Trails, paths made by the passage of persons or animals, or roads that follow such paths. The term is also sometimes used for routes designed to be followed through scenic or historic areas by hikers, nature workers, horseback or bicycle riders, or motorists.
The first American trails were paths made by animals such as deer and buffalo in search of water and salt licks. The Indians adopted these paths, often the easiest routes across an area, and also made new trails. As each part of the country became more settled, trails running through it were widened and improved by the local, state, or national government, or by private companies. Today in the United States many highways, roads, city streets, and railways follow the routes of former trails.
In the United States there are a number of trails that a hiker may travel continuously through various states for hundreds of miles. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail goes from upper Maine to Georgia, a distance of about 2,000 miles (3,200 km). ( The Pacific Crest Trail runs for more than 2,300 miles (3,700 km) through Washington, Oregon, and California, passing through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains, and several national parks. Many recreational trails of varying lengths are found within state and national parks.
There are a number of routes that a motorist may follow through scenic or historic areas. Florida's Tamiami Trail goes from Miami through the subtropical Everglades swamp region to Naples and north to Tampa. The Lincoln Heritage Trail is a circular route through Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois that links a number of historic sites, many associated with Abraham Lincoln. The Apache Trail near Phoenix, Arizona, winds through desert and mountain scenery. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail follows the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition, 1804-06.
Following passage of the National Trails System Act in 1968, the United States Department of the Interior started a large-scale trail development program. Working with governmental and private agencies, the department encouraged the development of a nationwide system of trails, including national scenic trails, national historic trails, national recreational trails, and side and connecting trails linking parts of these trails to other trails or localities. Within the National Trails System are long interstate trails such as the Appalachian and Pacific Crest, trails in individual states, and nature trails in or near large cities.
