National Scenic Trails Frequently Asked Questions
The BLM is one of several agencies responsible for management of National Historic or Scenic Trails. In 1968, Congress established the National Trails System and designated the first national trails.
National Historic Trails are extended trails that closely follow a historic trail or route of travel of national significance. Designation identifies and protects historic routes, historic remnants, and artifacts for public use and enjoyment. The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for over 5,343 miles of 11 National Historic Trails.
National Scenic Trails are extended trails that provide maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the various qualities – scenic, historical, natural, and cultural – of the areas they pass through. The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for over 668 miles of the Continental Divide, Pacific Crest, Potomac Heritage, Arizona, and Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trails.
Why are National Scenic and Historic Trails designated?
Designation identifies and protects significant scenic, historical, natural or cultural qualities.
What National Historic Trails run through New Mexico?
There are three National Trails in New Mexico managed by the BLM.
|The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail provides for high quality, scenic, primitive hiking and horseback-riding recreational experiences, while conserving natural, historic, and cultural resources along the Continental Divide.|
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|The Old Spanish National Historic Trail links Santa Fe and Los Angeles across six states and 2,700 miles. It traverses red rock mesas, passes below snow-capped peaks, and fords untamed rivers, avoiding the immense depths of the Grand Canyon and skirting the continent’s harshest deserts.|
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El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the “Royal Road of the Interior,” is the earliest Euro-American trade route in the United States. Linking Spain’s colonial capital at Mexico City to its northern frontier in distant New Mexico, the route spans three centuries, two countries, and 1,600 miles. It was part of Spain’s Camino Real Intercontinental—a global network of roads and maritime routes.