Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025

This bill orders a study to decide whether the 287-mile Benton MacKaye Trail in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina should become a national scenic trail. The Secretary of Agriculture must finish the study and send it to Congress within one year of the bill becoming law, working with groups such as the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.

Lawmakers note that the trail offers broad scenic views, diverse wildlife, and hikes for beginners and backpackers. It passes through six Wilderness Areas, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and three national forests. They also say it helps nearby rural towns by bringing visitors who spend money on lodging, food, and gear. Most of the trail is already on federal land and has been maintained for many years, which could help keep costs low.

• Who is affected: Hikers and outdoor users; rural communities along the trail in GA, TN, and NC.
• What changes: A formal study on making the Benton MacKaye Trail a national scenic trail; no immediate designation yet.
• When: The study must be completed within one year after the bill becomes law.