in buying

T , , journals and related materials . his center is a land completing plans and designs and sup model of State and local cooperation requiring plying interpretive exhibits and programs for

i al , , a m nimum of Feder involvement . such centers but it should not if at all possi

ble, include building, staffing, and maintain

Many communities are inspired to capitalize ing them . on the nearby presence of historic trails to in augurate trail centers . Some of the projects under consideration are shown in the table .

NAT IONAL HISTORI C T RAIL VISITOR CENTERS NOW I N DEVELOPMENT OR UNDER CONSI DERAT ION

Location

f L P Council Blu fs, Iowa ewis and Clark, Mormon ioneer H ll T Flagstaff i , Baker City, Oregon Oregon rail o T T F rt Smith, Arkansas rail of ears Le Great Falls, Montana wis and Clark H i T T opkinsv lle, Kentucky rail of ears ar ll P M ysvi e, Kansas Oregon, ony Express Le Nebraska City, Nebraska wis and Clark l i P $ Ogalla a, Nebraska Oregon, Cal fornia ony Express T Oregon City (Clackamas County) , Oregon Oregon rail P P L ompeys illar, Montana ewis and Clark P Saint Joseph, Missouri ony Express T T T ahlequah, Oklahoma rail of ears T T P T T rail of ears State ark, Missouri rail of ears I l n Le Wood River, l i ois wis and Clark

Establi shment by Congress as a national historic trail is pending . Volunteers

Every trail in the National Trails System en Divide National Scenic Trail all the way joys some degree of citizen volunteer support : across America . New volunteer trail crews are in some places it is a small nucleus of clearing and building $ trail along the Natchez - T al T . activists$ in others, a multi state coalition of race Nation Scenic rail Volunteers al organizations with thousands of participants . celebrated the North Country Nation Scenic Because only a few of these organizations Trail ’ s 1oth anniversary by simultaneously 1 i i 990 . have any paid staff, most are run entirely by h king all exist ng segments in summer volunteers . Volunteers have found a way to connect the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail from It is true that volunteers get easily discouraged the western end of the C 8: 0 Canal to the

. T L H P . if roadblocks are placed in their path Yet, if aurel ighlands in ennsylvania hese ' f r i assisted and encouraged , they can perform stories of Americans love a fai with tra ls are miracles . Along the Appalachian National being repeated across America . Scenic Trail they monitor thousands of acres of Federal lands that were bought to protect In general, the degree to which a trail is a the trail . Along the Florida National Scenic marked and opened for public use and p T $ rail they take on messy , wet construction preciation is a re ection of the degree of

t . that even con ractors would avoid On many volunteer support . Volunteers tend to care Overm oun n . of the historic trails , such as the most about somethi g close to home H T H tain Victory National istoric rail, they owever, others are willing to take vacations perform re-enactrnents to make the historic to see other parts of the country and play a

. T i . story come alive In Independence , Missouri$ part in repa ring or relocating trails hrough L Hi ’ Great Falls , Montana$ and arned , Kansas , the American king Society s publication volunteers have established distinguished called Helping Out in the Outdoors: a Directory libraries and archives for the study of of Volunteer Opportunities on Public Lands and ’ $ $ in America s westward journeys of exploration its Volunteer Vacations work program, t l and migration . One dedicated rai enthusiast terested volunteers can chose places to work a works closely with the USDA Forest Service cross the Nation, building and repairing t ’ as it attempts to extend the Con inental America s trails .

Volunteers help build a new section of the North Country

National Scenic Trail . NPS photo.

21 Status of National Trail Plans 1968-90

6) Feasibility study initiated by Congress in National Trails System Act

$ SN Feasibili ty study process Trail established by Congress in National Trails System Act Comprehensive Management Plan Process Active Federal Trail Management

1988 1990

National Scenic Trails

Continental Divide Potomac Heritage North Country Natchez Trace

National Historic Trails

Lewis and Clark Mormon Pioneer Oregon Iditarod Santa Fe Nez Perce

Overm ountain Victory Trail of Tears Juan Bautista De Anza

22

NPS Lon -D ist nce Tr ils x enditure s FY 1989 and FY 1990 g a a E p ,

In a a . Th e a w a s r i al S i a ( thous nds of doll rs tot l funding of spent p inc p ly by NP reg on l offices$ eight trails benefi tted . )

Trail/ Office

FY 1989

Lew is an d Clark NHT 10 0 $ 80 0 Mormon Pioneer NHT

15 0

Trail of Tea rs NHT

Na tional Trails System Bra nch

FY 89 Tota l

FY 1990

Lew is and Clark NHT $ 20 1 Mormon Pioneer NHT

Natchez Trace NHT 1 0 13 0

Sa nta Fe NHT 11 0

Na tional Tra ils System Bra nch

FY90 Tota l $400 0

- G rand total 1989 90 $800 . 0

of tota l 100%

Inter retive Exhi its a nd Shows

Conferences and Tra ining Miscella neous Office Costs

Volunteer Support O ther Tota l :

24 Tra ils to the 21 st Century : Th e Challenge A hea d

Various initiatives are under way to 0 Several more trails may be added to the

strengthen the National Trails System as it National Trails System . Establishment by faces the many challenges of the next Congress is pending for the California Trail P T a . and ony Express r il, which comprise century FEDERAL between them over miles of historic PUBLICATION 0 Th e National Trails System Act is being routes across eight States . Both the Illinois T i A reexamined to make it more internally ra l, from Chicago to lton, Illinois, and ’ consistent and more efficient to ad Vermont s Lo ng Trail may be brought before i m nister, to strengthen cooperating Congress, having already passed through

groups such as land trusts , to eliminate the feasibility study stage . Now under study T in useless or underused sections , and to are the Coronado rail the Southwest clarify responsibility for shared and the Selma-to -Montgomery Civil Rights T - . il jurisdictions rail in . Other long distance tra s which may be nominated soon include the 0 o T H A cooperative , nationwide promoti n Idaho Centennial rail, the New ampshire r T T T i t effo t is needed to inform the public rail, the ecumseh ra l, por ions of the T i about the National ra ls System . routes associated with the Underground i r - - Americans and international visitors alike Ra l oad, and the coast to coast American

need to be told about the scenes of Discovery Trail . breathtaking grandeur and the fascinating journeys into the past that are to be seen and experienced along the national scenic

and historic trails .

0 Advocates and supporters of long distance trails need to meet in periodic National studies continue to document the im o i Th ' . e f rums on spec fic issues first na portance of trails to the Nation s population . tional conference on national scenic and Trail use was consistently cited among the 10 national historic trails was held in most popular outdoor recreation activities in Ha NP 1988 . S rtland, Wisconsin, in is 13 national surveys conducted between 1959

playing a key role in sponsoring a follow and 1978 . Walking for pleasure was reported up conference in November 1991 . as the most widespread activity (along with swimming) in the 198 2— 83 Nationwide Recrea 0 An increase in funding for trail work is tion Survey . For being sought from many sources . some trails the resul t may be new base budgets T rails have multiple values , and their benefits for others it may be the establishment of T reach far beyond recreation . rails can enrich non-profit conservancies and trusts to aug the quality of life for individuals, make com nm Th ment gover ent trail activity. e USDA munities more livable, and protect , nurture , ' Forest Service s Recreation Challenge Cost and showcase America’ s grandeur by travers Share program is an excellent model which ing areas of natural beauty, distinctive has multiplied Federal funds several times geography, historic significance, and ecological ’ over. Such a program could be set up to T diversity. rails are important for the Nation s ’ - benefit the rest of the Nation s long distance c health , e onomy, resource protection , and

, , , trails matching volunteer labor funds and education .

donations .

Tra ils or All Americans A Re ort o the from f , p f $ i Only the two mature tra ls (Appalachian Na tional Trails A enda Pro ect 1990 g j , and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails) enjoy a coordinated system of re source pro i tect on . Along all the other trails relatively

little is known about species and habitats, - pre historic and historic sites, and threaten Th ing changes in land use . e difficult task i n r of inventorying, mon tori g, and co recting resource problems must be done if even remnants of these trail corridors survive to inspire future generations in the 21st

Century.

25