Congress orders study on hiking trail's national scenic status
S. 1376 — Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025 · Filed by Thom Tillis (R-NC) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Apr 9, 2025 · Reported out
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What it does
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail—a 287-mile hiking trail running through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina—should be designated as a national scenic trail. The study must be completed within one year and submitted to Congress. The bill itself does not designate the trail; it only authorizes and requires a feasibility study.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a directive to conduct a feasibility study on designating an existing hiking trail as a national scenic trail. It is a straightforward conservation and public recreation measure with no hidden provisions or private carve-outs.
What the text implies
- A national scenic trail designation, if approved after the study, could increase federal management responsibilities and associated costs, though the bill notes the trail has been maintained at minimal cost by a volunteer association since 1980.
- Designation may trigger increased visitor traffic to rural communities in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, with both positive economic effects (tourism spending) and potential negative effects (trail wear, parking, local infrastructure strain).
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
rural hospitality and outdoor retail businesses in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina (potential