Over 80,000 miles of America's trails have a connection to the National Park Service. That's a lot of rocks, roots, fresh air and views - and it's a lot to care for. But the Service could never have accomplished 80,000 miles without partnerships. Trail advocacy groups, town and city governments, thousands of dedicated individual and organized volunteers, and NPS -- together-- create and sustain the many kinds of trails America needs in four ways:
1. National ParksEvery year thousands of volunteers spend tens of thousands of hours doing trail work on the over 18,000 miles of trails in national parks. These trails range from intensely rugged backcountry trails to
trails accessible to everyone, from hiking and walking trails to bicycling and horseback trails. There is a huge collective investment in these park trails, so maintaining and protecting them is a constant labor for NPS and all those volunteers. The Service is working to improve information sharing between parks and to communicate effectively with the public -- like through this new "
Leave No Trace" VIDEO.
2. Community Assistance Each year, NPS assists communities and local advocates who are creating or conserving trails, greenways, and open spaces through its
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program. Through consultations and technical assistance, NPS helps partners develop over 1,300 miles of new trails every year. The NPS role is to catalyze the community and local partners, break down barriers, and help the partners find answers to tough questions about funding, conservation, and project management.
3. National Trails SystemUnlike national park trails and community trails, the National Trails System has a specific
legislative mandate: to promote preservation and access to outdoor areas and historic resources; to institute a national system of trails; and to encourage Americans to get involved with those trails. That has translated into over 50,000 miles of national scenic, historic, and recreational trails where NPS has a permanent administrative relationship, ranging from historic trails that tell America's story, like the
Lewis and Clark or the
Selma to Montgomery trails, to remote and stunning scenic trails like the
Ice Age Trail and the
Pacific Crest Trail. And, every year the Secretary of the Interior designates new
National Recreation Trails in response to local nominations.
4. Discovery TrailsFor almost 20 years, advocates have been working on adding the
American Discovery Trail to the National Trails System. When that happens, it will be the first of a new category: National Discovery Trails. Anticipating passage of a National Discovery Trails Act, other interstate, interurban, and multi-modal discovery trails are forming now at the grassroots level. Some that may join the list: the
East Coast Greenway and the
Mississippi River Trail.