This bill, the Appalachian Trail Centennial Act, updates how national historic trails and national scenic trails are managed. It defines terms like administration, management, operation, and cooperative management. The Secretary of the Interior must designate the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as the Designated Operational Partner for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail within one year. The bill allows other eligible nonprofit partners to be designated for other covered trails. Designated Operational Partners must create proposed priority lists for land and resource protection and can be involved in cooperative agreements for trail operation, maintenance, and volunteer coordination. The bill clarifies that federal agencies keep ultimate administration and management authority, while volunteers and partners can perform many operational tasks. It also creates a process for Designated Operational Partners to alert agencies and U.S. Attorneys about trespass or property-rights violations that affect trail resources. The law requires visitor capacity to be set by segment, directs economic impact assessment methods for gateway communities, calls for reports to Congress, and authorizes appropriations for planning, studies, and trail development from 2026 through 2031.
If you live near or use a national historic or scenic trail, this bill makes clear that local volunteer groups and nonprofit partners can take larger operational roles under cooperative agreements. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will be officially named the operational partner for the Appalachian Trail. Trails covered by the act are eligible for federal funding sources named in the bill, and partners will help set land protection priorities and contribute to planning and maintenance. Visitors may see more formal planning for specific trail segments, including visitor capacity limits determined by site.
The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 for planning, economic assessment methods, required reports, and for acquisition, construction, and development of trail facilities, including land or interests in land. It uses the phrase "such sums as are necessary" and does not specify dollar amounts. It also authorizes funds for planning related to proposed priority lists and makes covered trails eligible for existing funds, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Supporters argue the bill strengthens a partnership model built around volunteers and nonprofit trail clubs. The text highlights that volunteers were central to creating and maintaining the Appalachian Trail and that the centennial of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a chance to reinforce cooperative management. Proponents see the bill as clarifying roles, encouraging volunteer participation, enabling local input on land protection priorities, and improving planning and funding access for trails.
No publicly available information.