Scott Stark
A writer and a rider, Colorado native Scott Stark enjoys combining the two as he explores trails across the country. View more of his work on stark-made.com.
Related Posts
Blog
A Look at Railbanked Trails Across America
October 07, 2025
The steady decline of active railway mileage in the United States was turbocharged in 1980 by the deregulation of the railroad industry, which made it easier for railways to discontinue unprofitable routes. Dismayed to see such vital pieces of connective infrastructure disappearing, Congress passed an amendment to the National Trails Systems Act just three years […]
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The Big Burn: Exploring the Great Fire of 1910 in Idaho and Montana
June 09, 2025
The 1910 Wildfires That Ravaged the American Northwest and Shaped the Forest Service As summer began, it was evident that trouble was smoldering in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho’s panhandle. The driest year in memory, the winter’s snowpack had melted early, and life-sustaining spring rains never fell. By August, what should have been swift-running rivers […]
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Bainbridge Island’s New Welcome Pole: A Symbol of the Past and Present
January 22, 2025
Crisscrossed by innumerable rivers and lakes, the Pacific Northwest is a land of estuaries and bays, inlets and islands. And just as the land was shaped by glacial forces millennia ago, it in turn shaped the First Peoples who came to call it home. “We were canoe people,” said Randi Purser, a Suquamish elder and […]
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American Dreams: People Who Shaped the Landscape of the Great American Rail-Trail
August 06, 2024
America has long been a land of big dreams and big dreamers—and sometimes when they come together, they leave an indelible mark on the landscape. It’s in recognition of this that Rails to Trails Conservancy launched History Along the Great American Rail-Trail® on TrailLink™, a project exploring the people, places and events that shaped the […]
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Wintertime Trail Fun
February 01, 2024
When the temperature and snowflakes both begin to fall, winter brings a whole new way to explore trails. Don’t miss the chance to cross-country ski, snowshoe, fat-tire bike or take a walk through the sparkly snow—plus enjoy some seasonal activities just off the trail! Outlined here is a handful of our favorite trailside winter sites. […]
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Exploring America’s E-Bike Evolution
May 04, 2023
“Now it’s younger families, maybe zero-car families that are using cargo e-bikes as a car replacement, or commuters trying to get from A to B in the most efficient way they can.” —Noel Kegel, Co-Owner, Wheel & Sprocket, on the changing demographics of e-bike users In June, Dianne Iverson and Paul Dutky will lead their […]
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A Path Toward Healing
June 03, 2022
Negotiations with the 130 Northern Cheyenne imprisoned at Fort Robinson during the winter of 1879 were as simple as they were brutal: Voluntarily depart for the so-called Indian Territory that had been set aside for them in Oklahoma or else. Or else we’ll cut off your food, or else we’ll withhold water, or else there will […]
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A Walk to Remember: Indiana’s Place as the Crucible of American Music
February 01, 2022
“America’s greatest contribution to cultural history is its music, and no matter what kind of music you listen to, it’s been influenced directly by the records made by those artists of Gennett records.” —Charlie Dahan, Professor, Department of Recording Industry, Middle Tennessee State University With its plentiful natural resources and proximity to shipping routes, the […]
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Taters and Trains: The Great Big Baked Potato and the Northern Pacific Line
November 10, 2021
“The only way [for the major passenger lines] to set themselves apart was through the food they served on the train. It was that kind of competition that drove the cuisine.” —James D. Porterfield, Author, “Dining by Rail” Any optimist worth their sunny disposition knows what to do when life hands them lemons, but what […]
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The Legacy of White Buffalo Girl, and the Resiliency of a People
June 04, 2021
This article is part of “History Along the Great American Rail-Trail™”—a new project launching this summer on TrailLink.com™ that will include hundreds of stories and points of interest along the 3,700-mile route. Special thank you to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and author Joe Starita for their assistance with this story. In Laurel Hill Cemetery just outside the town […]
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Top 10 Trails in New Mexico
February 19, 2021
The Land of Enchantment, New Mexico offers an arid landscape of mountains, high plains and desert with a beauty all its own. New Mexico is our fifth-largest state by area, and also our driest, with less than a quarter of a percent of its total surface area being water. Rivers and later railroads shaped the […]
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Top 10 Trails in Colorado
February 04, 2021
In various rankings, Colorado has been deemed the No. 1 most active state, the second-best state in which to live and the fourth-happiest state overall. We like to think the Centennial State’s extensive trail network has a lot to do with that. Here is a selection of our favorite Colorado trails, a mixture of urban and […]
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Top 10 Trails in West Virginia
January 29, 2021
“Almost heaven, West Virginia.” So evocative were the opening words to John Denver’s song about the state that residents took them to heart, thereafter referring to their home state as almost heaven. With miles of trails to explore and plenty of recreational opportunities, from kayaking to rock climbing, West Virginia is indeed a little slice […]
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Top 10 Trails in California
January 25, 2021
From a temperate rainforest to an arid desert, California offers a climate for just about everyone. And whether you feel at home along the beach or among the mountains, our country’s most populous state probably has a trail experience tailored for you. Here are 10 of our Golden State favorites. Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail […]
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Lose Yourself on a Literary Trail
April 20, 2020
Just as trails physically knit together communities and strengthen bodies, books have the power to connect individuals and strengthen minds. Celebrate World Book Day (March), National Library Week (April) and Book Lovers Day (August) with a trip down these literary-themed trails. Massachusetts REFORMATORY BRANCH TRAIL “I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to […]
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A Serious Injury Changed Cyclist Ian Mackay’s Life. Trails Helped Him Rebuild It.
August 27, 2019
It takes a certain kind of dedication to get out on a trail every day. Like, every day. Seven days a week. Rain or shine. Scorching days, freezing days and every kind of day in between. “The last day I missed was Halloween 2016,” said Ian Mackay. He surpassed consecutive day number 1,000 in July. He wasn’t […]
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From Toxic Site to Thriving Rail-Trail: Montana’s Silver Bow Creek Greenway
April 20, 2019
By the early 20th century, Butte, Montana, was already being called the richest hill on Earth, an acknowledgement of the nearly inconceivable amounts of ore being mined there. In 1910 alone, 284 million pounds of copper ore were extracted from the Butte area. “Butte electrified America,” said Dori Skrukrud, the community development coordinator for the […]
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Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes Makes Tandem Connections on DC Trails
December 20, 2018
“The speed, the freedom, the sense of connection—it’s what made me fall in love with biking,” explained Karla Gilbride. Discussing regular after-work trips down Washington, D.C.’s Capital Crescent Trail on a tandem bike, she describes the hustle and bustle of commuters in Bethesda, the smell of the Potomac River, the feel of the wind whipping […]
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2020 Vision: New York’s “Empire State Trail” Is Making Trails a Main Attraction
August 09, 2018
The new 750-mile Empire State Trail project will tie together hundreds of communities across 27 counties—in the fourth-most-populous state in the nation. As the country’s most populous city and a hub of commerce, fashion, theater, art and entertainment, there’s not much one can’t do in New York City. Dine at five-star restaurants? Check. See world-class […]
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Destination: Virginia Beach
July 11, 2016
This destination feature highlights the sights and wonders of four trails around Virginia Beach: the Cape Henry Trail, Elizabeth River Trail, Norfolk Avenue Trail and Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Working together to help create a complete cultural experience, these trails are also part of the proposed Beaches to Bluegrass Trail System, which could one day span all of southern Virginia. Enjoy! Cape Henry […]
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