The North Country National Scenic Trail is now an official unit of the National Park Service. Unit status provides the North Country National Scenic Trail with official recognition within the National Park Service, and access to additional resources and funding opportunities. It also provides equal legal standing with the other trails and parks that the National Park Service administers.

The North Country Trail is the longest of the 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States, stretching 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont. Six of these 11 trails are administered by the National Park Service but at the time of their official National Scenic Trail designation, only three were identified as units: the Appalachian Trail, Natchez Trace Trail, and Potomac Heritage Trail. Unit status was missing, for no clear reason, from wording in the law for the remaining three: the North Country Trail, Ice Age Trail, and New England Trail. This means they were not recognized as units of the National Park Service, and thus, not promoted to the American public.

“Now, when the National Park Service tells the story of the amazing scenic and recreational opportunities provided by the National Park System, it will tell our stories too – the stories of all the National Scenic Trails it administers in cooperation with other units of government, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and private landowners,” reflected Tom Gilbert, former National Park Service Superintendent of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

“The stewards of these three trails have called for equality for 30 years, so we’re thrilled by Director Sams’ decision,” said Andrea Ketchmark, Executive Director of the North Country Trail Association. “This is such a win for us, our partners, and our volunteers, who work so hard to build, maintain, and protect the trail.”

The North Country Trail Association deeply thanks the U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and most importantly, the leadership, volunteers, and supporters of the North Country Trail Association, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Connecticut Forest and Park Association, who have championed this issue for three decades. Without your voices, we would not be here today.

The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest of the 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States, winding 4,800 miles across states from North Dakota to Vermont. Trail users are treated to a wide variety of landscapes, including wilderness, prairie, wetlands, mountains, farmland, and urban communities.

The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) is the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service in developing, maintaining, protecting, and promoting the North Country National Scenic Trail as the premier hiking path across the northern tier of the United States through a trail-wide coalition of volunteers and partners. Learn more at northcountrytrail.org.