National Recreation Trails-2008
Recently, on june 4 (2008), the Secretary of the U.S Department of Interior released the List of 25 new National Recreational Trails. How about going on a Hike this Summer?
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New National Recreation Trail designations for 2008
Source: www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/
Following are the 25 newly designated National Recreation Trails.
Alabama
Alabama Scenic River Trail – Recognized as the Nation’s longest one state river trail stretching approximately 631 miles from the Coosa River to the Gulf of Mexico, this scenic water trail is a unique statewide recreational and tourism resource featuring numerous camping, hiking, and birdwatching opportunities.
Arizona
Black Canyon Trail – Located in the Bradshaw Mountain foothills of central Arizona and managed by a diverse partnership led by the Bureau of Land Management, this world-class hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trail system stretches over 62 miles, benefiting both residents of the Black Canyon Corridor and visitors from metropolitan Phoenix.
Florida
Apalachicola River Paddling Trail System – Stretching through the panhandle of Florida to the Gulf of Mexico, this nationally-recognized water trail system offers approximately 100 miles of scenic paddling trails for canoeists and kayakers of all abilities.
Illinois
Rend Lake Bike Trail – In addition to providing hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities, this meandering trail extends over 19 miles through some of the most diverse and scenic habitat that Southern Illinois has to offer.
Indiana
Burdette Park/University of Southern Indiana Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Nature Trail – This scenic .6-mile segment is the result of a visionary partnership to eventually provide a 2-mile non-motorized trail connection between popular Burdette Park in Vanderburgh County and the University of Southern Indiana.
Iowa
Great Western Trail – A key connection between urban Des Moines and the surrounding rural landscape, this 16.5-mile scenic rail-trail offers trail users the opportunity to journey through Iowa history while hiking, biking, or enjoying other recreational activities.
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area Trails System – Located just south of Dubuque along the Mississippi River, this approximately 20-mile trail system offers a wealth of opportunities for recreation, environmental education, human history interpretation, and wildlife observation.
Summerset Trail – Stretching almost 12 miles through rolling hills, river bottom wetlands, and remnant prairies, this rail-trail allows for hiking, biking, or cross-country skiing through some of the best of central Iowa’s natural scenery.
Michigan
Musketawa Trail – Providing a handicapped-accessible connection between Marne and Muskegon, Michigan, this 24.7-mile rail-trail and greenway allows a variety of trail users to enjoy a range of landscapes while biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, or simply taking a stroll.
Missouri
Ozark Trail – The Ozark Trail is a 350 mile long distance trail in southern Missouri. The majority of the trail is located on the Mark Twain National Forest, with portions of the trail on lands managed by Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Corps of Engineers, Missouri Department of Conservation, National Park Service, Pioneer Forest and even some private landowners.
Nebraska
Funk Peterson Wildlife Trail – Situated in Funk Waterfowl Production Area, this 3-mile backcountry loop trail is a bird watcher’s paradise, providing habitat for millions of birds, including endangered whooping cranes and least terns that migrate biannually through the area.
New Mexico
Canyon Trail – Located in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, this 2.2-mile interpretive trail offers school groups and visitors year-round the ability to study tracks in the shifting sands, evidence of kangaroo rats, box turtles, and a host of other wildlife that call the refuge home.
Chupadera Wilderness Trail – Traversing the Chupadera Wilderness Area of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, this 9.5-mile backcountry trail is rich in wildlife and wildflowers, and takes hikers through a range of landscapes culminating in a 360-degree view of several mountain ranges.
North Carolina
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail – Recognized as part of the East Coast Greenway, this 4.5-mile multi-use trail features a variety of historic sites, abundant wildlife, and opportunities for biking, fishing, canoeing, and more.
Little Tennessee River Greenway – This 4.5-mile hiking and biking trail parallels the Little Tennessee River and Cartoogechaye Creek and features three different bridges and a variety of recreational facilities for visitors of all ages.
North Dakota
Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge Leg of the Historic Fort Totten Trail – This 9-mile backcountry trail is undergoing improvements to provide enhanced wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities and allows for a variety of uses, including hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Scout’s Trail – Situated within Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, this 4.6-mile multi-use trail offers environmental education and interpretive opportunities on Native American culture amid scenic vistas and native prairie.
Sullys Hill Nature Trail – Located in one of only four units of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service managed to preserve bison, this 1.5-mile scenic loop trail provides visitors the opportunity to observe a diverse sampling of native wildlife whether jogging or snowshoeing.
Ohio
Congressman Ralph Regula Towpath Trail – Also known as the Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail, this 25-mile multi-use trail serves as the western spine of a planned 300-mile trail system throughout Stark County and offers a variety of recreational activities along a pathway rich in State history.
Pennsylvania
Heritage Rail Trail County Park – Traversing York County to the Maryland border, this 19-mile multi-use trail provides an integral link in a statewide trails system and epitomizes the concept of a close-to-home trail experience, but has regional, State, and national significance as well.
Susquehanna River Water Trail – Middle and Lower Sections – Flowing from Sunbury to the Maryland border, this 103-mile segment offers paddlers an exciting array of experiences, from observing great blue herons to learning about the Underground Railroad.
South Carolina
Congaree River Blue Trail – Starting near Columbia, this 50-mile water trail and greenway offers an urban adventure featuring prehistoric Native American sites, sandbars, high bluffs, and Congaree National Park, home of the largest continuous tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States.
Texas
Heritage Trail Loop – Serving as the backbone of the city’s trail system, this 3.1-mile rail-trail and bikeway links area residents to numerous recreational facilities, historical sites, and a local renewable energy demonstration project.
Lions Park Nature Trail – Given its artistic features, hilltop vistas, and recreational facilities, it is easy to see why this 2-mile walking trail is so popular with Temple residents of all ages.
West Virginia
Canaan Valley Institute Trail System – Located near the town of Davis, this 6.5-mile privately-owned multi-use trail system offers the public a variety of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, with additional connections planned to link to neighboring State and Federal lands.
The National Recreation Trail Program recognizes trails that provide opportunities for all Americans to enjoy the out-of-doors and improve the quality of life of our communities. Each year nominations for designation of new National Recreation Trails may be submitted. The National Park Service and USDA Forest Service jointly administer the NRT program with help from other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails, which hosts the National Recreation Trails website.
The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and the USDA Forest Service administer the program in conjunction with a other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails, which hosts the National Recreation Trails website. RTCA is a community resource of the National Park Service which provide technical assistance to community groups and local, state, and federal government agencies to help conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways.
Each year nominations for designation of new National Recreation Trails may be submitted. Details of the program may be found on the NRT website hosted by American Trails: (www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails). The National Recreation Trail Program recognizes trails that provide opportunities for all Americans to enjoy the out-of-doors and improve the quality of life of our communities.
