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Long-Distance Trails

Trails for multi-day journeys by foot, bike, horse, OHV, dogsled, and snowmobile are an important part of our trail heritage. The designated National Scenic and Historic Trails as well as long pathways around the world are increasingly popular with tourists and trail trekkers.

Going long: nurturing the long-distance trails movement; by Robert Searns, Chair, American Trails
Tourism benefits encourage closing trail links in Florida East Coast Greenway; by Herb Hiller
Long distance hiking as a cultural experience: walking across Ireland; by Phebe Novic
Multi-Objective Values of Trails in the context of "green infrastructure" by Steve Elkinton
The Business of Trails: a compilation of economic benefits with emphasis on long-distance trails
Trails as Journeys, By Roger Bell

The Alabama Trail: From Fort Morgan to Tennessee; Gulf Coast Guide (pdf 11.2 mb)
Congratulations on Arizona National Scenic Trail milestone
Diversity of the Arizona Trail beckons travellers worldwide
American Discovery Trail is America's first coast-to-coast hiking, biking and equestrian trail
Coastal routes: the California Coastal Trail and Massachusetts "Sea Path"
California Coastal Trail is a system of trails and beach access supported by Coastwalk
Montana group steps up to continue Continental Divide Trail work
Great Divide Mountain Bike Route runs through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico
Great Western Trail is a multi-use corridor from Canada to Mexico through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona
Santa Fe Trail Association emphasizes education and preservation
New York State's Erie Canalway Trail brings new life to communities
Trans Canada Trail Foundation is developing what will be the longest trail in the world
Japan's Long-Distance Nature Trail System from Pathways Across America
The Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia: 1,000 kilometres of unbroken natural environment
America's New Long-Distance Trails: projects under development in several locations across America
Partners create the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
Cross Vermont Trail is proposed to be Vermont's first east-west, long-distance, multi-use trail and is a designated National Recreation Trail
East Coast Greenway Alliance focuses on completing long-distance system of trails and bike routes
Close the Gaps ride promotes completion of East Coast Greenway

Along the East Coast Greenway route in Florida:

Quotations on Long-Distance Trails; compiled and edited by Jim Schmid
Navigating the Erie Canal: a "mega-trail" journey, by Bob Searns
Bronx Lab School Underground Railroad Riders: A Journey Into Health and History
Walking the Katy Trail across rural Missouri; by Phebe Novic
"Flow" experience among Appalachian Trail thru-hikers

The following National Scenic and Historic Trails are part of the National Trails System. See the State by State Trails listings for individual states to find more long-distance trails and support groups.

Actions and accomplishments of National Scenic and Historic Trail partners (2009)
Partnership for the National Trails System works for protection, completion, and stewardship of the National Trails System
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail will be a 175- mile path along the coastline of the Island of Hawaii
The Appalachian Trail Conference maintains the 2,100-mile AT and has current Trail information
Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association
Arizona National Scenic Trail runs 800 miles from Mexico to Utah
Continental Divide Trail Alliance site has information on events, trail routes, and volunteer oportunities
Continental Divide Trail Society provides information and offers maps and guidebooks for the trail
The Florida Trail covers over 1,000 miles
Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,000-mile trail located entirely in Wisconsin
Iditarod National Historic Trail runs from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation site and the site has information on the trail
Missouri Historical Society has a new Lewis and Clark National Bicentennial Exhibition web site
Mormon Trails Association works in research, marking, preservation, and celebration efforts.
Nez Perce National Historic Trail or the site hosted by the USDA Forest Service
North Country Trail will traverse 4400 miles through the boreal forests of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota
Old Spanish Trail Association works to study, preserve, protect, and interpret this historic route between Los Angeles and Santa Fe
Oregon-California Trails Association and the National Oregon/California Trail Center cover the trans-Mississippi emigrant trails
Overland Trail ran westward from Atchison, Kansas, through Colorado and Wyoming
Overmountain Victory Trail in South Carolina was the first National Historic Trail in the eastern US
Pacific Crest Trail runs from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific states
Pacific Northwest Trail runs 1,200 miles from the Rocky Mountains to the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest
Pony Express Trail ran between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco during the 1860s.
Potomac Heritage Partnership works for regional conservation as well as for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
Santa Fe Trail Association
Interactive Santa Fe Trail home page
Star-Spangled National Historic Trail is newest in system
Trail of Tears Association
Trails West is a working group of volunteers locating and marking the California Trail through Idaho, Nevada, and California

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Long-Distance Trails