I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2768 
To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of Agri-
culture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Benton 
MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 9, 2025 
Mr. FLEISCHMANN (for himself, Mr. COHEN, Mr. EDWARDS, and Mrs. 
MCBATH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the 
Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasi-
bility of designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a 
national scenic trail. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Benton MacKaye Na-
tional Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail— 
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(1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses 
approximately 287 miles over some of the most re-
nowned forests and mountains in the States of Geor-
gia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; 
(2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, in-
cluding high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and se-
cluded waterfalls; 
(3) passes through wilderness that is rich with 
biodiversity; 
(4) passes through six designated Wilderness 
Areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 
and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee, and 
Nantahala National Forests; 
(5) provides a wide array of easily accessible 
hikes for novice and intermediate hikers, as well as 
more challenging trails for backpacking; 
(6) supports economic opportunities for numer-
ous rural communities which benefit from the visi-
tors of the trail spending their money on accom-
modations, food, and outdoor supplies; 
(7) runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, 
through Tennessee, and extends through the Great 
Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina; 
(8) is physically accessible; and 
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(9) can be maintained at a minimal cost be-
cause— 
(A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been 
maintained at its current length since 2005; 
(B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye 
Trail is located on Federal land; and 
(C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been 
successfully constructed, maintained, and man-
aged by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association 
since 1980. 
SEC. 3. BENTON MACKAYE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL FEASI-
BILITY STUDY. 
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 
U.S.C. 1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(50) BENTON MACKAYE TRAIL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Benton MacKaye 
Trail, a scenic, nonmotorized trail that tra-
verses approximately 287 miles in the States of 
Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. 
‘‘(B) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this paragraph, 
the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation 
with interested organizations, including the 
Benton MacKaye Trail Association, shall com-
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plete and submit to Congress the feasibility 
study for designating the Benton MacKaye 
Trail as a national scenic trail.’’. 
Æ 
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