National Scenic and Historical Trails
The following is a list of National Scenic and National Historic Trails found in the United States today. These are all presently authorized by Act of Congress although some are still in a state of development. We present these to assist you in finding a local wilderness challenge.
All of them can be trekked for most, if not all, of their noted distances. Every year a few hearty hikers take out "Thru Permits" for an entire trail. However, shorter trips for a day, the weekend, or even longer hikes into extremely scenic and historic wilderness areas can be accomplished.
Some offer "Family Hikes" of short duration and easy walks for hikers of all ages. Check with the local authorities for current trail information and permits, if needed.
There are many additional trails still under consideration by the Department of the Interior for National Trail status, but not yet authorized.
Trail Name |
Length in Miles |
Approximate Location |
| The Appalachian National Scenic Trail |
2,175 |
From Mount Katahdin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia |
| The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail |
2,150 |
From the Southern Border in California to the Canadian border in Washington. |
| The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail |
3,100 |
From the Southern Border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Montana. |
| The Oregon National Historical Trail |
2,000 |
From near Independence Missouri to the vicinity of Portland, Oregon. |
| The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail |
1,300 |
From Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah. |
| The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail |
3,700 |
From Wood River, Illinois to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. |
| The Iditarod National Historic Trail |
2,000 |
From Seward, Alaska to Nome, Alaska. |
| The North Country National Scenic Trail |
3,200 |
From Eastern New York State to Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota. |
| The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail |
272 |
From the mustering point near Abingdon, Virginia to Kings Mountain in North Carolina. |
| The Ice Age National Scenic Trail |
1,000 |
Door County Wisconsin to Interstate Park in Saint Croix County Wisconsin. |
| The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail |
704 |
Still in draft format on the "National Trails Map" by the Department of the Interior. |
| The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail |
694 |
From Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi. |
| The Florida National Scenic Trail |
1,400 |
From the sawgrass prairies of Big Cypress National Preserve to historic Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore at Pensacola beach, Florida. |
| The Nez Perce National Trail |
1,170 |
From near Wallowa Lake, Oregon to Bear Paw Mountain, Montana. |
| The Santa Fe National Historic Trail |
950 |
From near Old Franklin Missouri through Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado to Santa Fe, New Mexico. |
| The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail |
Various |
Not a single tread yet but a corridor consisting of the water and land routes that the Cherokee Nation traveled during its removal from the East to Oklahoma. |
| The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail |
1,200 |
From Sonora Mexico through Arizona and California to the vicinity of San Francisco. |
| The California National Historical Trail |
5,700 |
Extends from Independence and St. Joseph Missouri and Council Bluffs Iowa to various points in California and Oregon. The distance indicated includes all routes and cutoffs. |
| The Pony Express National Historic Trail |
1,900 |
From St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Includes the original route and subsequent route changes. |
| The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail |
54 |
Route is all city streets and Highway 80 from Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma, Alabama to the State Capitol in Montgomery. Traveled by voting rites advocates March 1965. |
| El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historical Trail |
404 |
Generally follows the Rio Grande from near El Paso, Texas to San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico. |
| Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail |
175 |
From 'Upolu Point on the north tip of Hawaii Island down the west coast to the east boundry of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at the ancient shoreline temple. |
| Old Spanish National Historic Trail |
2,700 |
From Santa Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles, California. |
| El Camino de Los Tejas National Historic Trail |
2,500 |
A combination of historic routes extending from the Rio Grande near Laredo, Texas to Natchitoches, Louisiana. |
| Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail |
3,000 |
A series of water routes along the Chesapeake bay and its tributaries in the States of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. |
| Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Watertrail | 2,200 |
The trail follows the route of Smith's explorations covering Jamestown, Virginia to the Pennsylvania-Maryland border and from Delaware’s Broad Creek to the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. Authorized December 19, 2006. |
| The Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail | 290 |
Commemorates the Chesapeake Campaign of the war of 1812. Follows the Historic events over waterways and land from Tangier Island in Virginia through southern Maryland, the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay, and Baltimore, Maryland. Recently authorized May 8, 2008. |
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