NRT Designations:

NRT application process:

NRT Designation Schedule

National Recreation Trail designation is an honor given to existing trails that have been nominated and meet the requirements for connecting people to local resources and improving their quality of life. The National Trails System Act of 1968 authorizes the NRT designations, which are now part of a continuing campaign to promote community partnerships and to foster innovative ways to encourage physical fitness.

For year-by-year details of the annual designations and links to featured trails, please visit the NRT Annual Designations Index.

Search over 1,000 National Recreation Trails in the online database

See the state-by-state index of Featured National Recreation Trails

There are two procedures for National Recreation Trail applications— if your trail is on land administered by and associated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (National Forests, National Grasslands, and National Recreation Areas and associated lands) follow that process; if not, follow Department of Interior process. Details on designated trails are included in the on line NRT database.

U.S. Department of the Interior
Annual Designation Process

For trails on private, city, county, or state land, or on Federal land NOT overseen by the Department of Agriculture

Nominations for NRT designation for the Department of the Interior is done through the Online NRT Application Form. For examples of the kinds of trails that are eligible, see the trails designated as NRTs in the Annual Designations Index since 2001.

Timeline

November 1: Deadline for submittal of current year's online NRT applications to DOI NRT Coordinator in Washington, DC.

NRT Coordinator checks new applications
Sends email confirming receipt of application

December 15: DOI NRT Coordinator reviews each application for completeness and forwards to Regional NRT Contact or Federal agency NRT Manager.

Regional NRT contact or Federal agency NRT Manager reviews application
Makes follow-up contact with applicant to request additional information and/or site visit if necessary

February 15: Regional NRT Contact or Federal agency NRT Manager sends additions or amendments to application(s) and a letter of concurrence/endorsement to the DOI NRT Coordinator.

March 15: DOI NRT Coordinator completes the review and processing of applications. The applications are forwarded for approval by the Secretary of the Interior.

June: New NRT designations announced

Secretary of the Interior sends news release officially announcing new NRT designations
Local announcements and designation events
Trail descriptions and graphics are added to the state by state NRT pages
Newly designated trails are added to the on-line searchable database of NRTs

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Designation Process

For trails on National Forests, National Grasslands, and National Recreation Areas and associated land

To nominate a trail on USDA land, contact your USDA Regional NRT Coordinator. See examples of trails on USDA lands that have been designated.

Timeline

NRT applications (establishment report) with local support of District Rangers and Forest Supervisors are sent at any time to USDA Forest Service Regional NRT Coordinator (reference FSM 2353), (however applications should be submitted prior to February 15th to allow processing and designation prior to National Trails Day, annually).

Regional NRT Coordinator reviews draft establishment report, forwards draft to National NRT Coordinator for consistency.
Makes follow-up contact with applicants to request additional information and site visit if necessary
Notifies State Trails Coordinator of nominated trails requesting letter of support (only if state, local government, or private trail)

USFS Regional NRT Coordinator forwards application to Regional Forester.

Concurrence/endorsement from Regional NRT Coordinator
Includes support letters

Designations approved by Regional Forester.

New NRT designations announced with copy of signed NRT Designation and Establishment Report sent to National NRT Coordinator in Washington DC.

Trail descriptions and graphics are added to the state by state NRT pages
Newly designated trails are added to the on-line searchable database of NRTs

June – New NRT designations announced

The National Recreation Trails program is jointly administered by the federal land management agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) in conjunction with nonprofit partners, notably American Trails, which hosts the National Recreation Trails website at http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails.

For more about the new designations and details of many featured trails, please visit:
www.AmericanTrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails.

Each year nominations for designation of new National Recreation Trails may be submitted. Details of the program may be found on the NRT website hosted by American Trails. The National Recreation Trail Program recognizes trails that provide opportunities for all Americans to enjoy the out-of-doors and improve the quality of life of our communities.