Feds to Study Adding Utah's 280-Mile Bonneville Shoreline Trail to National System

This bill kicks off a formal look into whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) should become a National Scenic Trail. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on designating the approximately 280-mile network of existing and potential trails, which runs from the Idaho-Utah border down to Nephi, Utah, along the path of the ancient Lake Bonneville.

Just Testing the Waters: What's a Feasibility Study?

Think of this as the homework phase required by the National Trails System Act before a trail can get the official 'National Scenic Trail' title. The study will investigate if the BST meets the criteria – things like its scenic quality, historic significance, potential for recreation, and how it could be managed. It's about gathering facts: mapping the proposed route, figuring out land ownership along the way, assessing environmental impacts, and estimating costs. Importantly, this bill only authorizes the study; it doesn't guarantee the trail will actually be designated.

Hitting the Trail: Potential Impacts Down the Road

If the study comes back positive and the BST eventually does get designated, it could mean more resources for trail development and maintenance, potentially boosting recreation and local tourism. It could also offer greater protection for the scenic and natural areas along the route. However, the study itself will need to look closely at potential impacts, particularly concerning sections that might cross private land or require new agreements for access and management. The findings will shape whether, and how, this popular regional trail might become part of the national system.