U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Designation Process

For trails on private, city, county, or state land, or lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service

For examples of the kinds of trails that are eligible, see the trails designated as NRTs in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001. See Application Form (Word format).

November 1: Deadline for submittal of current year's NRT applications to DOI NRT Coordinator in Washington, DC.

• NRT Coordinator logs in applications
• Sends letter confirming receipt of application along with an overview of the review process

December 15: DOI NRT Coordinator reviews each application for completeness and forwards to Regional NRT Contact or Federal agency NRT Manager (Bureau of Land Management, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers).

• Regional NRT contact or Federal agency NRT Manager reviews application
• Makes follow-up contact with applicant to request additional information and/or site visit if necessary.
• Notifies State Trails Coordinator of nominated trails requesting letter of support (only if state, local government, or private trail)

February 15: Regional NRT Contact or Federal agency NRT Manager sends additions or amendments to application(s) and a letter of concurrence/endorsement to the DOI NRT Coordinator.

March 15: DOI NRT Coordinator completes the review and processing of applications. The applications are forwarded for approval by the Secretary of the Interior.

June: New NRT designations announced

• Secretary of the Interior sends news release officially announcing new NRT designations
• Local announcements and designation events coordinated with National Trails Day activities
• Trail descriptions and graphics are added to the state by state NRT pages
• Newly designated trails are added to the on-line searchable database of NRTs

U.S. Department of Agriculture Designation Process

For trails on National Forests, National Grasslands, and National Recreation Areas and associated lands

See examples of trails on USDA lands that are eligible: trails designated in 2008 and in 2003.

There is no deadline for submitting. NRT applications may be sent at any time to USDA Forest Service NRT Coordinator in Washington, DC.

• NRT Coordinator logs in applications
• Sends letters confirming receipt of applications and explaining the review process

After nomination is received, NRT Coordinator reviews application for completeness and forwards to regional USDA Forest Service NRT contacts.

• Regional NRT contacts reviews application
• Makes follow-up contact with applicants to request additional information of site visit if necessary
• Notifies State Trails Coordinator of nominated trails requesting letter of support (only if state, local government, or private trail)

USFS regional NRT contact sends to USDA Forest Service NRT Coordinator in Washington, DC:

• completed applications with support letters from State Trails Coordinator
• letter of concurrence/endorsement from NRT contact

NRT Coordinator in Washington, DC:

• completes review and processing of NRT applications
• submits entire package to the Secretary of the Interior for approval and signature

Designations approved

New NRT designations announced

• Trail descriptions and graphics are added to the state by state NRT pages
  
• Newly designated trails are added to the on-line searchable database of NRTs