April 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 42

RIVERS & TRAILS

its creation and today protects 208 rivers,
encompassing more than 12,000 river
miles in 40 states and Puerto Rico.

recreational trails have no minimum
mileage requirement and many are located entirely within city, county and
state parks. Since its creation in 1968,
the National Trails System has grown
to encompass more than 100,000 miles
of trails in all 50 states, Washington,
D.C., and Puerto Rico.
For rivers, the passage of the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 created the
National Wild and Scenic River System
that includes wild, scenic and recreational rivers. The system protects specific
segments of free-flowing, un-dammed
rivers for water-based recreation, fish
and wildlife habitat, scenery, geology,
aand cultural and historical
uses. Protected rivers prou
vvide a wide range of visitor
to experiences, from wild
and
primitive, to those in
a
developed
areas that are
d
readily
accessible by a
r
road.
As with the Nationro
al
a Trails System, the Wild
and
a Scenic Rivers System
has
h grown steadily since

Visiting National Trails
and Wild and Scenic Rivers
National Trails and Wild and Scenic
Rivers are open for all Americans to
enjoy. Many recreationists visit on
their own, but the tourism and outdoor recreation industries also play
critical roles in introducing people to
the outdoors. Horse packers, hiking
guides and river outfitters inspire and
educate customers about the historical and contemporary values of rivers
and trails and the public lands to which
they provide access. State and local
governments are also critical players
in river stewardship and recreation by
providing and maintaining river access
to sites, trails and trailheads.
Let's take a closer look at some beloved rivers and trails:

Photo courtesy of Thomas O'Keefe

Dittmar
Photo courtesy of Jayme

The National Trails Act established
the initial components of the National
Trails System, launching the creation
of what are now called, National Scenic, Historic and Recreation Trails
along with Rail Trails. These trails
provide outdoor recreation opportunities and promote resource preservation and public access. Through designated trails, the public can identify
the scenic, historic and recreational
elements the trails protect and more
easily connect with nature, history
and their communities. Scenic and
historic trails have a minimum mileage requirement of 100 miles, while

Parks & Recreation

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Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Tracing the edge of the glacier that covered much of Wisconsin during the Ice
Age, this 1,000+-mile trail travels along
some of Wisconsin's most beautiful natural areas and across a variety of unique
landscape features. These glacial remnants are now considered among the
world's finest examples of how continental glaciation sculpts our planet. But,
the Ice Age Trail is more than a path
through the woods. It is a place for mental and physical rejuvenation, a place to
unwind after a grueling day and enjoy
the landscape of Wisconsin. Across the
state, city, county and state parks partnerships enhance the access for both
thru-hikers and more casual trail users

Above: University of Montana students
canoeing on the Missouri Wild and Scenic
River during a Freshmen Wilderness Experience trip. Left: Paddleboarding on Oregon's
Owyhee Wild and Scenic River.

April 2018 - Parks & Recreation

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