State of the Trail Report

Agencies

Assessment by County

Policy

The Potomac Trail Council developed this corridor inventory to document the extent to which the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) exists and is planned throughout the corridor. The project began at the Potomac Trail Council (PTC) annual caucus in November 2000 with a presentation to the membership by the inventory team. During the following months, the inventory team prepared initial maps of existing trails and descriptions of proposed trail planning efforts in the nearly two dozen localities that comprise the corridor. A preliminary directory of contacts was also developed to identify the key entities involved in trail planning, promotion, and maintenance. The directory included federal, state, regional, and local government agencies, as well trail user organizations.

Corridor at a Glance

The preliminary findings described above were then distributed to key local and regional governmental agencies for review and comment. Considerable new and additional information was received by the inventory team as a result of this local review phase of the project. This was partly due to the fact that planning and development of trails in many localities is ongoing and very dynamic. Completion of the inventory involved confirmation of locations of recently completed and newly planned trails, and clarifications as to their specific locations, lengths, and other data. The directory of contacts also underwent refinement as the number of organizations and individuals involved in trail planning and promotion is continually growing.

2002 Potomac Heritage Trail Inventory
This inventory documents the extent to which the Potomac Heritage Trail exists and is planned throughout the 425-mile Trail corridor in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Combined with an emerging geographic information system (GIS), this inventory is intended to serve as the starting point for evaluating projects and establishing sets of priorities for advocacy, outreach and fundraising. Completed in August 2002, this work contains the best information available to date.

The Potomac Trail Council would like to thank all those who made this Inventory possible. From regional trail planners; to county, state and federal employees; to interested individuals and trail enthusiasts; this project could not have been completed without your generous donation of time and expertise. Through our continued joint cooperation within this nationally significant corridor, we will realize our dream of a completed network of trails between the Chesapeake Bay and Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands Trail.