In honor of National Trails Day and the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne recently designated 24 trails in16 states as National Recreational Trails, including the middle and lower sections of the Susquehanna River Water Trail.

“One of my priorities at Interior is to reconnect American families to nature,” said Secretary Kempthorne. “The National Trails System, including these additions, provides an excellent link to the outdoors, particularly for children. National Recreation Trails exemplify partnerships and are providing a path to fitness and stewardship for Americans of all ages.”

The Middle and Lower Sections of Susquehanna River Water Trail, from Sunbury to the Maryland border, was one of only two National Recreation Trails designated this year in Pennsylvania.

This portion of the Susquehanna River Water Trail, which is a 103-mile part of the larger 440 mile long Susquehanna Greenway in Pennsylvania, is one of only three water trails in the state to achieve National Recreation Trail status and joins a statewide NRT network of 51 trails totaling more than 1500 miles.

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, on behalf of the Susquehanna River Trail Association and the Lancaster – York Heritage Region, spearheaded the effort to seek recognition of the water trail as a National Recreation Trail.

The Middle Section of the Susquehanna River Water Trail, from Sunbury / Northumberland to Harrisburg, was the first water trail in Pennsylvania, established in 1996, and is managed by the Susquehanna River Trail Association.

In cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s Bureau of Forestry, this segment of water trail has a network of 21 island campsites, and exciting features such as the Wade Island Heron Rookery, one of the most important nesting sites for the Great Egret in the state.

A map and guide is available for the water trail at local retailers and outfitters.

National Recreation Trails are components of the National Trails System and recognize already existing trails that connect people to resources and improve their quality of life. The program is jointly administered by the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and the U.S. Forest Service in conjunction with other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails.

These new additions become part of a national network of more than 1,000 trails encompassing more than 12,000 miles.

For information on this and other water trails in Pennsylvania, visit the Fish and Boat Commission’s Pennsylvania Water Trails webpage.

7/18/2008