Plaque for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The National Park Services helps preserve, fund, and promote two types of trails—National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails. This web page discusses Scenic Trails.
National Scenic Trails are actual hiking trails. The most famous of these is undoubtedly the Appalachian Trail. Scenic trails lay entirely within public land, either Federal or State, granting universal access to hikers without need to get permission to cross privately owned land. Scenic trails are usually managed by whichever entity owns the land on which the trail are located. A trail could cross National Park Service land, US Forest Service land, US Fish and Wildlife land, and other state and federally owned lands. There are also non-profit organizations that help maintain and promote the trails. All of the land is protected from future development, meaning that you will never have to pass through a shopping mall on your way to your final destination.
National Scenic Trails administered by the National Park Service:
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
North Country National Scenic Trail
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
New England National Scenic Trail
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
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Last updated on January 30, 2019
