Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026

The Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025 proposes a formal evaluation of the Benton MacKaye Trail to determine its suitability for designation as a National Scenic Trail. This trail currently winds through the Appalachian Mountains across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The study would assess the trail's natural, historical, and recreational value to see if it meets the federal criteria for inclusion in the National Trails System.

If this legislation is enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would conduct the study and report the findings to Congress. A National Scenic Trail designation could lead to increased federal resources for maintenance, conservation, and promotion of the trail. For everyday citizens, this could result in improved hiking infrastructure and long-term protection of the trail's scenic corridor, though the bill itself only authorizes the study and does not officially grant the designation.