One of the best ways to learn history is to literally follow in the footsteps of those who were there, says Karen Berger, author of the new book, “America’s National Historic Trails.”

“These are historic routes – a trail version of the National Park system,” she says. The 19 federally recognized trails range from 54 to 5,000 miles, and pass largely through rural areas, making them perfect for road trips and socially distant traveling.

A good example is the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. Although the shortest trail at just 54 miles, this route resonates with many travelers, retracing 1965’s famous five-day voting rights march to the Alabama state capitol. The trail crosses the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where the late Rep. John Lewis and others were beaten by police. Mostly following U.S. Highway 80, the route lets travelers delve into civil rights history at visitors centers, museums and memorials.

Another is the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, right here in North Carolina. During the latter half of the Revolutionary War, the British found themselves outmaneuvered and outsmarted by southern mountain men, who won 1780’s decisive Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The trail traces the route of the American fighters, known as the Overmountain Men.

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Karen Berger, author of ‘Great Hiking Trails of the World: 80 Trails, 75,000 Miles, 38 Countries, 6 Continents’ said that she has been an outdoors person at heart since she was a kid.

“Summer camp was probably my earliest experience of sleeping in tents and living outdoors, and I remember coming home and thinking that indoor air conditioning just felt wrong,” said Berger.

“Since then, I’ve worked at summer camps and outdoor education centers, volunteered as an inner-city outings leader for the Sierra Club and honeymooned on the John Muir Trail.”

She has since completed the “triple crown”: Thru-hikes of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide national scenic trails—all 7,500 miles of them.

Berger’s book describes hiking trails that fall into different categories, such as pilgrimage, historic hikes, albinism, wilderness, diverse environments, and long-distance trails. So, to some extent, different hikes will appeal to different hikers based on personal interest.

Nonetheless, there are some characteristics that many hikers seem to agree about when talking about their favorite trails: Natural beauty, wildlife, preservation of the surrounding environment, interesting opportunities to experience the local culture when going off trail to resupply, and good quality trail maintenance and marking are some of the things hikers look for.

See interview with Berger…