Green Ridge State Forest Trail System Designated A National Recreation Trail

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FLINTSTONE — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is pleased to announce that the Green Ridge State Forest Trail System in Allegany County was recently designated one of 37 new National Recreation Trails. The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton at a celebration for National Trails Day on June 4.

The Green Ridge State Forest Trail System is located in the largest contiguous block of forest in Maryland. This 28-mile backcountry trail offers a variety of recreational opportunities amidst the backdrop of the Allegheny Mountains. With a link to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park that forms a 45-mile loop for backpacking, the trail system provides additional access to key educational and interpretive themes of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail corridor. In addition to its scenic and historic features, this trail system offers a wealth of outdoor activities (including mountain biking and cross-country skiing) within two and half hours of Washington, D.C.

“We are extremely proud of our second state-managed trail system being designated a National Recreation Trail,” said Maryland Park Service Superintendent Rick Barton. “This is a great honor and we anticipate more of Maryland’s outstanding trails being added to the list in the future.”

National Recreation Trail designation is an honor given out to trails that meet the requirements for connecting people to local resources and improving their quality of life. The national trail designation is part of a continuing campaign to promote community partnerships and to foster innovative ways to encourage physical fitness. The National Trails System Act of 1968 encourages the Secretary of the Interior to recognize existing community trails that qualify as additions to the National Trails System. The act promotes enjoyment and appreciation of trails and greater public access.

There are more than 900 National Recreation Trails in the United States, of which, five are in Maryland. In addition to the Green Ridge State Forest Trail System, they are Annapolis Rock Hiker Campground and Trail located in South Mountain State Park, Cross Island Trail in Queen Anne’s County, The Great Allegany Passage in Western Maryland, and the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail Park in Anne Arundel County. For more information about these trails, visit the National Recreation Trails Program at http://americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/stateNRT/MDnrt.html.

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June 15, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov