Trail Infographic Coming Soon
There are four types of trails:
- National Scenic Trails (NSTs) display significant characteristics of the nation’s “physiographic regions,” representing desert, marsh, grassland, mountain, canyon, river, forest, or other areas. NSTs provide for outdoor recreation and for the conservation and enjoyment of significant scenic, historic, natural, or culturalqualities.
- National Historic Trails (NHTs) identify and protect travel routes of national historic significance, along with associated remnants and artifacts, for public use and enjoyment. NHTs can include land or water segments,4 marked highways paralleling the route, and sites that together form a chain or network along the historic route.
- National Recreation Trails (NRTs) are on federal, state, or private lands that are in, or reasonably accessible to, urban areas. They provide for a variety of outdoor recreation uses.
- Connecting or Side Trails provide public access to the other types of nationally designated trails or connections between such trails.
The National Trails System: A Brief Overview
