(1) In order to provide for the ever increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding resident and tourist population and to promote public access to, travel within, and the enjoyment and appreciation of outdoor areas of Washington, it is declared to be in the public interest to plan a system of trails throughout the state to enable and encourage the public to engage in outdoor recreation activities.

(2) The purpose of this chapter is to provide the means for attaining these objectives by instituting a method for establishing a system of state recreation trails, and by prescribing the manner by which a proposed trail may be included in the system.