Landmark Rail-to-Trail Agreement Will Preserve a 41-Mile Former Rail Corridor Across Scott, Campbell, and Anderson Counties for a New Public Trail in East Tennessee

Trust for Public Land (TPL) has reached an interim trail use agreement with R. J. Corman Railroad Property, LLC, clearing the way for creation of a 41-mile, multi-use trail that will follow a historic former rail corridor through Scott, Campbell, and Anderson Counties in East Tennessee.

Under the National Trails System Act, the agreement allows the corridor to be preserved for interim public recreational use while keeping it intact for future economic need. Once developed, the Tennessee Highlander Trail will provide a new, safe route for walkers, runners, and cyclists across three counties, providing new access to the region’s natural and historic landscapes.

A joint notice of the agreement between TPL and R. J. Corman Railroad Property was filed with the federal Surface Transportation Board on April 24, 2026. On May 18, 2026, the Anderson County Commission unanimously passed a resolution in support of the trail, joining the Town of Oneida and a number of other regional governments, local leaders, civic organizations, and residents in the region who have voiced support for converting the corridor to public use.

The project reflects years of collaboration among TPL, R. J. Corman Railroad Property, local governments, and a coalition of community partners committed to preserving the corridor for public benefit, namely Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP) and Echoes of the Tennessee Rail Foundation.

“The Tennessee Highlander Trail will be 41 miles of connected communities, healthier lifestyles, and protected landscape that will benefit East Tennessee communities for generations to come,” said Noel Durant, Tennessee State Director for Trust for Public Land. “We are humbled by the support and enthusiasm for this project in Scott, Campbell, and Anderson Counties. TPL wishes to thank our partners at R. J. Corman for their collaboration and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and Echoes of the Tennessee Rail Foundation for their tireless, on-the-ground organizing and advocacy over the last years.”

“We have worked to make sure that the people of New River and other rural communities throughout this part of our state understand what this remarkable asset could do for them,” said Nancy Manning of the TCWP. “A project of this magnitude should move forward with local understanding, trust, and support; and we are proud to work alongside these communities now that this agreement between TPL and R. J. Corman is official.”\

“The Tennessee Highlander Trail represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for the communities along this corridor and for the larger region,” said John McCracken of Echoes of the Tennessee Rail Foundation. “At 41 miles, it will be the longest rail-trail in Tennessee, a point of pride for Scott, Campbell, and Anderson Counties, and a meaningful new asset for outdoor recreation, tourism, and long-term economic opportunity.”

“Trail projects like this one create untold economic, health, and environmental conservation benefits for the communities they serve,” says Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge). “I am grateful to the members of the Anderson County Commission for joining the many local, regional, and state leaders who see the clear value in the Tennessee Highlander Trail. I know I speak on behalf of many Northeast Tennessee neighbors when I say how eager I am for it to move forward.”

TPL and its partners are now working to raise $3.5 million from private sources by the end of 2026 for capital expenditures and expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the project, as they continue to collaborate with local leaders and community partners on its planning and design.

For more information, please visit https://www.tpl.org/our-work/highlander-trail.

About Trust for Public Land.

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.