by Arthur P. Miller, Jr.
Compare Prices
Dreaming of hiking a classic trail? This book describes each of the eight US National Scenic Trails. It includes the history of each trail, points of interest and animals and plants, and a description of each section of the trail.
The National Trails System Act of 1968 spurred the development of several long-distance trails in the USA. Today you can plan a through-hike of thousands of miles across the USA on these trails - or go out for a day hike, weekend, or weeklong trek.
This is a great book to get when you have a dream of trying a trail and want to know more and begin your planning - or to lend your support to completing the dream of these trails. A trail is not forever - it must be used, maintained, supported, constructed. Otherwise it will sink back into the dust.
America's National Scenic Trails pass through deserts, across mountain ridges, around lakes and through swamps. Hiking for an hour, a day, a month, a season gives you a new connection to nature, the land, and the elements.
The Trails
Appalachian National Scenic Trail: From Georgia to Maine, this trail follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. Its 2144 miles attracts both through-hikers who attempt it all in one season, as well as section hikers who do it a bit at a time, and day hikers enjoying the many national parks along the way. Appalachian Trail Conference
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail: From New Mexico to Montana, this trail follows the Rocky Mountains and the Great Divide where waters decide to flow west to the Pacific or east to the Gulf of Mexico. It's 3260 miles are a true challenge. Continental Divide Trail Alliance
Florida National Scenic Trail: My Floridian friends constantly remind me how long their state truly is, it is distorted by maps and we in the other corner of the country underestimate it. This trail extends 1300 miles through cypress swamps, piney woods, to the Gulf Islands National Seashore. This is a semi-tropical trail filled with surprises. Florida Trail Association
Ice Age National Scenic Trail: This Wisconsin trail follows the edge - the moraine - of the ice sheet that covered the northern half of North America in the last Ice Age, ending 10,000 years ago. The geological features carved are typical - and should be recognizable to golfers as golf courses try to recreate the glacial terrain of Scotland. Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail: From Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, this ancient 445 mile trail has been designated as a parkway but only a few segments have been developed as a trail. National Park Service - Natchez Trace
North Country National Scenic Trail: A work in progress, it will be the USA's longest national scenic trail when completed - over 4000 miles long. It will stretch from Lake Champlain in New York to Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota, through the Allegheny and Adirondack Mountains and around the Great Lakes. North Country Trail Association
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail: For 2650 miles this trail stretches from Canada to Mexico through the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington and the Sierra Nevada of California, crossing the mighty Columbia River at the Bridge of the Gods. This is a rugged, high-altitude trail and was completed in 1993. Pacific Crest Trail Association
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail: Packed with history, this trail will extend 700 miles from Chesapeake Bay to the Allegheny Mountains through an area rich in history of the Native Americans, pioneers, Founding Fathers and Civil War combatants. Three major sections are separately developed today: the C&O Canal Towpath, the Mount Vernon Trail, and the Laurel Highlands National Recreation Trail. National Park Service - Potomac Heritage
More of This Feature:
