New England Scenic Trail

The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) is a National Scenic Trail in southern New England. The NET is comprised primarily of the historic Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock trail system and is sometimes called the Triple-M Trail. The 215-mile (346 km) route extends through 41 communities from Guilford, Connecticut, through the highlands of the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts, to the New Hampshire state border.

In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized the National Park Service (NPS) to research a new trail composed of the Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Metacomet-Monadnock trails in Connecticut and Massachusetts. This was backed by Public Law 107-338 and signed by President George W. Bush in December 2002. The argument, as testified before Congress, was that the preservation of the trail system as a recreational resource was only possible through its joint protection. The NET was officially designated by Public Law 111-11 Section 5202 (PDF) on March 30, 2009.

The trail is administered by the NPS, and managed by two non-profit and member-volunteer based organizations: the Connecticut Forest and Park Association in Connecticut, and the Appalachian Mountain Club in Massachusetts. The trail is maintained by the volunteers of these organizations.