# What This Bill Does

This bill asks the federal government to study whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail should become an official national trail. Right now, the trail exists as a series of hiking paths and potential routes that stretch about 280 miles across Utah, starting near the Idaho border and ending near the town of Nephi. The trail follows an ancient shoreline left behind by Lake Bonneville, a massive prehistoric lake that covered much of the region thousands of years ago.

The bill doesn't actually create the trail or protect it yet—it just directs the Secretary of the Interior (the federal official who oversees public lands) to investigate whether it makes sense to officially designate it as part of the National Trails System. This means someone will need to study questions like whether the trail is feasible to maintain, whether it connects properly, what land ownership issues exist, and whether it meets the standards for national designation.

If the study determines the trail is a good candidate, it could eventually receive official national trail status. This would likely bring benefits like better funding for maintenance, clearer signage, and more public awareness. It could also mean more hikers and outdoor enthusiasts visiting the area. For people in Utah who enjoy hiking and outdoor recreation, this could improve access to a scenic route with historical significance. For local communities, it could boost tourism but might also require managing increased foot traffic on the trail.

To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.