This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail should be designated as a national scenic trail under federal law. The trail is a 287-mile hiking path that runs through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, passing through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and several national forests. The legislation emphasizes that the trail offers scenic views, supports rural tourism economies, and is already well-maintained by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, with 95 percent located on federal land. The Secretary must complete the feasibility study and submit findings to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the legislation, though the bill notes that the trail can be maintained at minimal cost due to its existing infrastructure and established management.
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