Appalachian Trail Centennial Act Formalizes Volunteer Partnerships, Authorizes Trail Funding Through 2031

If you’ve ever hiked a National Scenic or Historic Trail, you know the real heroes aren’t the federal agencies, but the thousands of volunteers who keep the paths clear and the shelters standing. This bill, the Appalachian Trail Centennial Act, essentially takes that existing, successful volunteer model and makes it official, using the Appalachian Trail (AT) as the blueprint for all other national trails.

The Partnership Model: Outsourcing Trail Work

At its core, the bill is about formalizing who does what. It clearly separates the administration functions (the stuff only the federal government can do, like setting overall policy) from operation functions (the actual work, like building facilities, maintaining the path, and training volunteers). The policy states that the federal government is responsible for administration and land management (if they own the land), but everything else—the day-to-day grit—can be delegated to non-profits and volunteer groups.

Crucially, the bill immediately names the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) as the official partner for the AT. For other trails, the Secretary of the Interior or Agriculture can designate one or more “Designated Operational Partners.” To get this designation, a non-profit must prove they’ve already been doing the work successfully. The biggest win for these groups is that once designated, they can receive federal funds directly for trail projects without having to go through the usual competitive bidding process. Think of it as recognizing the existing experts and giving them a reliable funding stream to keep their crews working. This is great news for trail maintenance, but it does mean that if you’re a smaller, newer non-profit, breaking into this established system to compete for partnership status just got a lot tougher.

Who Gets the Land and Who Pays the Bills?

The bill also gives these Designated Operational Partners a direct say in federal land acquisition. They are required to submit a “proposed priority list” of lands they believe should be acquired to protect the trail’s scenic or historical values. The federal government is supposed to prioritize buying the parcels on this list. While the Secretary can choose to skip a parcel or buy one not on the list, they have to write a detailed explanation to the partner, creating a paper trail for accountability.

This is a smart way to leverage the on-the-ground knowledge of volunteers who know exactly which piece of private land needs protection before it gets developed. For local landowners, this means the non-profit partner—not just a distant federal bureaucrat—will be driving the conversation about potential land sales or conservation easements.

Another significant change is in enforcement. If a partner spots someone damaging the trail (say, illegal ATV use or dumping), they can formally request the Secretary and the local U.S. Attorney to investigate and take action. While the final decision to sue rests with the government, this gives volunteers a direct line to federal enforcement resources, which is a big step up from just calling a ranger.

Making Trails Work for Local Economies

For the towns and communities near these trails—the “gateway communities” that rely on hiker traffic for business—the bill mandates new economic studies. Within three years, the relevant federal agencies must figure out how they’ll measure the economic impact of the trails on these towns, and then repeat the study every five years. This is a big deal for local planning and grants, as it formally recognizes the economic value of these trails and provides hard data to support local businesses and infrastructure improvements.

Finally, the bill addresses capacity. It requires the government to determine the visitor capacity for specific sections of a trail. Instead of saying the whole AT can handle X number of people, they must analyze segment by segment based on the desired experience. This means high-traffic areas near popular trailheads might get stricter limits to prevent overcrowding and resource damage, ensuring the trail experience doesn’t get ruined by its own popularity.

Overall, the Appalachian Trail Centennial Act is less about building new things and more about strengthening the existing, successful management structure. It formalizes the power of volunteers, streamlines funding, and requires the federal government to pay closer attention to the trails’ impact on both the environment and the local economy. The biggest cost is the administrative burden on federal agencies to write new regulations and conduct all these new studies, with funding authorized through fiscal year 2031 to cover these efforts.