The first Saturday of June is celebrated as National Trails Day. And today there’s a second reason to celebrate: It also marks the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System Act.
Forty Years ago, President Lyndon Johnson and Congress approved the act that created the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail and other well-known pedestrian byways were created.
To mark the anniversary, I think we should all take a hike – preferably in the Black Hills if you’re around here.
You can hike the Mickelson Trail – watch out for bikes – or the Centennial Trail. Or you could try one of the shorter trails: Crow Peak near Spearfish, Eagle Cliff west of Lead, the Lost Cabin Trail to Harney Peak, or the Flume Trail near Sheridan Lake.
If you’re feeling real frisky, you don’t need a trail at all. Try bushwhacking your way along an unmarked ridgeline or up a shady draw. Or launch yourself into the Badlands.
But I suppose going off-trail might not be quite a proper way celebrate National Trails Day.
The National Trails Act and its amendment created a vast national network of National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails and National Recreational Trails.
To be honest, I’m not sure if any of the Black Hills Trails are part of the National Trail System. My Googling didn’t turn up anything solid. But I did read that the National Trails System includes more than 60,000 miles of trails in all 50 states.
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