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The National Trails System Act, Explained

  • Writer: Lily
    Lily
  • Mar 24
  • 2 min read

If you’re passionate about outdoor recreation, there’s some key pieces of legislation that are helpful to understand. The National Trails System Act has played an integral role in making many of the US’ most popular trails accessible for people to enjoy.


The details:


Enacted during Lyndon Johnson’s presidency on October 2, 1968, the National Trails System Act called for promoting rural and urban trail access and designated four classes of nationally recognized trails.


These consist of:



Trails included within this system are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), or the Forest Service (USFS). Many national trails cover areas within multiple government jurisdictions, demanding extensive coordination. Partnership between different agencies and nonprofit trail organizations is essential for these trails to be maintained and protected, which total over 88,600 miles open for exploration.


In 1921, the Appalachian Trail became the US’ first modern multi-state recreational trail. More than four decades later, it became one of the first routes within the National Trails System, alongside the Pacific Crest Trail. Under President Carter, the National Parks and Recreation Act added the classification for National Historic Trails in 1978. More trails were added over time, including the conversion of old railways.


Why is this relevant today?


Even if you have no aspirations of taking an extended trip on the AT or PCT, it’s very likely that you will encounter a trail within the National Trails System at some point, whether you’re a day hiker, backpacker, trail runner, horseback rider, cyclist, climber, or just someone who likes to go get a breath of fresh air somewhere outside every once in a while. 


The original bill cites the need for established trails due to “the ever-increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding population,” which sounds eerily timely within the context of our current era, when National Parks visitation rate are at a historic high and Americans are itching to get outside, despite massive federal cuts to public land maintenance and preservation. 


It's so easy to take our collective ability to enjoy well-maintained trails for granted. These trails are a testament of the generations of natural and human history which have taken place upon their routes, harboring the stories of those who have traversed them from past to present. Understanding the history of how they came to be is a step towards ensuring their future existence.


Trails like this one hold so much value to the people who get to use them!
Trails like this one hold so much value to the people who get to use them!
 

Works Cited:


“National Trails System Act Legislation.” National Parks Service. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationaltrailssystem/national-trails-system-act-legislation.htm. 



“The National Trails System.” U.S. Department of the Interior. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.doi.gov/library/quick-take-national-trails-system. 


“National Scenic and Historic Trails.” Bureau of Land Management. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/national-scenic-and-historic-trails. 


“History of the National Trails System.” History of the National Trails System - American Trails. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.americantrails.org/resources/history-of-the-national-trails-system. 


America’s National Trails System - Pacific Crest Trail Association. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.pcta.org/our-work/national-trails-system/. 




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