Summitville, NY - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that he introduced a measure in Congress this past week that would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to study the feasibility of designating the Long Path as a National Scenic Trail.  The study would consider and recommend important improvements to the Long Path Trail, a historic 350-mile series of trails that run from Fort Lee, New Jersey to the Adirondack State Park in New York.

"The Long Path provides hikers and outdoor enthusiasts with hundreds of miles of magnificent trails and unique opportunities to connect with the tremendous natural, scenic and historic resources throughout this part of the country," Hinchey said. "This bill begins the process of designating the Long Path as a National Scenic Trail, which will further improve this important recreational resource and better connect existing trails so that the Long Path can eventually run from New Jersey, and possibly New York City, to the Adirondacks.  I look forward to moving this bill through Congress and working with the National Park Service to implement this feasibility study."

Hinchey's bill, the Long Path Trail Study Act of 2008, would authorize project-based funding and technical assistance via the National Park Service in order to explore alternative routes for connecting existing sections of the estimated 350-mile trail.  The study would include analyzing alternatives to the miles of road walks that are currently needed for the Long Path to cross certain areas, such as central Orange County.  The legislation gives the U.S. Secretary of the Interior two years to complete the study and report back the conclusions to Congress for consideration.  If this trails shows good promise and the study recommends that national designation should be pursued, Hinchey will introduce subsequent legislation to complete the designation..

The Long Path runs along the Palisades Cliffs in New Jersey; then crosses the Appalachian Trail and the Highlands Trail in Harriman State Park; runs northwest to the Shawangunk Ridge; crosses the Rondout Creek Valley; crosses a number of the highest peaks in the Catskills; links with the Finger Lakes Trail; and passes along the Helderberg Escarpment into Thatcher State Park.

In the process of establishing this trail, private property will be respected and no federal eminent domain may be used.  The trail will rely on local partnerships with organizations such as with the Adirondack Mountain Club and Trail Conference.  The Long Path was originated by Vincent Schaefer of the Mohawk Valley Hiking Club in the 1930's as New York's version of Vermont's Long Trail and was publicized in Raymond Torrey's weekly column in the New York Post. 

This legislation, which was introduced in the House on Thursday, was also sponsored by Congressmen Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ).  A companion bill has been submitted in the Senate by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

Hinchey made the announcement at a National Trails Day event in the Town of Mamakating that was cosponsored by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and the New York State Department of Conservation.