Cook County News Herald

North Country Scenic Trail bill signed into law



Congressman Pete Stauber’s (MN-08) bipartisan bill, the North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act, was signed into law by the president on March 12. Stauber introduced this legislation with Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT). This was Stauber’s first bill signed into law.

“In Minnesota, we are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty that attracts tourists from all over the nation and world,” said Stauber. “These tourists fuel our local economy, so I thank President Trump for signing my bill to increase access to our region’s stunning scenery and inspire even more visitors to visit northeast Minnesota by extension.”

The North Country Scenic Trail is the nation’s longest hiking trail, expanding from North Dakota to New York. In Minnesota, certain portions of the trail remain incomplete because the current route intersects with wetlands that cannot be disturbed for conservation reasons. This bill would incorporate 400 miles of existing hiking trails for the purpose of circumventing these wetlands.

Additionally, this bill would extend the North Country Scenic Trail into Vermont and connect it to the Appalachian Scenic Trail.

The North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act was signed into law as a part of a federal lands package, S.47.

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