What are the benefits of becoming a National Recreation Trail?

National Recreation Trails benefit from the prestige and increased visibility of being a part of the National Trail System. New designations are announced annually by the Secretary of Interior as part of the nationwide celebration of National Trails Day the first Saturday in June, and recognized at the National Trails Symposium. See 24 nominations for new National Recreation Trails that have been received for 2008.

Other national publicity includes such events as the annual NRT Photo Contest, sponsored by American Trails, which has attracted hundreds of entries from across the country.

Successful applicants receive a letter and certificate signed by the Secretary of the Interior, designating their trail as an NRT. Trail managers are entitled to use the NRT logo in appropriate settings and trail publications. New 3.5" x 3.5" and 8"x 8" NRT logo signs are now available at a nominal cost from American Trails. For information contact American Trails at NRT@americantrails.org.

All NRTs will be included in the on-line National Registry of Trails on the website at www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails which includes descriptive information, maps, and pictures for trail users. Trail managers provide information about their NRTs for the site. Keep it up to date by going to the Trail Update Page, or send corrections and additions by e-mail to NRT@americantrails.org.

A web page for each state highlights Featured Trails with links to more information. For trails without a website, we are providing a page with photos, history, and useful facts about the project.

Other benefits include:

• Access to technical assistance from NRT Program partners
• An NRT newsletter with program updates, newsworthy activities, technical information, and innovative solutions to trail issues from around the country. Available in PDF format are the Spring 2003, Fall 2002, Spring 2002, Fall 2001, and Summer 2001 issues.
• Access to an e-mail news group for NRT managers only to receive updates on funding, resources, and technical assistance opportunities
• Access to networking and training opportunities
• Assistance with recognition and special events highlighting the trail
• Trail markers with the NRT logo for your trail: download the order form (Word 25 kb)
• Letters of support for fundraising and trail protection efforts
• Access to funding opportunities available from the NRT Program partners; trails with NRT designation are eligible to be considered for support from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program, Bureau of Land Management, and USDA Forest Service Challenge Cost Share Programs.
• Some state funding programs also consider NRT designation in allocating Recreational Trails Program, Transportation Enhancements, and other funding administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration.
• The Artful Ways national survey of art on trails results are in the Art & Trails area and will guide development of a new grants program supporting art on National Recreation Trails.

State Trails funding encouraged for NRTs

The Recreational Trails Program, which provides funding for trails to each state through the Federal Highway Administration, provides this guidance on NRTs: "In consultation with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture through the Federal Interagency Council on Trails, States are encouraged to give extra project evaluation credit to projects on National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails (provided the project provides a recreational purpose), and trails designated as National Recreation Trails."

Where do I go for more information on National Recreation Trails?

• Current information on the program is available on the NRT website at www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails.
• See the list of Regional Contacts for National Recreation Trails for the appropriate person to contact in your area

Trails for All Americans

NRTs also support the goals of Trails for All Americans. In 1990, the National Trails Agenda Project created a task force of 15 trails leaders who solicited advice from a broad cross section of the trails community nation wide. The resulting Trails for All Americans report was published by American Trails. It calls for a vast, interconnected network of private local, state and federal trails linking neighborhoods, communities, towns and cities, businesses, parks, and states throughout the country. According to the report, "most Americans would live and work within 15 minutes of this system."

See the winners and 190 pictures entered in the 2007 NRT Photo Contest

The National Recreation Trails Program:

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More resources:

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The Bureau of Land Management is a supporter and partner in the National Trails Training Partnership: working to make training more available. The BLM Trail Management Process course is a comprehensive model for trails education.