I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8403 
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 
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 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 2024’’. 
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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