What This Bill Does
This bill would amend the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail should be designated a national scenic trail. The trail is described in the bill as a scenic, nonmotorized route of about 287 miles through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The study must be completed and sent to Congress within 2 years after enactment, and the Secretary must consult interested organizations, including the Benton MacKaye Trail Association. The bill does not itself create the designation; it only starts the federal feasibility review.
- Adds the Benton MacKaye Trail to the National Trails System Act study list.
- Defines the trail as about 287 miles across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
- Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to complete the study within 2 years of enactment.
- Requires consultation with interested organizations, including the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.
Who This Bill Affects
For a general constituent, this bill has little direct day-to-day effect because it only orders a feasibility study and does not itself change taxes, benefits, or land rules. If you live near or use the Benton MacKaye Trail, the main effect is that the federal government would formally evaluate whether the trail should become a national scenic trail within 2 years, which could influence future access and conservation decisions.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Trail hikers and outdoor recreation users Supporters may say a federal feasibility study is a low-cost way to evaluate a trail that already serves nonmotorized recreation across three states. They would argue that national scenic trail consideration can improve public awareness and help preserve a continuous hiking route.
- Local tourism businesses and gateway communities Businesses near the trail may support the bill because a formal federal study can raise the trail’s profile and potentially attract more visitors. Even before any designation, the process can signal that the corridor has national significance.
- Trail conservation advocates Advocates may argue that the study is a necessary first step to document the trail’s route, management needs, and conservation value. They may see it as a way to build a record for future protection without immediately imposing new restrictions.
- Some private landowners along the route Landowners may worry that a federal study is the first step toward greater federal attention to nearby lands, easements, or access issues. Even without immediate legal changes, they may fear future pressure on property use or negotiations over trail continuity.
- Skeptical budget watchdogs Critics may argue that Congress should avoid adding more federal studies unless there is a clear plan to act on the results. They may view the measure as a modest but still unnecessary administrative task for the Department of Agriculture.
- Local officials concerned about federal process Some local or state officials may prefer to handle trail planning through existing state and nonprofit partnerships rather than a federal designation review. They may worry that a national scenic trail process could complicate land management coordination.
Key Implications
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““the Benton MacKaye Trail, a scenic, nonmotorized trail””
The bill identifies the trail as a nonmotorized recreation corridor, which means the study is aimed at hiking and similar uses rather than vehicle access. That framing matters because it places the trail within the National Trails System category for scenic trails.
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““traverses approximately 287 miles in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina””
This gives the scope of the study and shows that the bill concerns a multi-state route, not a local path. Any future designation would affect coordination across three states and many land managers.
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““Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment””
The Secretary of Agriculture would have a firm deadline to finish and submit the feasibility study. That creates a defined timeline for congressional review rather than an open-ended process.
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““in consultation with interested organizations, including the Benton MacKaye Trail Association””
The bill requires outside stakeholder input, not just internal agency review. That means trail groups would have a formal role in shaping the study’s findings and recommendations.
Latest Status
June 3, 2026
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 426.
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Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.