Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act

Adam B. Schiff

Democrat · CA · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Alex Padilla (D-CA)· 2026-01-29

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

2026-07-21

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would authorize the federal government to study whether a new scenic hiking trail connecting ridges around the San Francisco Bay Area is feasible to build and maintain. The study would examine the route, costs, environmental impacts, and local support needed to create this trail system that would benefit hikers and outdoor enthusiasts in the region. If approved, this would be a first step toward potentially establishing the trail, though the study itself would not commit the government to actually building it.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3720 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3720 To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bay Area Ridge as a national scenic trail, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 28, 2026 Mr. Schiff introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bay Area Ridge as a national scenic trail, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that the Bay Area Ridge Trail-- (1) is a scenic nonmotorized multi-use trail that extends approximately 550 miles; (2) consists of approximately 415 completed miles and another approximately 140 miles of the route that are not yet completed; (3) is located near urban areas of the United States; (4) allows people to access the scenic ridgelines of the San Francisco Bay Area; (5) provides maximum outdoor recreation potential to a large, diverse population and many year-round visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area; (6) provides for the enjoyment of nationally significant scenic, historic, and cultural qualities, including the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and State and local parks, among others; (7) passes through diverse environments, including marsh, grassland, mountain, canyon, rivers, and forests; (8) includes landforms that exhibit significant characteristics, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Andreas fault, volcanic areas, geologic formations, and wetlands; and (9) connects with side trails and regional connector trails, such as the Bay Trail, Vine Trail, and Coyote Creek Trail, which provide additional public access and connect to major population centers. SEC. 3. BAY AREA RIDGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY. Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(50) Bay area ridge national scenic trail.-- ``(A) In general.--The Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail, a multi-use trail extending approximately 550 miles along the ridgelines of the hills and mountains surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California and connecting over 75 parks and open spaces. ``(B) Study.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with interested organizations (including the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council), shall complete and submit to Congress the feasibility study for designating the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a national scenic trail. ``(C) Consultation.--The study under this paragraph shall be conducted in consultation with each Federal agency and State agency that administers land through which the trail described in subparagraph (A) passes.''. <all>

• S3131USS Frank E. Evans Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-21
• S5036A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit officers and employees of the judiciary from engaging in official acts affecting personal financial interests.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-20
• S5032A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to require justices, judges, magistrate judges, or bankruptcy judges and their spouses and dependent children to place certain assets into qualified blind trusts, and for other purposes.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-20
• S5033A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to create a right of public access to certain records relating to the courts of the United States, and for other purposes.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-20