I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8403 

To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Benton 

MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 15, 2024 

Mr. COHEN (for himself, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. 

EDWARDS, Mrs. MCBATH, and Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the 

Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a 

national scenic trail. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Benton MacKaye Na5 tional Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail— 


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1 (1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses 

2 approximately 287 miles over some of the most re3 nowned forests and mountains in the States of Geor4 gia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; 

5 (2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, in6 cluding high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and se7 cluded waterfalls; 

8 (3) passes through wilderness that is rich with 

9 biodiversity; 

10 (4) passes through six designated Wilderness 

11 Areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 

12 and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee, and 

13 Nantahala National Forests; 

14 (5) provides a wide array of easily accessible 

15 hikes for novice and intermediate hikers, as well as 

16 more challenging trails for backpacking; 

17 (6) supports economic opportunities for numer18 ous rural communities which benefit from the visi19 tors of the trail spending their money on accom20 modations, food, and outdoor supplies; 

21 (7) runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, 

22 through Tennessee, and extends through the Great 

23 Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina; 

24 (8) is physically accessible; and 


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1 (9) can be maintained at a minimal cost be2 cause— 

3 (A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been 

4 maintained at its current length since 2005; 

5 (B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye 

6 Trail is located on Federal land; and 

7 (C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been 

8 successfully constructed, maintained, and man9 aged by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association 

10 since 1980. 

11 SEC. 3. BENTON MACKAYE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL FEASI12 BILITY STUDY. 

13 Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 

14 U.S.C. 1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol15 lowing: 

16 ‘‘(50) BENTON MACKAYE TRAIL.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Benton MacKaye 

18 Trail, a scenic, nonmotorized trail that tra19 verses approximately 287 miles in the States of 

20 Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. 

21 ‘‘(B) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after 

22 the date of the enactment of this paragraph, 

23 the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation 

24 with interested organizations, including the 

25 Benton MacKaye Trail Association, shall comVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:30 Jun 18, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8403.IH H8403

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1 plete and submit to Congress the feasibility 

2 study for designating the Benton MacKaye 

3 Trail as a national scenic trail.’’. 

Æ 


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