Because of its rich history and national significance, the Old Spanish Trail has been designated as a national historic trail. The Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service are currently conducting a Comprehensive Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Once planning is completed, the two agencies will jointly administer the national historic trail, which is more than 2,700 miles in length and crosses New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California.

The National Historic Trails System, established by the National Trails System Act of 1968, commemorates historic routes and promotes their preservation, and development for public use. National Historic Trails recognize diverse facets of history such as prominent past routes of exploration, migration, trade, communication and military action. The historic trails generally consist of remnant sites and trail segments, and thus are not necessarily contiguous. Although National Historic Trails are administered by federal agencies, land ownership may be in public or private hands.

Of the 18 National Historic Trails, 14 are administered by the National Park Service, one by the USDA Forest Service, one by the Bureau of Land Management, and two jointly by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

Learn more about the National Trails System, including National Historic, Scenic, and Recreation Trails. View the National Trails System map.