Every year, the first Saturday in June is designated as National Trails Day, an ideal time to take advantage of the outdoors and enjoy the scenery of Southwest Virginia.

Our region possesses the Commonwealth of Virginia’s best outdoor experience, with the highest mountains, most interesting rivers, and superb hunting, fishing, camping, biking, backpacking, and hiking opportunities. With these rare treasures of Virginia’s natural heritage, National Trails Day represents a special opportunity for Southwest Virginia residents to take advantage of the beauty of our region.

The goals of National Trails Day are to promote public awareness and appreciation for America’s trails and to build partnerships among trail users, businesses, and public land managers. Southwest Virginia’s Trails are an excellent of example of what can be accomplished when local residents, businesses, and officials at the federal, state, and local levels work together in aid of a common purpose.

Nationwide, events marking National Trails Day include new trail dedications, workshops, educational exhibits, equestrian and mountain bike rides, boat paddling, rollerblading, trail maintenance, and hikes on America’s favorite trails.

Last year, I participated in the dedication of two new trails—an extension of the New River Trail into downtown Pulaski and a new birding trail in the National Forest at Glen Alton in Giles County. The New River Trail extends from the Town of Pulaski to the City of Galax along the New River, and it boasts of more than 1 million visitors each year. Its extension into Downtown Pulaski has provided new opportunities for locally owned, tourism related businesses. I am currently working with Pulaski County officials to further extend the New River Trail to the Town of Dublin.

National Trails Day is also a time to promote hiking, biking, and backpacking as some of the best forms of exercise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 64 percent of the U.S. population is overweight and 75 percent of Americans age 18 and over get too little physical activity.

By increasing physical activity, local trail use—including walking and bicycling—helps control weight and reduces the risk of life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other serious medical conditions. Due to a strong commitment at the federal, state and local levels, our region is now home to an extensive network of trails which offer residents throughout Southwest Virginia an opportunity for exercise.

The creation of new jobs for Southwest Virginia is my highest priority, and the promotion of our region’s tourism economy is an essential step in achieving our economic development goals for the region. The promotion of our region’s network of trails affords residents with new and greater economic opportunities including the creation and expansion of small, locally owned businesses.

Trails such as the Virginia Creeper Trail, which extends 33 miles from Abingdon to the North Carolina state line, bring thousands of tourists to our region and have encouraged the development of small businesses such as bike rentals, restaurants and outfitters.

Several trail projects have recently advanced this year as a result of federal funding which has been provided at my request. In Henry County, construction on one portion of the Smith River Trail, which will extend from Fieldale to Martinsville, has been completed. The new trail will extend along the scenic Smith River, and future phases could reach Philpott Lake. It is anticipated that further construction on the trail will commence later this year. Additionally, construction on the Cranesnest Trail in Dickenson County is continuing this year. I am working in close partnership with Dickenson County officials to enable construction of additional sections of the trail in the future.

National Trails Day offers a special opportunity to all Southwest Virginians to enjoy our region’s outdoor experience, and I encourage residents to join me in celebrating our region’s trails on June 6.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at newrivervoice.com.