Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2001

Contact: Mark Pfeifle 202-208-6416

Secretary Norton Designates 15 New National Recreation Trails
Local Trails in 13 States Across the Country Receive National Recognition and
Distinction as New Units of the National Trails Systems

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today announced the designation of 15 new trails in 13 states and Puerto Rico as National Recreation Trails (NRT). The NRT is a component of the National Trails System that recognizes trails for their exceptional conservation efforts. The designation affords each trail the unique distinction as part of the National Trails System.

"I commend all of the citizens that have labored to make these trails exceptional and worthy of this prestigious designation," said Norton. "This designation is an indication of the community's commitment to conservation and ensuring public access to outdoor recreational opportunities close to home."

The 15 new trails designated as NRTs include the Prescott Peavine Trail, Arizona; Pigeon Creek Trail, Arkansas; Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, Florida; Mary Ingles Trail, Kentucky; Grand Trunk Trail, Massachusetts; Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Massachusetts; Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, Nebraska; Princeville Heritage Trail, North Carolina; Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania; Paseo del Morro, Puerto Rico; Bluff Trail, South Carolina; Keel Spring Nature Trail, Tennessee; Buffalo Creek Trail, Virginia; Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike, West Virginia; and Muddy Mountain Interpretive Nature Trail, Wyoming.

In addition to inclusion in the National Trails System, each trail will receive a certificate of designation and entitled to be marked with the NRT logo. Throughout the country there are now more than 800 NRTs in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, totaling more than 9,000 miles.

The National Trails Act of 1968 encourages the Secretary of the Interior to recognize community trails that qualify as additions to the National Trails System. The Act promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of trails while encouraging greater public access. NRTs are components of the National Trails System, which includes four types of trails: national scenic, national historic, national recreation, and side or connecting trails. The national scenic and national historic trails may only be designated by an Act of Congress, while national recreation and side or connecting trails are designated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture.

The NRT program at the Interior Department is administered by the National Park Service. For more information on the Department's National Recreation Trails program, write to the National Park Service at 1849 C Street, NW, (M.S. 3622), Washington, D.C. 20240.

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