Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026
Officially: “Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026” Read the full text
What it does
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Sec. 1Short title
This section gives the Act its official short title, the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025 .
Sec. 2Findings
This section lists findings that Congress states about the Benton MacKaye Trail. Congress finds that the trail is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that runs about 287 miles through forests and mountains in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; that it shows a wide variety of scenic views, including high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and secluded waterfalls; that it passes through wilderness rich in biodiversity; that it passes through six designated Wilderness Areas, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee, and Nantahala National Forests; that it offers a wide array of easily accessible hikes for novice and intermediate hikers as well as more challenging backpacking trails; that it supports economic opportunities for numerous rural communities that benefit from visitors spending money on accommodations, food, and outdoor supplies; that it runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, through Tennessee, and into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina; that it is physically accessible; and that it can be maintained at minimal cost because the trail has been kept at its current length since 2005, 95 percent of the trail is on federal land, and the Benton MacKaye Trail Association has successfully built, maintained, and managed the trail since 1980.
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2. Findings Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail— (1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses approximately 287 miles over some of the most renowned forests and mountains in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; (2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, including high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and secluded waterfalls; (3) passes through wilderness that is rich with biodiversity; (4) passes through six designated Wilderness Areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee, and Nantahala National Forests; (5) provides a wide array of easily accessible hikes for novice and intermediate hikers, as well as more challenging trails for backpacking; (6) supports economic opportunities for numerous rural communities which benefit from the visitors of the trail spending their money on accommodations, food, and outdoor supplies; (7) runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, through Tennessee, and extends through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina; (8) is physically accessible; and (9) can be maintained at a minimal cost because— (A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been maintained at its current length since 2005; (B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye Trail is located on Federal land; and (C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been successfully constructed, maintained, and managed by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association since 1980.
Sec. 3Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study
This section adds a new entry, paragraph (50), to Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c)). The new entry identifies the Benton MacKaye Trail, a scenic, nonmotorized trail of about 287 miles in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to complete a feasibility study on designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail and to submit that study to Congress. The Secretary must do this in consultation with interested organizations, including the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, and no later than 1 year after the date this paragraph is enacted.
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3. Benton mackaye national scenic trail feasibility study Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1244(c) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (50) Benton Mackaye Trail (A) In general The Benton MacKaye Trail, a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses approximately 287 miles in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. (B) Study Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with interested organizations, including the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, shall complete and submit to Congress the feasibility study for designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail. .
Where it is
In the House.