Dear Trail Friends Throughout the Country:

For some time I have anguished over the gaps in our National Scenic Trails. Only the Appalachian Trail has a continuous, protected right-of-way after a 35 year acquisition, and the Arizona Trail lies entirely on federal land. But the other nine Trails have substantial gaps subject to closure. What can we do about this problem?

I formed Hiking Trails for America to do for all National Scenic Trails what Congress has done for the Appalachian Trail. Helping in this effort are Paul Pritchard, First Executive Director of the Appalachian Trail Conference; Larry Luxenberg, founder and President of the Appalachian Trail Museum; Bill Kemsley, founding Editor and Publisher of BACKPACKER magazine; and Ron Strickland, founder of the Pacific Northwest Trail.

We believe all National Scenic Trails should guarantee a quality hiking experience on trails that have been saved for posterity, and that Congress should act to provide this as it did for the iconic Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

It is Congress that should determine how much time and money will be needed to acquire rights-of-way for all remaining trails, what government agency should be in charge of acquisition, and what NGO should maintain and manage each trail. We recommend that Congress create a commission to address these tasks.

The goal of acquisition will take years, but it’s time to get started. We will be updating this site with frequent blogs, so please check regularly.

If you support our effort and want to be counted as a proponent, please contact us here.

Jim Kern, President

Hiking Trails for America