Sponsors (4)
The bill improves the likelihood of completing and better managing the Continental Divide Trail—bringing recreation, local economic, and conservation benefits—while relying on existing acquisition authorities, future appropriations, and volunteer capacity, which could delay completion, shift costs to taxpayers, and create property-rights tensions for nearby landowners.
Hikers, outdoor recreationists, and rural communities stand to gain a continuous, better-maintained Continental Divide Trail and improved recreation access through a coordinated federal Team, a 3-year site planning process, and volunteer support that increase the likelihood of completing the Trail.
Local economies along the Trail can receive increased tourism spending and economic activity from thru-hikers and visitors when a continuous route is completed, aided by cost-saving measures (easements) and volunteer partnerships that speed delivery.
State, Tribal, and local governments and landowners gain formal consultation rights and a coordinated federal Trail Completion Team that can streamline interagency coordination and produce site-specific plans to help budgeting and grant-seeking.
Rural communities, hikers, and local governments may face delayed or uneven Trail completion and access because the effort depends on future appropriations, the Act does not create new acquisition powers, and agencies cannot prioritize Trail purchases over other programs.
Private landowners and nearby communities could experience increased pressure, conflicts, or implicit land‑use restrictions as routing, easement solicitation, and optimization proceed, complicating property rights and local planning.
Taxpayers could face higher administrative and program costs because creating and operating a federal Team and implementing site-specific construction and maintenance plans will require funding.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Forest Service and BLM to form a joint team, produce a development plan, and seek to complete the Continental Divide Trail as a continuous route within 10 years using existing authorities and voluntary easements.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Martin Heinrich · Last progress April 10, 2025
Directs the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to seek completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route within 10 years, subject to available appropriations. It requires the agencies to form a joint Trail Completion Team within 1 year, produce a comprehensive development plan within 3 years identifying route gaps, easement opportunities, and cost estimates, and to pursue volunteer and nonprofit partnerships to help complete and administer the Trail. Limits authorities: the Act does not create new land‑acquisition powers beyond existing National Trails System Act authorities (explicitly excluding eminent domain), does not appropriate funds, and makes completion contingent on available funding and existing acquisition authorities.