New Act Formalizes Partnership for Appalachian Trail, Funds National Trail Development Through 2031

The Appalachian Trail Centennial Act is essentially a massive upgrade to how we manage our country’s biggest, most important hiking corridors—the National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails, collectively called “Covered Trails.” This bill isn't about creating new trails; it's about making sure the existing ones, like the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT), are managed efficiently and sustainably for the next generation.

The Official Handshake: Making Partnerships Permanent

If you've ever hiked a National Trail, you know the federal government doesn't do all the work. Volunteers and non-profits handle the vast majority of the planning, maintenance, and operation. This bill locks that partnership down permanently. Section 4 specifically names the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) as the official “Designated Operational Partner” for the AT. For other trails, the Secretary (usually of the Interior) can appoint qualified non-profits to the same role. This designation means these groups are the official, recognized experts and can handle tasks like planning, maintenance, and even land acquisition (Section 3 defines this as “Operation”).

Why does this matter to you? If you’re a volunteer or a hiker, this formalizes the management structure, meaning less bureaucratic friction and more focused effort on keeping the trails maintained and accessible. It also ensures that the people who know the trail best—the non-profits who have been doing the work for decades—can continue to receive federal funding without having to jump through competitive bidding hoops every time (Section 4).

Protecting the Path and the People

One of the most practical changes in this bill involves land protection. Operational Partners are now required to create a “Proposed Priority List” of lands that need to be acquired or protected to keep the trail corridor intact (Section 4). This list details exactly which parcels are critical and why. When the federal government uses funds like the Land and Water Conservation Fund to buy land for the trail, they must prioritize these lists. This is a huge win for long-term conservation, ensuring that critical viewsheds or fragile environments aren't lost to development simply because the government didn't know which parcels to prioritize.

Furthermore, the bill gives these partners a formal way to address property violations. If the ATC, for example, spots someone trespassing or damaging a resource along the AT, they can send a formal “Request for Redress” to the U.S. Attorney, who then has 150 days to state whether they will pursue legal action (Section 4). This adds a powerful layer of protection against damage to the trail’s resources.

Making Trails Count for Local Economies

For anyone living in a “Gateway Community”—the towns near the trailheads that rely on hiker traffic—Section 5 is key. The bill mandates that the federal government develop methods within three years to measure the economic impact of these trails on local communities. This assessment must be updated every five years. This means that towns like Damascus, Virginia, or Hot Springs, North Carolina, will have official, government-backed data to show how much money the trail brings in, which can be critical for securing grants, improving local infrastructure, and planning for visitor capacity.

Speaking of capacity, the bill requires that comprehensive management plans determine “Visitor Capacity” not just for the whole trail, but for specific segments (Section 5). This prevents overcrowding in popular spots while ensuring the trail experience remains high-quality. If you hike a busy section, this provision aims to keep it from turning into a human traffic jam.

The Fine Print: Less Red Tape, More Authority

While the bill is focused on efficiency, there’s one detail that stands out for policy wonks. Section 4 explicitly states that the cooperative management systems established by this Act will not be subject to Chapter 10 of Title 5, U.S. Code—which is the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The APA is what requires federal agencies to adhere to certain rules for public transparency and input. Exempting cooperative management from the APA is intended to speed up decision-making and reduce bureaucracy for partners, but it also means that some aspects of trail management handled by these non-profits may bypass standard public review processes. It’s a trade-off between efficiency and transparency.

Finally, the bill authorizes necessary funding for planning, reporting, and crucially, for land acquisition and facility development from fiscal years 2026 through 2031 (Section 5). This provides a dedicated, multi-year budget window to ensure these major national assets are well-funded and properly maintained.