Call for Nominations: Long-Distance Biking Trails
The U.S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture are actively seeking public input to identify existing and potential future areas, routes, and trails suitable for designation, stewardship, or development as long-distance off-pavement biking trails. This initiative is part of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act), which includes the Biking on Long Distance Trails Act (BOLT Act). The BOLT Act aims to establish a network of nationally recognized trails, with the goal of identifying at least 10 existing areas and 10 potential future areas or corridors where long-distance biking trails exist or could be developed.
Trail Requirements
To be considered for inclusion in this national long-distance bike trail network, nominated trails must meet the following criteria:
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Length and Accessibility: The trail must be at least 80 miles long and publicly accessible.
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Land Management: A majority of the trail should be on federally managed public land, including areas overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.
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Existing Infrastructure: The proposed route should utilize existing designated or officially available roads and trails.
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Surface Type: The trail should primarily consist of dirt or natural surfaces, with short connector routes on paved or improved roads being acceptable.
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Bicycle Use: The trail must be open to bicycle use and not located within designated wilderness areas.
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User Compatibility: The trail should avoid conflicts with other trail uses, including other forms of cycling, hiking, horseback riding, or pack and saddle stock uses.
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Community Support: Ideally, nominated trails or areas should have partner organizations or volunteer groups identified to assist with trail development and maintenance.
How to Submit Your Nominations
Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their favorite trails and bikepacking routes that meet the above requirements. The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture have provided an interactive map tool to facilitate this process. Detailed instructions, including a tutorial and the option to upload GPX files for routes, are available on the official website.
Further Reading
For more information on this initiative and related topics, consider exploring the following articles:
By participating in this initiative, you have the opportunity to contribute to the development and stewardship of a national network of long-distance biking trails, enhancing outdoor recreation experiences for cyclists across the country.