S. 1376Heading to a voteEnvironment & energy
Bill orders study on national status for Benton MacKaye Trail
Data as of July 11, 2026
The bill requires a one-year federal study on whether the 287-mile Benton MacKaye Trail should become a national scenic trail.40-second read · 4 questions answered below
Decoded
What does this do?
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail, a 287-mile hiking path through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, qualifies as a national scenic trail. The study must be completed and submitted to Congress within one year. The bill does not itself grant the designation.
Who does it affect?
The bill affects hikers, nearby rural communities that depend on tourism, the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, and land management agencies like the U.S. Forest Service.
Why does it matter?
If the study eventually leads to national scenic trail designation, the trail could see increased federal funding, protections, and oversight, along with greater visibility and tourism. For now, the trail's legal status remains unchanged.
Where does it stand?
- Introduced
- Senate committee
- Senate vote — You are here
- House
- President's desk
Right now: it's headed for a Senate floor vote. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
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Official title
Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025
- Introduced:
- April 9, 2025
- Latest action:
- October 27, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 211.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Three steps: where you stand, your script, the call.