Chapter Divisions - Mile Zero Trail Association

The Southern Great Plains to Interior Highlands Trail, the Link Trail, is divided by regions and subdivided by chapters. Chapter Organizations are involved in planning, promotion, improvement and many other aspects of the trail, including development of beneficial activities.

While a major goal is to provide a connecting trail between the Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide Trail, there are numerous other goals and benefits. They range from development of a multi-modal trail, with parallel routes for autos, bikes, foot travelers and more, to production or participation with local recreational, educational and social activities.

Obviously, safety is the top concern. Good information, quality of experience and access to interests are the main objectives for Chapter Organizations to provide for travelers. There are also related goals being considered, including youth camps, tour groups and development of a competitive, multi-stage cycling tour.

The major challenge of this project is more related to lodging and services than it is about available nature trails and scenic backroads to link. The development and promotion of the trail for auto travelers, followed by cyclists, and later for pedestrians is a strategy to help increase availability and frequency of lodging, as well as the type of quarters needed for sport walkers and recreationists.

The "Rating" is a preliminary assessment of the challenge (route and lodging), with 1 being easiest and 5 being the most difficult problem (or set of problems) to solve. As Chapter Organizations consider the guidelines and examine the issues from their local perspectives, the numbers are subject to change.

A chart that may help understand the rating system is included below the Chapter Divisions table.

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Chapter	Description	West Line	East Line	Status	Rating
I	Division: Rocky Mountains to Western Great Plains (High Plains)
I-A	Continental Divide Trail (El Rito or Coyote Ranger District) to Taos, NM	Continental Divide	Taos, NM	Gallina, NM, Jicarilla Apache Nation or Chama, NM	2
I-B	Taos, NM to Maxwell, NM	Taos, NM	Interstate 25	Options: Maxwell, NM, Raton, NM and Springer, NM	3
I-C	Maxwell, NM to Rita Blanca National Grassland, NM	Interstate 25	NM/TX Border		3
I-D	Rita Blanca National Grassland, TX to Stinnett, TX	NM/TX Border	(Stinnett, TX)	Lake Merideth National Recreation Area	4
I-E	Stinnett, TX to Black Kettle National Grassland/TX border	(Stinnett, TX)	TX/OK Border		4
II	Division: Central Great Plains (Basins)
II-A	Black Kettle National Grassland, OK to Interstate 40	TX/OK Border	Interstate 40	Route diversity: Elk City, OK and Clinton, OK	3
II-B	Interstate 40 to Medicine Park, OK	Interstate 40	Medicine Park, OK		3
II-C	Medicine Park, OK to Red River	Medicine Park, OK	Red River		3
II-D	Red River to Denton, TX	Red River	Denton, TX		4
III	Division: Cross Timbers: The Arbuckle Cutoff
III-A	Medicine Park, OK to Davis, OK	Medicine Park, OK	Interstate 35	Originate Medicine Park, OK or Duncan, OK	3
III-B	Davis, OK to Talihina, OK/Ouachita NRT	Interstate 35	Ouachita NRT West		3
IV	Division: Great Plains (Blackland Prairies) to Interior Highlands
IV-A	Denton, TX to Plano, TX to Farmersville, TX	Denton, TX	Farmersville, TX		3
IV-B	Farmersville, TX to Red River	Farmersville, TX	Red River	Connect Dallas to Little Rock	2
IV-C	Red River to Talihina, OK/Ouachita NRT	Red River	Ouachita NRT West		3
IV-D	Talihina, OK/Ouachita NRT to Little Rock, AR	Ouachita NRT West	Little Rock, AR		1
V	Division: Mississippi River Embayment to Appalachian Foothills
V-A	Little Rock, AR to Mississippi River	Little Rock, AR	Mississippi River	Options: Helena, AR or Memphis, TN	4
V-B	Mississippi River to Holly Springs National Forest	Mississippi River	(New Albany, MS)		3
V-C	Holly Springs National Forest to Mississippi/Alabama State Line	(New Albany, MS)	MS/AL Border	Natchez Trace to Tennessee River	2
VI	Division: Appalachian Foothills to Eastern Highlands
VI-A	Mississippi/Alabama State Line to Huntsville, AL	MS/AL Border	Huntsville, AL		4
VI-B	Huntsville, AL to Chattanooga, TN	Huntsville, AL	Chattanooga, TN		3
VI-C	Chattanooga, TN to Appalachian Trail	Chattanooga, TN	Appalachian Trail	Appalachian Trail, Southern Terminus or Great Smoky Mountains National Park	2

Ratings are used for planning purposes only and reflect the preliminary assessment of the availability of possibilities and resources. As planning advances, ratings are subject to change.

The following table explains the rating system.

RATING
Route Lodging

Transit
Car Bike Hike Car Bike Hike

1
YES YES YES YES YES YES

2
YES YES YES YES YES

3
YES YES ? YES ?

4
YES ? ? YES

5
YES ? YES

6
YES YES

1. A suitable route and lodging are available
2. A suitable route is available, but lodging for hikers is scarce or not available at the necessary frequence.
3. A suitable route is possible, though hiking may be difficult; lodging is difficult in places for cyclists and lacking for hikers
4. A suitable route is available for cars, but questionable for cyclists and hikers; lodging is difficult or lacking for cyclists and hikers
5. A suitable route is available for cars, but questionable for cyclists and unavailable for hikers; lodging is difficult or lacking for cyclists and hikers
6. An Interstate or similar highway with only a route and lodging for cars, but not suitable for cyclists or hikers

Condition 2, or Rating 2, generally describes the overall assessment of the trail, as it is currently planned.

Evaluation
Route Lodging

Transit
Car Bike Hike Car Bike Hike

Available
YES YES YES YES Mostly Partly

Notes:

Where several points or locations are described, there may be options and alternatives, or there may be different points under consideration for various transit users, generally based on the most ideal routes.

Trail divisions and chapter districts are not divided equally. They are determined by regions and obvious or suitable divisions for the purpose of organizing and planning. Chapter Organizations may organize one, two or three additional clubs if needed to plan and manage a span of trail.

Highlighted
A priority has been determined in order to accomplish a major goal.

View the planning details page for more information.

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