Seven trails on national wildlife refuges in six states are among 36 National Recreation Trails designated today by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.
With these additions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now administers 44 National Recreation Trails, with 43 on national wildlife refuges and one on a national fish hatchery.
"These trails lead hikers through some of Americas most beautiful deserts, wetlands and prairies in our National Wildlife Refuge System," said U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall. "The National Recreation Trails designation will help more people discover the many wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities on refuges and at national fish hatcheries, and encourage their interest in conservation."
National Recreation Trails are designated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture and recognize exemplary trails of local and regional significance. The trails designated today now become part of Americas national system of trails, joining more than 900 other trails nationwide.
National Recreation Trails provide for numerous outdoor recreation activities in a variety of urban, rural and remote areas. The trails range from less than a mile to 485 miles in length on federal, state, municipal and privately owned lands.
The seven Service-administered trails added today are:
Alaska
St. Paul High Bluffs Trail - Located on the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, this 6-mile backcountry trail takes visitors through a landscape of coastal cliffs, rolling tundra, windswept beaches, and the Bering Sea.
Maine
The Carson Trail - Located at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, this 1-mile interpretive trail and greenway traverses three natural habitats and offers numerous opportunities to view wildlife.
New Hampshire
Little Cherry Pond - Located at the heart of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, this 1-mile backcountry and birding trail winds through six different forest communities and offers spectacular views of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains.
Oklahoma
Centennial Trail - Located in Washita National Wildlife Refuge, this 3-mile nature trail loops through a variety of diverse habitats and allows visitors to observe numerous plant and animal species. Eagle Roost Nature Trail - Located on the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, this 1.25-mile interpretive nature trail forms a loop through a diversity of habitats and provides opportunities to view bald eagles, whooping cranes and other waterfowl.
Oregon
Ankeny Rail Trail - Located on Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, this 1-mile rail-trail takes visitors through a seasonally flooded Oregon ash wetland where various wildlife, including tree frogs, rough-skinned newts, and black-capped chickadees can be seen and heard year round.
Washington
Pine Lake Loop Trail - Located on Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, this 1.25-mile loop trail offers an array of opportunities to view 26 species of waterfowl, in addition to moose, elk, and other wildlife.
For more information on the National Recreation Trails program, visit the
American Trails website at http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
-FWS-
