Congressional Action on North Country Trail

March, 2015 – A good trail always starts with a good plan. But, sometimes, decades later, the plan needs to be tweaked. This is not normally a big deal, but when the trail is a congressionally-designated National Scenic Trail, that means having Congress approve the changes.

Currently, the North Country Trail (NCT) finds itself in just that situation. The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) has done its homework and, along with the National Park Service, it has developed an alternate route for an original section of the NCT that was just not environmentally feasible. The original route as planned many years ago, called for the trail to travel from Jay Cooke State Park to Chippewa National Forest, but due to the extensive wetlands, trail construction was never even begun on this section. The new re-route in Minnesota (frequently called the Arrowhead Reroute) will add about 500 miles of trail instead of the original 100 or so miles, but 400 of the new miles will be on existing trails.

An additional change to the NCT from its original congressionally-approved route is an extension of the trail for 75 miles (60 miles on existing trail) from its eastern terminus at the New York/Vermont border to the Appalachian Trail. Imagine the hiking possibilities with these two long distance trails connected!

While all of this re-route has been scoped out, approved by the NPS, and volunteers are ready to start getting to work, Congress still needs to approve this before NCTA and volunteers can make it a reality. To do this, Representatives Nolan, Welch, Connolly, Ellison, Peterson, Walz, Blumenauer, Meeks, Paulsen, McCollum, and Kelly have sponsored H.R. 799, the North Country Trail Route Adjustment Act in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, Senators Klobuchar, Leahy, Franken, Sanders, Stabenow, Gillibrand, Baldwin, Peters, and Brown have introduced a companion bill, S. 403, in the Senate.

How can you help? We are gathering organizational signatures to add to a letter to Congress in support of this bill. We are looking for all sorts of trail clubs, businesses, outdoors clubs, hunting organizations, land trusts, environmental organizations, youth groups, scouting group, cities, counties, and more to demonstrate strong support for this bill. After reading the letter, you will sign on your organization.

You can also be a huge help as an individual by contacting your members of Congress.  Check out the cosponsors on the House bill and the cosponsors on Senate bill. See your elected official there? Tell them thank you! If you don’t see them, give them a call or send an email and tell them you’d like them to cosponsor the bill. Visit our Contact Congress page to find out who your Representative is or how to contact any legislator. Here’s a sample letter you can use but please make it personal – tell them about why you love the NCT and all trails.

Have questions about the bill? Read the FAQ the North Country Trail Association put together to address some common questions and misconceptions.