BUSINESS
Find your trail and make your splash in 2018
BY LISA RONALD , COORDINATOR , WILD & SCENIC RIVERS 50TH ANNIVERSARY COALITION
River outfitters such as Northwest Rafting Company ( below ) help visitors enjoy the Rogue River in Oregon .
IN 2018 recreationists and conservationists in the United States will celebrate the 50th anniversary of public rivers and trails . Two pivotal laws , the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the National Trails Act , were enacted at a time when outdoor enthusiasts and congressional champions demanded free-flowing rivers to balance America ’ s policy of rampant dam building , and they asked for trails to connect people to the outdoors . These monumental acts of Congress brought rivers and trails to the forefront of the American consciousness .
The National Trails Act created what are now termed national scenic , historic and recreation trails . These trails provide outdoor recreation opportunities and promote resource preservation and public access . Using designated trails , the public can more easily connect with nature and identify the scenic , historic and recreational elements that the trails protect .
The act put in place the initial components of the National Trails System , the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail . Over time , other trails have been added , such as the Continental Divide Trail , which was designated in 1978 . The legacy of the National Trails Act has steadily grown
to include 11 national scenic trails , 19 national historic trails and more than 1,200 national recreation trails .
The passage of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 created a system that protects specific segments of free-flowing , undammed rivers for water-based recreation , fish and wildlife habitat , and cultural and historical uses , and preserves those areas ’ scenery and geology . These rivers provide a wide variety of visitor experiences , ranging from wild and primitive to those in developed areas that are readily accessible by road .
As with the National Trails System , the Wild and Scenic Rivers System has grown steadily since its creation , and today it protects 208 rivers encompassing more than 12,000 river miles in 40 states and Puerto Rico .
Visiting trails and scenic rivers
Let ’ s take a closer look at six of America ’ s rivers and trails — some well known and others less traveled .
Pacific Crest Trail Zigzagging 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada , the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail spans three states and crosses national monuments , national parks , national forests ,
ZACHARY COLLIER
12 November 2017