United States- Appalachian Trail - 1937 (3,500 km)
- Pacific Crest Trail - 1968 (4,270 km)
National Parks included in the PCT:Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park
"The Pacific Crest Trail was first proposed around 1932 by Clinton C. Clarke as a trail running from Mexico to Canada along the crest of the mountains in California, Oregon, and Washington. The original proposal was to link the John Muir Trail, the Tahoe–Yosemite Trail (both in California), the Skyline Trail (in Oregon) and the Cascade Crest Trail (in Washington). The Pacific Crest Trail System Conference was formed by Clarke to both plan the trail and to lobby the federal government to protect the trail. The conference was founded by Clarke, the Boy Scouts, the YMCA, and Ansel Adams (amongst others). From 1935 through 1938, YMCA groups explored the 2,000 miles of potential trail and planned a route, which has been closely followed by the modern PCT route." - Wikipedia
New Zealand- Te Araroa - 2011 (3,000 km)
Korea- Baekdudaegan - 2006 (1,625 km)
*735 km in S. KoreaSouth Korean National Parks included in the Baekdudaegan:
Jirisan National Park, Deogyusan National Park, Songnisan National Park, Woraksan National Park, Sobaeksan National Park, Taebaeksan National Park, Odaesan National Park, Seoraksan National Park
"The Baekdu-daegan is important in traditional Korean geography and thought, a key aspect of Pungsujiri philosophy and practices. It is often referred to as the "spine" or "backbone" of the Korean Peninsula, and depicted in various historic and modern artworks including national maps. Under traditional Korean thought influenced by Daoism and Neo-Confucianism, Mt. Baekdu-san is regarded as the northern root-origin of the mountain-system, and conceived-of as the grand patriarch of all Korean mountains; while Jiri-san at the southern end is conceived-of as the grand matriarch of all Korean mountains. - Wikipedia
Historic Sites:Hwaeomsa (Gurye)
Jeoksang Fortress (Muju)
Seongju Royal Placenta Chambers (Seongju)
Mungyeongsaejae Pass (Mungyeong)
Mireukdaewon Stone Temple Site (Chungju)
Cheonjedan Altar (Taebaek)
Woljeongsa (Pyeongchang)
Odaesan National Historic Archives (Pyeongchang)
Documentary about the Baekdudaegan:The Baekdudaegan Cultural Heritage Part.1The Baekdudaegan Cultural Heritage Part.2Thoughts about the potential or lack thereof to consider National Trails as world heritage sites? Pilgrimage Routes, Trade Routes, and pre-modern road systems are part of the world heritage list already. This is a very short list of national trails I am more familiar with
(especially the PCT and Baekdudaegan). One question that would require some consideration: Would nominations be natural, mixed, or cultural landscapes? Are there any examples on the tentative list?