Sponsors (2)
The bill would expand and better connect a major Bay Area trail system—delivering recreation, access, conservation, and coordination benefits—while requiring public investment and active management and potentially imposing land-use impacts or restrictions on nearby property owners.
Residents and visitors across the Bay Area gain a large, connected multi-use trail network (currently ~415 completed miles and a plan to evaluate a 550-mile Ridge Trail) that expands recreation, active transportation, and access to 75+ parks and open spaces.
The legislation preserves and highlights nationally significant scenic, historic, and cultural resources (e.g., Golden Gate NRA, wetlands, geologic features), which can boost local tourism, outdoor education, and community heritage value.
A formal study toward National Scenic Trail designation could attract federal funding, grants, and volunteer support for trail construction, maintenance, and habitat conservation.
Taxpayers and local/state governments could face significant new costs for planning, land acquisition, completing the remaining miles, and long-term maintenance of the trail network.
Increased visitor access and use could cause wear, congestion, traffic, and disturbance to sensitive habitats (marshes, wetlands, volcanic areas) unless management and protections are expanded.
Pursuing a National Scenic Trail designation and completing the study could lead to new federal requirements or land-use restrictions that affect nearby property owners.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires Interior to study and report to Congress within 1 year on designating the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail.
Official title: Amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bay Area Ridge as a national scenic trail, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 28, 2026 by Adam Schiff · Last progress January 28, 2026
Requires the Secretary of the Interior, working with federal and state land-managing agencies and interested organizations, to complete and send Congress a feasibility study on designating the approximately 550-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail within one year of enactment. It adds the Bay Area Ridge Trail to the list of potential National Scenic Trails in the National Trails System Act and describes the trail's route, uses, and scenic and cultural significance.