On Wednesday, November 30 the House National Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands got a first hearing about the proposed North Country National Scenic Trails bill.
At 5,000 miles in length, the network connects many existing trails and stretches from North Dakota, through Minnesota’s Arrowhead all of the way to Vermont, then as far north as Maine, and as far south as Georgia.
Incorporated into the system will be 400 miles of existing trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the Superior Hiking Trail, the Border Route Trail and the Kekekabic Trail.
“The plan doesn’t involve any new dollars or require taking any land through eminent domain,” said Congressman Rick Nolan, one of the co-sponsors of the NCST (H.R. 799) bill.
U.S. Congressman Nolan and U.S. Congressman Peter Welch introduced the bill to the subcommittee.
At the Wednesday hearing, Congressman Nolan pointed out the economic benefits trails bring to Minnesota.
“Here in Minnesota,” said Nolan, “our trails provide an extra boost to a $13.6 billion annual tourism economy that already supports 254,000 good paying jobs. Why? Because trail users get hungry and thirsty, so they spend money in our restaurants. They get tired, so they spend money staying in our hotels. They need supplies, so they patronize local businesses. Visitors fall in love with our region, so they return again and again.”
A study recently completed by the American Hiking Association showed that when all dollars spent on trail recreation work through the economy, the multiple effects reaches $196 billion a year, supporting 768,000 good paying jobs nationwide.
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