Utah's 280-mile trail gets a federal feasibility study
H.R. 3451 — To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. · Filed by Mike Kennedy (R-UT) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced May 15, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail—a 280-mile network of existing and potential trails in Utah following an ancient lakebed—should be formally designated as part of the National Trails System. The study itself creates no new trail; it is a feasibility assessment that may lead to future designation and associated protections or management.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole function is to authorize a feasibility study for designating an existing trail system as part of the National Trails System. It is a straightforward administrative directive with no hidden mechanisms or narrow beneficiaries.
What the text implies
- Formal designation under the National Trails System may trigger future federal funding, management agreements, or land-use coordination with state and local authorities, though this bill itself does not appropriate money or mandate action beyond the study.
- The study may identify segments requiring easements or access agreements with private landowners, potentially creating future negotiation or acquisition costs not addressed in this bill.
Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.
Who it affects
The bill creates a study process that may result in federal recognition and protection of a 280-mile recreational trail system, benefiting hikers, outdoor users, and conservation interests in Utah. There is no direct cost to citizens; the study is a precursor to potential future designation that would enhance public access and stewardship of the landscape.
Named in the bill
Secretary of the Interior, National Trails System Act, Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Utah, Idaho-Utah border, Nephi, Utah, Lake Bonneville
Where it stands
3 cosponsors: 3 Republicans.
- May 15, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
- May 15, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the bill text published by Congress.gov (402 characters) on Jun 8, 2026. Section numbers in the findings refer to that text, linked below; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 16,222 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
As of — page rendered 2026-10-20.
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