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NRT Designation News

THE NATIONAL RECREATION TRAILS (NRT) program works to preserve and celebrate our nation's pathways. We invite you to explore America’s great national system of trails and greenways.

See the year by year Annual NRT Designations page

Search over 1,000 National Recreation Trails in the online database

See the state-by-state index of Featured National Recreation Trails

2005 National Recreation Trail designations

Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton announced the designation of 37 new National Recreation Trails in 23 states, as part of the National Trails System on June 4th, 2005.

"The Interior Department plays a vital role in the public land recreation network, managing one-fifth of the land in the nation," Norton said. "National trails are a significant part of that outdoor network, providing an excellent opportunity for visitors to reconnect with nature and stay active and healthy in the process."

Today's announcement of 37 National Recreation Trails in 23 states totals about 580 miles. Since becoming Interior Secretary in 2001, Norton has designated 128 National Recreation Trails at a total of approximately 3,400 miles.

For details of each trail and links to more information click on any highlighted state or trail name:

Alaska:

Perseverance Trail

photo of many people on urban trail

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Wetlands Loop Trail near Denver

Arizona:

Arivaca Cienga Trail
Arivaca Creek
Painted Desert Trail on the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge

Colorado:

Florida:

Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail

Idaho:

Cress Creek Nature Trail

Illinois:

Tunnel Hill State Trail

Maryland:

Green Ridge State Forest Trail System

Minnesota:

Rydell Refuge Trails

Mississippi:

Missouri:

Montana:

Lee Metcalf NWR Wildlife Viewing Trail
Pacific Northwest Trail, Glacier National Park Segment
Prairie-Marsh Boardwalk

Nebraska:

Meadowlark Trail

North Carolina:

Dark Mountain Trail
Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway segment
Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk

North Dakota:

Oregon:

Pennsylvania:

Oil Creek State Park Multi-Use Trail

Rhode Island:

Blackstone River Bikeway

South Carolina:

South Dakota:

Prairie Winds Trail

Texas:

Doeskin Ranch Trail System

Virginia:

DeHart Mountain Trail

Washington:

Wisconsin:

Seven Bridges Trail

This year, National Trails Day is expected to bring one million trail enthusiasts out to events happening nationwide. Planned activities include guided hikes, bike rides, volunteer trail clean up projects and other trail celebrations. This year's theme "Take the Path to a Healthier You," continues to target the health benefits of outdoor recreation. Together with American Hiking Society (AHS), the National Park Service (NPS) and other agency partners, businesses, organizations, and individuals are putting on events aimed at highlighting the health benefits of enjoying the country's trails. National Trails Day offers a variety of activities for all ages and encourages families to get ready for summer by hitting the trails together.

Along with inclusion in the National Recreation Trails System, each of the 37 trails announced today will receive a certificate of designation and National Recreation Trail markers. There are now more than 900 National Recreation Trails that have been designated throughout the United States, totaling more than 10,000 miles.

National Recreation Trail designation is an honor given out to those existing trails that have been nominated and meet the requirements for connecting people to local resources and improving their quality of life. The national trail designation is part of a continuing campaign to promote community partnerships and to foster innovative ways to encourage physical fitness. The National Trails System Act of 1968 encourages the Secretary of the Interior to recognize existing community trails that qualify as additions to the National Trails System. The Act promotes enjoyment and appreciation of trails and greater public access.

What makes a trail a National Recreation Trail? Learn more about the NRT program and the effort to preserve and celebrate America's greatest trails.

For more great photos of NRTs, see the photos and dozens of entries in the NRT Photo Contest, sponsored by American Trails.

Visit some of the wide variety of designated NRTs in Bureau of Land Management areas.

Update online trail information in the National Recreation Trails online database or send changes by e-mail to nrt@americantrails.org.