“These four new national trails will build connections in communities, ensuring bikers, hikers and all who love our public lands have increased access to outdoor recreation opportunities close to home,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “This National Trails Day and Great Outdoors Month, I encourage everyone to visit these trails and enjoy the view.”
National recreation trails are jointly coordinated and administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, in conjunction with a number of federal and nonprofit partners. A national recreation trail can be designated by either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture on an existing local or regional trail with the consent of the federal, state, Tribal, local, nonprofit or private entity that has jurisdiction over the trail. The trail's managing agency or organization must apply for the distinction. The application period for new national recreational trails is currently open until November 1, 2024.
Secretary Haaland has designated the following as national recreation trails. Each will retain their existing ownership and receive a certificate of designation, a set of trail markers and a letter of recognition.
OREGON: Banks-Vernonia State Trail
The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a 21-mile paved rail-to-trail route connecting the towns of Banks and Vernonia through the foothills of Oregon’s lush coastal mountain range. The gentle grade allows hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the scenic mountains, fields and forests of Washington and Columbia Counties.
TEXAS: Comal River Water Trail
Flowing through the heart of New Braunfels, the Comal River Water Trail is 1.5 miles is recognized for being one of the best tubing rivers in Texas. The cool and clear spring-fed waters hail from the Edwards Aquifer and provides important habitat for rare aquatic flora and fauna. You can find locals and visitors at the river trail year-round, taking advantage of the wide range of recreational opportunities. From tubing, to kayaking, to fishing and scuba diving, the Comal River Water Trail is a special place and leaves a lasting impression on visitors.
UTAH: Hell’s Revenge Trail
The most popular off-highway vehicle trail near Moab is the 9.7-mile Hell’s Revenge Trail, located just outside of town and within the BLM Sand Flats Recreation area. The trail consists of long stretches of slickrock with outstanding views, including Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the Colorado Rover Gorge, several Wilderness Study Areas surrounding Moab, and the outstanding landscape of the Sand Flats Recreation Area.
WEST VIRGINIA: Sweet Spring Turnpike Trail
At just over one mile, the Sweet Springs Turnpike Trail is a multiuse gentle grade scenic trail that transitions from open pastures to dense forest. It boasts magnificent views of Sweet Springs Valley and the Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Farm, and beautiful seasonal foliage with a wide variety of tree species, raptors, and wildlife. Trail runs along a remarkably intact section of the historic 19th century stage road known as The Price's Mountain-Sweet Springs Turnpike and is associated with the nearby Old Sweet Springs Historic District.
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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?
Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:
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