Back in April, I reported on the designation of the New England National Scenic Trail as the first congressionally-mandated National Scenic Trail since the Florida Trail was designated back in 1983. After receiving my copy of American Hiker yesterday, I’m pleased to discover that two more National Scenic Trails have been designated, bringing the total nationwide to 11. National Scenic Trail designation affords better protection and access to federal funds for trail building and trail maintenance, and is not a decision to be taken lightly by a trail organization. The three National Scenic Trails designated this spring are:
The Arizona Trail
The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
The New England National Scenic Trail
Last fall, my friend Bart Smith completed all eight National Scenic Trails … and now he has three more to tackle! When I talked to Bart last week, he was on the trail in Arizona, and he’s now headed to New England. If you haven’t already seen his stunning photography from the trails, please make a point of visiting his website to see his slideshows.