Winter brings a whole new way to explore trails such as cross-country ski, snowshoe, fat-tire bike or take a walk through the sparkly snow.

Depending on where you live, this time of year may mean the prolonged dregs of winter, early signs of Spring, or some variation on “mud season.” But for most of the country—regardless of climate or geography—it’s also the height of the state legislative season. Most states’ general assemblies are part-time, and generally convene in the early part of each calendar year. All but a handful of states are currently in session. So what does this mean for trails and active transportation funding in states?

I was in town primarily to explore a relatively thin strip of those public lands, the 22-mile Colorado Riverfront Trail. The Riverfront Trail is actually a conglomeration of multiple (mostly) connected trails that join the trio of communities along with state parkland—including four of the five separated sections of James M. Robb–Colorado River State Park, known locally as a “string of pearls,” and several community parks.

Below, we’ve spotlighted a handful of the exciting new rail-trails that have opened up around the country this year, as well as the broader trail networks they tie into.

Here is a selection of our favorite Colorado trails, a mixture of urban and remote experiences across the Front Range and Rocky Mountains.

In honor of Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary this year, Rails to Trails magazine is highlighting four rail-trails that have had a transformative Cinderella story, going from industrial dumping grounds to beloved community assets.

With National Trails Day just around the corner, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Doppelt Family Trail Development Fund grant program!

Forming a nearly 12-mile paved loop around the city, the Mineral Belt Trail offers spectacular views around every bend.

For walkers and bicyclists along the town’s scenic Animas River Trail, the white-and-gray plumes of steam rising from the old locomotives and the echo of train whistles are common sights and sounds.