Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026
Introduced April 9, 2025 · Last action June 3, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail, a 287-mile hiking trail crossing Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, should be designated as a national scenic trail. The Secretary must complete and submit the feasibility study to Congress within two years of enactment.
Who benefits
The Benton MacKaye Trail Association and regional hiking and outdoor recreation organizations in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; long-distance hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who use the trail; local tourism economies in trail corridor communities that would benefit from increased visitor traffic and designation prestige.
Who pays / loses
Taxpayers fund the feasibility study through the Department of Agriculture's budget; the study itself does not authorize expenditures beyond administrative costs, but future designation (if recommended) could impose land management and maintenance costs on federal agencies and affected states.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
The Benton MacKaye Trail Association and regional outdoor recreation advocacy groups have a direct financial interest in the trail's designation, as national scenic trail status typically increases visibility, funding eligibility, and visitor use. Outdoor recreation and hiking tourism industries in the three-state region benefit from trail promotion. No sponsor finance data was provided.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Long-distance hikers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, primarily concentrated along the Appalachian corridor; rural and small-town communities in north Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina whose local economies depend on outdoor tourism; the Benton MacKaye Trail Association membership; state and local governments in the three affected states responsible for potential trail maintenance coordination.
Political Subtext
Proponents frame this as a conservation measure that preserves a historic hiking trail and supports outdoor recreation access. The bill is non-controversial—it merely funds a study, not designation itself. No organized opposition appears likely, as the bill does not mandate any restrictions on private land use or commit federal funds beyond the study. Critics, if any, might argue that federal designation could eventually lead to additional land management restrictions or that study resources could be better allocated, but such objections are unlikely given the bill's modest scope.
Real-World Stakes
This bill triggers a two-year study process only; it does not designate the trail or impose any immediate land management changes. The National Trails System Act authorizes Congress to designate scenic trails after feasibility study and public input. If the study recommends designation and Congress approves, the trail would gain national recognition, access to federal grants for maintenance, and potential restrictions on adjacent development. Historical precedent: the Appalachian Trail was designated a national scenic trail in 1968 and now receives federal funding and coordination. The study itself is low-cost and informational; real impacts depend on whether Congress acts on a positive recommendation. No fiscal impact is specified in the bill text.
Sponsor
Sponsor information not available.
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
No campaign finance data available yet.
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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