Findings

Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail— (1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses approximately 287 miles over some of the most renowned forests and mountains in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; (2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, including high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and secluded waterfalls; (3) passes through wilderness that is rich with biodiversity; (4) passes through six designated Wilderness Areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee, and Nantahala National Forests; (5) provides a wide array of easily accessible hikes for novice and intermediate hikers, as well as more challenging trails for backpacking; (6) supports economic opportunities for numerous rural communities which benefit from the visitors of the trail spending their money on accommodations, food, and outdoor supplies; (7) runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, through Tennessee, and extends through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina; (8) is physically accessible; and (9) can be maintained at a minimal cost because— (A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been maintained at its current length since 2005; (B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye Trail is located on Federal land; and (C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been successfully constructed, maintained, and managed by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association since 1980.