287-Mile Benton MacKaye Trail Moves Closer to National Scenic Status with One-Year Study Mandate

The Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025 is short, sweet, and focused on one thing: kicking off the formal process to potentially designate the 287-mile Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) as an official National Scenic Trail. This bill doesn't make the designation happen immediately, but it lights the fuse. Specifically, it amends the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to complete a feasibility study on the BMT and submit it to Congress within one year of the bill becoming law (SEC. 3).

The BMT: What’s Already on the Ground

For those who haven't heard of it, the BMT is a scenic, nonmotorized trail running through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The bill’s findings section (SEC. 2) lays out why this trail is a big deal, noting it passes through six designated Wilderness Areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and several National Forests. It’s a major draw for hikers, offering everything from easy day hikes to challenging backpacking routes, and it already supports the economies of the rural communities nearby through visitor spending.

Crucially, the bill notes that the trail is already well-maintained by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, which has managed it since 1980. They’ve kept 95% of the trail on Federal land and maintained its current length since 2005. For everyday people, this means the infrastructure is already there, minimizing the risk of massive, disruptive construction projects down the line. It’s not about building a new trail; it’s about giving an established trail an official title and the protection that comes with it.

What the Study Means for You

This study, mandated in Section 3, is the key procedural step. It’s the required homework before Congress can vote on the final designation. The Secretary of Agriculture must consult with interested groups, specifically the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, during this process. For hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and local businesses, this is a positive move. Official National Scenic Trail status often translates to increased federal resources for maintenance, better signage, and higher visibility, which generally means more visitors and more reliable trail conditions.

Think about it this way: if you run a small diner or a motel in a town near the BMT, this designation could mean a reliable bump in tourism revenue from dedicated long-distance hikers. If you’re a hiker, it means the trail you love gets a higher level of protection and potentially better upkeep. Since the bill mandates the study must be done within a year, we won't be waiting around forever to see what the next step is. This bill is a green light for an official review that could lead to greater protection and recognition for one of the Southeast’s major scenic routes.