Open space and trails provide measurable economic, environmental and health benefits to people and communities, and scenic trail views add to this value and increase trail enjoyment. Land conservation within trail viewsheds is essential to protect these trail views from land development. Protect the View is the result of several years of conservation and land development analysis of the Circuit Trails conducted by Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) as part of the Circuit Trails Visual Assessment project. The culmination of AMC’s research focuses on ten views from six Circuit Trails in PA and NJ that are vulnerable to development. As development pressure in the Philadelphia region continues, areas of scenic value may disappear. The objective of Protect the View, and the research it is based on, is to identify significant trail views within The Circuit that are at a high risk of future land development so that these areas may be protected for future generations to enjoy.

For more information about this project, refer to Protecting Threatened Trail Views Along The Circuit: An Assessment of Land Conservation Priorities and Development Trends Along The Circuit report.

The Protect the View website visually showcases and highlights the many benefits these scenic trail views have to offer. The campaign catalyzes communication about the importance of open space funding and the need to preserve the scenic value of these places.