Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025
Introduced April 9, 2025 · Last action October 27, 2025
Plain English Summary
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail, a 287-mile hiking trail in 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 does not automatically designate the trail; it only authorizes and requires a feasibility study.
Who benefits
Rural communities in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina that depend on trail visitor spending for accommodations, food, and outdoor supplies; the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, which would gain elevated status and potentially increased resources; outdoor recreation and hiking businesses near the trail corridor; the national forestry and tourism industries in the Southeast.
Who pays / loses
U.S. taxpayers fund the Secretary of Agriculture's feasibility study and the administrative review process, though the bill does not specify a dollar amount for the study. If the trail is later designated as a national scenic trail, the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service would bear long-term management and maintenance costs, though the bill notes the trail has been maintained at minimal cost by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association since 2005.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Outdoor recreation and hiking industries, rural tourism boards, and conservation organizations with interests in southeastern national forests and wilderness protection have financial stakes in trail designation. The Benton MacKaye Trail Association, as the existing trail steward since 1980, benefits directly from designation by gaining recognition and potential federal resources. No sponsor finance data was provided.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Rural communities in northern Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina (counties including Rabun, Gilmer, Union, and Fannin in Georgia; Unicoi and Washington in Tennessee; and Graham, Swain, and Jackson in North Carolina) with populations dependent on outdoor recreation tourism. The Benton MacKaye Trail Association membership and volunteer base. Backpackers and day-hikers who use the trail (estimated in tens of thousands annually based on similar trail usage patterns, though the bill does not specify).
Political Subtext
Proponents argue this study is a logical next step to recognize and preserve an established, well-maintained hiking trail that generates rural economic activity while requiring minimal public cost. Bipartisan sponsorship (Tillis, Budd from North Carolina; Warnock, Ossoff from Georgia; Boozman chairing the Agriculture Committee) suggests broad regional support for trail promotion. Critics might note that feasibility studies can lead to expensive federal designations with unforeseen long-term management liabilities, or that the study is unnecessary given the trail's 45-year track record of private stewardship. Non-partisan analysis: the bill is procedural and does not commit federal resources; the feasibility study itself will determine actual costs and federal management requirements.
Real-World Stakes
If the feasibility study recommends designation and Congress approves, the Benton MacKaye Trail would join the National Scenic Trails System, likely triggering U.S. Forest Service management involvement and federal maintenance budgets. Comparable designations (e.g., the Bartram Trail, designated in 1993; the John Muir Trail in California; the Appalachian Trail's 1968 designation) have resulted in modest federal funding for maintenance and trail infrastructure, increased visitor usage, and coordinated state and federal management. Rural businesses near the trail would likely see increased tourism revenue, as evidence from the Appalachian Trail and other nationally recognized trails shows 15-30% annual visitor increases in the years following federal designation. If the study concludes designation is infeasible, the trail remains under the Benton MacKaye Trail Association's management with no change to current operations. The one-year timeline for study completion means a congressional vote on actual designation could occur in 2026-2027.
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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