Hiking is one of America's favorite recreational activities. Travel draws up a list of all the National Scenic Trails across the U.S. Take your pick...
Did You Know?
The Appalachian Trail's international extension stretches in the north to Canada, and enters the Atlantic Ocean at its last point!
The National Trails System (NTS), established in 1968, under the National Trails System Act, has designated a series of trails for the purpose of:
Preservation of certain areas.
Conservation of national heritage.
Mark out areas for recreational and outdoor activities.
Facilitate public enjoyment of open-air areas and natural scenery.
With these purposes in mind, the NTS authorized National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails, National Recreation Trails, National Geological Trails, and National Connecting and Side Trails.
The system was authorized to protect areas which boasted of natural beauty. The NTS has designated 11 trails as National Scenic Trails. Here's the complete list of National Scenic Trails in the United States of America.
APPALACHIAN NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 2,184 miles Designated: 1968 Trailheads: Mount Katahdin, Maine ➜ Springer Mountain, Georgia
States Covered: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Permitted Activities: Hiking, Back-packing and recreational activities. Rock-climbing, mountain-climbing, mountain-biking can be done, although it is not endorsed in all states. Skiing and snowshoeing, during winters (especially in the trail's New England sections).
ARIZONA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 817 miles Designated: 2009 Trailheads: Coronado National Memorial, Arizona ➜ Kaibab Plateau, Arizona-Utah border States Covered: Arizona Permitted Activities: Hiking, Horse-riding, Mountain-biking.
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 3,100 miles Designated: 1978 Trailheads: Crazy Cook Monument, New Mexico ➜ Glacier National Park, Montana
States Covered: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Permitted Activities: Hiking. Horse-riding and mountain-biking in select areas. Skiing is possible during the winter season in the state of Montana. Montana's Glacier National Park is a haven for skiers.
FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 1,400 miles Designated: 1983 Trailheads: Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida ➜ Pensacola Beach, Florida States Covered: Florida Permitted Activities: Hiking.
ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 600 miles Designated: 1980 Trailheads: Potawatomi State Park, Wisconsin ➜ St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin States Covered: Wisconsin Permitted Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing.
NATCHEZ TRACE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 450 miles Designated: 1983 Trailheads: No fixed trail heads. Follows the Natchez Trace Parkway for a large part. Has multiple sections and each section has its own trail-branches. States Covered: Mississippi, Tennessee. Permitted Activities: Hiking, Horse-riding.
NEW ENGLAND NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 220 miles Designated: 2009 Trailheads: The trail heads depend on where a hiker is entering from. The New England trail is made up of three different trails - Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Mattabesett Trail and, Metacomet Trail.
States Covered: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire. Permitted Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing.
NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 4,600 miles Designated: 1980 Trailheads: Crown Point, New York ➜ Lake Sakakawea State Park, North Dakota
States Covered: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Permitted Activities: Hiking - throughout the year. Cycling and horse-riding activities allowed in select areas. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and related activities in select areas during winter.
PACIFIC CREST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 2,663 miles Designated: 1968 Trailheads: Campo, California ➜ Manning Park, British Columbia States Covered: California, Oregon, Washington (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Permitted Activities: Hiking, Horse-riding, Back-country skiing.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 1,200 miles Designated: 2009 Trailheads: Glacier National Park, Montana ➜ Cape Alava, Washington States Covered: Montana, Idaho, Washington. Permitted Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing, Mountain-biking, Skiing, Horse-riding.
POTOMAC HERITAGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
Length of Trail: 830 miles Designated: 1983 Trailheads: No fixed trail heads. The route is made up of multiple trails, and each of the trails have branching sub-trails at various points. States Covered: Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia. Permitted Activities: Hiking, Cycling.
The National Scenic Trails are a sight of ravishing beauty and awe. Hiking is the most popular activity along these trails, but hikers need to take care that none of their recreational activities take place in bargain of the destruction of the trails' allure.