NEWS: Senate Unanimously Passes Sen. Schiff’s Bill to Designate National Scenic Trail in Bay Area

Washington, D.C. - This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)'s legislation to begin the process to designate the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail. This designation would enhance the trail's visibility as a world-class recreation opportunity and attract new visitors, in addition to helping connect the different routes within the trail.

"The Bay Area Ridge Trail gives visitors to the Bay Area and its residents the opportunity to enjoy more than 500 miles of some of California's most incredible outdoor beauty, including parks and preserves. Providing federal recognition to this ridgeline trail will help preserve it for future generations. I am proud to continue working with federal and local partners to get this across the finish line," said Senator Schiff.

"The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a crown jewel of our region, providing millions of people with access to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the country and connecting our communities to the outdoors," said Representative Huffman. "Designating it as a National Scenic Trail would not only help complete it - it would set it on par with iconic trails like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest and elevate the incredible and diverse Bay Area landscapes. This would be a major boost for the recreation economy, and our bill gets that ball rolling. I'm grateful to my partners in the Senate for moving our bill forward and am excited to get it across the finish line."

"The Bay Area Ridge Trail is one of Northern California's many treasures, connecting local communities and visitors to historic and breathtaking landscapes that make our state so special," said Senator Padilla. "This is an important step toward designating it as a National Scenic Trail in order to safeguard our public lands, strengthen conservation efforts, and bolster our tourism economy. I'm proud to work alongside my colleagues and see our bill pass the Senate, ensuring Californians and visitors alike have access to our extraordinary outdoor recreation opportunities."

The legislation requires the National Park Service to complete the required feasibility study in consultation with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and relevant federal, state, and tribal agencies. The trail meets all the required criteria established in the National Trails System Act of 1968 for National Scenic Trail designation, including:

• Extended trail route of more than 100 miles
• Provides maximum outdoor recreation potential
• Provides for enjoyment of nationally significant scenic, historic, and cultural qualities
• Represents desert, marsh, grassland, mountain, canyon, river, and forest
• Represents landforms that exhibit significant regional geographic characteristics
• Connects with side trails, which provide additional public access

The legislation is led by U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) in the House, and is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and every member of the Bay Area delegation.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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