Trail Administration — Administered 23 national scenic and historic trails, crossing over 12,500 miles of public lands in 48 States, including Washington, D.C.
Trail Extensions — Under the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (2019), the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was extended by 1,200 miles, and the North Country National Scenic Trail was relocated onto 400 miles of existing trail in Minnesota and extended 50 miles into Vermont.
Funding — Provided $925,000 in Connect Trails to Parks funding for projects that connect national trails to public lands and increase public awareness, appreciation, and use of the National Trails System.
Documentation — Completed Reference Manual 45, a National Trails System reference manual and orientation guide for Federal, Tribal, State and local agencies, volunteer and nonprofit partners, and local land managers and landowners. The manual provides in depth information on how the authorities of the National Trails System Act relate to other Federal authorities and regulations, practices, and procedures of the agencies that administer and manage National Trails.
Staffing — Hired Peter Bonsall as a full-time National Trails Program Specialist. Hired Crystal Salvador-Zapote as a National Trails Marketing and Communications Fellow through Hispanic Access Foundation (11 months). Rita Hennessy retired Dec. 31, 2019, after serving nearly five years as the NPS National Trails System Program Lead and over 30 years with the NPS.
