These 3 Long-Distance Scenic Trails Have Been Added to the National Park System

Three long-distance trails that link people to some of the most breathtaking northern landscapes in the United States have recently received an upgrade: they are now the newest additions to the National Park System.

There are currently 11 national scenic trails, defined as footpaths that span over 100 miles through some of the country’s most stunning landscapes. Among these, five are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and as of December 8, six are overseen by the National Park Service and recognized as official units of the national park system.

Here are the newly designated national scenic trails:

• The 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail highlights the diverse river valleys, rolling hills, and lakes of Wisconsin. It earned its name by following the route of the last continental glacier, which shaped Wisconsin’s landscape 15,000 years ago. Numerous glacial features, such as moraines, drumlins, and eskers, can be seen along the trail.

• The 235-mile New England Trail stretches across Connecticut and Massachusetts, connecting coastal areas to mountaintops while traversing rural towns, glades, and valleys. This trail also passes by several historic colonial sites, including the Henry Whitfield State Museum and the Hill-Stead Museum.

• The 4,600-mile North Country Trail runs through eight states, from Vermont to North Dakota, making it the longest scenic trail in the United States. The journey showcases diverse terrains, including the Great Plains, the Lake Superior area, the Ohio River Valley, and the Adirondacks.

These three trails were previously established by Congress and managed by the National Park Service, but they lacked the official national park designation. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin has advocated for this new title since 2014, when she proposed the National Scenic Trails Parity Act, aimed at granting all national scenic trails under the National Park Service the status of national parks.

“The new designation for the Ice Age, New England, and North Country national scenic trails will enhance public awareness and utilization of these incredible pathways,” stated Chuck Sams, director of the National Park Service, in a press release. “Spanning over 5,500 miles across 10 states and numerous communities—from bustling cities to quiet towns—these trails offer countless opportunities for people to easily access green spaces and enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation.”

With their new status as official national park units, these trails will gain improved access to federal funding and resources. This could lead to the completion of gaps along the trails, where hikers currently must walk on country roads between segments. For example, the Ice Age Trail is only about halfway finished and consists of over 100 segments ranging from 1 to 15 miles, according to the Ice Age Trail Alliance.

“I believe that with the prestige of being a national park unit, the resources that will become available will help us fill these gaps and fulfill our mission every day,” said Luke Kloberdanz, executive director of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, during the virtual press conference announcing the new designations.

The three newly designated national scenic trails join three existing trails already within the National Park System: the Appalachian Trail, which stretches about 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine through its namesake mountain range; the Natchez Trace, spanning 444 miles across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee; and the Potomac Heritage Trail, which connects 710 miles of smaller trails in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. The Appalachian Trail received its NPS status in 1968, while the other two were designated in 1983.

With the inclusion of these three national scenic trails, there are now a total of 428 national park units, a term that refers to the various name designations for national park land, including full national parks, national monuments, and national historic sites, among others. Together, they contribute to over 85 million acres of protected public land throughout the United States and its territories.

Alongside the three national scenic trails, President Biden established five new national monuments from 2022 to 2023. These include Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, Castner Range National Monument in Texas, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument in Arizona, and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Illinois. There is also a possibility that the U.S. will soon see its 64th national park. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park enjoys significant bipartisan support for its transition to Ocmulgee Mounds National Park, though Congress has yet to schedule a vote on the matter.