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Comprehensive Plan for Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail » Comprehensive Plan for Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
The National Park Service is creating the first Comprehensive Plan for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The plan will guide how NPS and partners connect trail sections, protect natural and cultural resources, strengthen relationships with communities, and support long-term partnerships across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The trail crosses many communities, landscapes and jurisdictions. Public input will help NPS understand what matters most to people who use, care for and live near the trail.
About the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail:
The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is a congressionally designated network of existing and planned trails across the Potomac River watershed, connecting natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. It includes both on‑road and off‑road routes, multi‑use trails, and water‑based segments, managed cooperatively with numerous agencies and partners. Since its designation in 1983, it has provided opportunities to hike, bike, paddle, ride horses, explore heritage areas, and enjoy local trail networks.
About the Comprehensive Plan:
The Comprehensive Plan will help coordinate long‑term stewardship and provide a consistent framework for trail segments managed by many different organizations. It will also help clarify how the trail serves communities, supports outdoor recreation, preserves resources, and enhances regional connectivity.
The National Park Service invites you to attend a virtual public meeting on May 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. and share your ideas during the public comment period, which runs through June 29, 2026.
During the virtual meeting, NPS will introduce the project, share early ideas and ask for feedback on issues, opportunities and the future of the trail.
This is the first step in a larger public engagement process. After NPS reviews this first round of comments, the public will have more opportunities to review the plan and provide input.
Public participation will be central to this process. We invite everyone who lives, works, or recreates along the corridor to share insights, concerns, and ideas. A virtual public meeting will be held on May 28, 2026. Your knowledge about trail conditions, access, safety, interpretation, and community priorities is essential to creating a plan that reflects the full richness and complexity of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
Join the virtual public meeting: May 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. (Teams Link will be available soon!)
Submit your comments starting on May 28th through June 29th, 2026.
Revisit this project web page for updates including informational resources and the link to the virtual public meeting: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/pohecompplan
The trail crosses many communities, landscapes and jurisdictions. Public input will help NPS understand what matters most to people who use, care for and live near the trail.
About the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail:
The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is a congressionally designated network of existing and planned trails across the Potomac River watershed, connecting natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. It includes both on‑road and off‑road routes, multi‑use trails, and water‑based segments, managed cooperatively with numerous agencies and partners. Since its designation in 1983, it has provided opportunities to hike, bike, paddle, ride horses, explore heritage areas, and enjoy local trail networks.
About the Comprehensive Plan:
The Comprehensive Plan will help coordinate long‑term stewardship and provide a consistent framework for trail segments managed by many different organizations. It will also help clarify how the trail serves communities, supports outdoor recreation, preserves resources, and enhances regional connectivity.
The National Park Service invites you to attend a virtual public meeting on May 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. and share your ideas during the public comment period, which runs through June 29, 2026.
During the virtual meeting, NPS will introduce the project, share early ideas and ask for feedback on issues, opportunities and the future of the trail.
This is the first step in a larger public engagement process. After NPS reviews this first round of comments, the public will have more opportunities to review the plan and provide input.
Public participation will be central to this process. We invite everyone who lives, works, or recreates along the corridor to share insights, concerns, and ideas. A virtual public meeting will be held on May 28, 2026. Your knowledge about trail conditions, access, safety, interpretation, and community priorities is essential to creating a plan that reflects the full richness and complexity of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
Join the virtual public meeting: May 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. (Teams Link will be available soon!)
Submit your comments starting on May 28th through June 29th, 2026.
Revisit this project web page for updates including informational resources and the link to the virtual public meeting: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/pohecompplan