U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis last week designated 10 trails, including North Bend’s Mount Si Trail, and the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, as national recreation trails, adding more than 150 miles to the National Trails System.

“By designating these exceptional trails as part of the National Trails System, we recognize the efforts of local communities to provide outdoor recreational opportunities that can be enjoyed by everyone,” said Jewell.

Mount Si Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Pacific Northwest. The main summit of this iconic mountain reveals stunning views of Snoqualmie Valley, the Seattle skyline and the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound. The trail’s many switchbacks serve as a training ground for aspiring mountaineers, yet its wide path allows families to get a real taste of the rugged Cascades.

Snoqualmie Valley Trail is King County’s longest trail. It parallels the Snoqualmie River for more than 31 miles from Duvall to Rattlesnake Lake just outside of North Bend. This trail passes through forests, historic sites and farmland, providing a scenic path for bicycling, walking and horseback riding. The route was once a spur line of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Today the trail continues to serve as an arterial route, connecting multiple rural communities and a number of regional trails.

“Our National Trails System of 16,000 miles continues to grow and offer new opportunities for Americans to explore the great outdoors,” said Jarvis. “With summer here, I hope everyone will take advantage of a trail nearby to hike or bike. It’s a great family outing and an opportunity to fill your lungs with fresh air and enjoy the beauty of the world around us.”

National recreation trail designation recognizes existing trails and trail systems that link communities to recreational opportunities on public lands and in local parks across the nation. Each of the new national recreation trails will receive a certificate of designation, a letter of congratulations from Secretary Jewell, and a set of trail markers.

Both the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture have the authority to approve designations in response to an application from the trail’s managing agency or organization.

The national recreation trails program is jointly administered by the National Park Service and the Forest Service, in conjunction with a number of federal and not-for-profit partners, notably American Trails, which hosts the national recreation trails website, www.americantrails.org/ee/index.php/nationalrecreationtrails.