Skip to content
Amy Kapp | Photo courtesy Amy Kapp

Amy Kapp

Amy Kapp serves as Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief of Rails to Trails magazine. Kapp frequently writes about the impact of, and vast historical and cultural connections made by, America’s rail-trails, parks and public lands.

Amy Kapp focuses on telling the story of America’s trails and their impact as the editorial director of RTC and editor-in-chief of Rails to Trails magazine and the TrailBlog.

Her love for the outdoors stems from her childhood in Southwest Pennsylvania, where she grew up in 24 acres of woods. Over the past two decades, she has served as a writer and editor, communications strategist, and print and digital content creator for various entities, including the National Recreation and Park Association, YouthBuild and Parks & Recreation magazine.

Since joining RTC in 2013, Amy has helped produce 15+ trail guidebooks. She also served as a board executive and 2024-25 president of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and is currently an OWAA endowment trustee.

She holds a bachelor’s in economics/theater from Baldwin-Wallace University, a master’s in economic and social dev./env. management from the University of Pittsburgh, and a master’s in communication from American University.

Amy enjoys the performing arts, traveling—and eating great food and then trying to run it off. She is a card-carrying member of the Sons of Ben.

Related Posts

Blog
In Memory of Trails and Environmental Justice Advocate Guy O. Williams
August 07, 2025
Rails to Trails Conservancy was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Guy O. Williams, who passed away on July 29, 2025. A nationally respected leader in the environmental justice and trails and active transportation movements, Williams—who served as an RTC board member from 2002 to 2021 and board […]
Guy Williams | Photo courtesy Guy Williams
Blog
Indiana Bicycling Advocate Robert Ordway on Trails, Safety and Quality of Life
July 11, 2025
Growing up on the fringe of Gary, Indiana, bicycling advocate Robert Ordway looked up to his dad, Doug. He was a man of wisdom, Robert said, who first taught him to ride a bike at age 5. Doug went on to instill in his son a strong sense of agency and motivated him to push […]
Robert Ordway took an 825-mile bike ride in 2024 from Washington, D.C., to Indiana to raise money for ALS research. | Courtesy Robert Ordway
Blog
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 […]
Bank Street in Wallace, Idaho, in the aftermath of the Big Burn | Courtesy University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, Barnard-Stockbridge Photograph Collection
Blog
BEST Of: Cultural Walking and Biking Hubs in European Capitals
June 05, 2025
Across “The Continent,” many destination cities are designed with people—and not just automobiles—in mind, making it easy to navigate by foot or bike, and allowing for the perfect blend of cultural immersion and active transportation. Here are five of these standout destinations, chosen from my travels in recent (and not so recent) times. Happy exploring […]
Reykjavik, Iceland | Photo by Amy Kapp
Blog
16 Trails Featured in Movies and Television
January 29, 2025
Here at Rails to Trails, we think movies and trails have a lot in common. They both instill a sense of adventure, and they both inspire us with possibilities. Rail-trails and multiuse trails have starring roles in thousands of communities across America, and so it only makes sense that some would grace the silver screen […]
Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia | Photo courtesy Eva Garcia
Blog
Debbie Njai: Breaking Down Barriers for People of Color in the Outdoors
June 04, 2024
When Black People Who Hike founder Debbie Njai went on a short hike with friends in 2020, she didn’t know the 1.7-mile trek would change her life—or that she’d help transform life for thousands of people in just four years. Today, Black People Who Hike engages more than 50,000 people with a mission to connect […]
Debbie Njai sitting - Photo courtesy Black People Who Hike
Blog
Along the Heartland Trail in Ohio, You can Glimpse a 38-Million-Year-Old Geological Feature
May 06, 2024
Traveling on the Heartland Trail in Marshallville, approximately 0.7 mile north of E. Market St., on the north side of the embankment … (40.9084, -81.7153), trail users might notice the continuous flat, parallel strata, or layers, of rock. Along the way, these layers change from interbedded shales and thin sandstones to massive sandstones and even […]
Image of the geological unconformity published in 1921 by the Ohio Geological Survey. The photo was likely taken along the right-of-way of the Cleveland, Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad shortly after its completion in 1854.
Blog
Trident Depot Saved by Three Forks Community Encapsulates Region’s Rich History
May 06, 2024
Following a swift, all-hands-on-deck effort by a collection of historic preservationists and southwest Montana residents to save it in 2011, the historic Trident Depot now serves as the Railroad and Trident Heritage Center in neighboring Three Forks, Montana. The depot is now located in John Q. Adams Milwaukee Railroad Park along the Headwaters Trail System. […]
Trident Depot exterior | Photo courtesy Three Forks Area Historical Society
Blog
Depot in Center Point Is a Trailside Landmark to Iowa Town’s 1914 Awakening
April 30, 2024
Now home to a museum that preserves the stories of the eastern Iowa town for which it is named, the Center Point Depot is a key piece of area history. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, the depot was one of eight along the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railway (WCF&N). […]
Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railway depot along the Iowa's Cedar Valley Nature Trail | Photo by Patrick Travers
Blog
Ron Griswell of HBCUs Outside Is Bridging Gaps to the Outdoors
February 01, 2024
“Outdoor access is critical because it’s a human right.” —Ron Griswell What I do I show up in the world as an explorer on a journey to caring more about myself, my community and the environment. Outside of my duties as a husband and father, I spend my time enriching myself to be the best […]
Ron Griswell has been connecting people to the outdoors since his days in college. He is now the founding Executive Director of HBCUs Outside. | Photo courtesy Ron Griswell
Blog
Elevating Opportunity in 2023—Reflections From the Trails Movement
December 14, 2023
This past year, a major theme resonated for trails across the country: activation. The landmark infrastructure bill signed in late 2021 infused unprecedented funding into the federal trail and active transportation landscape—putting trails at the forefront. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) galvanized America into action as we sought to connect communities of every shape and size with new programs and […]
Ohio's Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail | Photo by Jason Cohn
Blog
Six Ways to Be a Good Steward on Celebrate Trails Day (and Every Day)
April 10, 2023
This year, Celebrate Trails Days takes place on April 22—the same day as Earth Day! That means double the opportunity to celebrate nature and the outdoors while demonstrating stewardship on our nation’s trails.   Below are just a few ways you can participate on Celebrate Trails Day while showing a little love to your community and the planet. 1. Give […]
Community Painting Day with artist Jay Coreano along Pennsylvania's Tacony Creek Trail | Photo courtesy Tookany-Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc
Blog
10 Great Destinations Along Missouri’s Future Rock Island Trail
March 16, 2023
The state of Missouri is partnering with local communities and nonprofit groups to plan and develop the Rock Island Trail, which is situated along a 144-mile disused rail corridor between Windsor and Beaufort. When complete, the trail will showcase 23 communities and serve as a boon for outdoor tourism and economic development. With additional connections to […]
This Caboose greets visitors where the Katy Trail and the Rock Island Trail intersect in Windsor. | Photo courtesy Missouri Rock island Trail Inc.
Blog
Reflecting on 2022: Capturing Once-in-a-Generation Opportunities for Trails, Walking and Biking
December 08, 2022
When Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) welcomed 2022 in January, we did so with excitement and energy. Unprecedented demand in recent years for trails and walking and biking facilities, and the passage of a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill in late 2021, has the potential to be transformative for hundreds—and potentially thousands—of communities in America. Understanding the once-in-a-generation opportunities before […]
Photo courtesy Getty Images
Blog
Trailside: Richmond’s (Haunted?) Poe Museum and the Legacy of a Gothic Literary Master
October 28, 2022
Special thanks to the Poe Museum for assisting in the creation of this article. For many people, it’s the connections to our history and culture that make rail-trails truly great. To celebrate Halloween, our TrailBlog team felt it was fitting to shine a light on a 100-year cultural attraction in Richmond, The Poe Museum, which sits […]
The Poe Museum and its famous kitty ambassadors, Edgar and Pluto, near the Virginia Capital Trail in Richmond | Photo courtesy The Poe Museum
Blog
Check Out These Historical Haunted Houses and Buildings—Trailside
October 28, 2022
“Ghost stories are an entertaining and spooky way to celebrate Halloween, but they also illuminate stories rooted in actual history. In the United States, haunted houses are prevalent, so it makes sense that America’s most famous residence and its surrounding neighborhood would lead the way with numerous spirited tales of the supernatural.” —Colleen Shogan, WHHA […]
White House at Halloween | Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks
Blog
World Record Holder Sets Out on 475-Mile Wheelchair Trek on the Great American Rail-Trail
September 23, 2022
When Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) first met Ian Mackay in August of 2019, he hadn’t yet broken the Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered in 24 hours in a mouth-controlled power wheelchair—an accomplishment he achieved this past June. He had, at that time, however, just surpassed 1,000 consecutive days—that’s some 2.7 years’ worth of days in a row—of […]
Ian’s ride on the Great American Rail-Trail began with a ceremony on the National Mall. | Photo by Anthony Le, courtesy RTC
Blog
Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks
August 31, 2022
Right now in America, the transportation sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, with personal vehicles and light trucks accounting for the majority. Bringing down these emissions—by driving less and making vehicles cleaner—will help decrease our carbon footprint and is critical to the health of our planet and our communities. It’s evident that the effects of […]
Along the Great Rivers Greenway trail network in St. Louis, Missouri | Photo courtesy Great Rivers Greenway
Blog
20 Iconic Bike and Pedestrian Bridges in America
June 08, 2022
Across the country, bridges are literally serving as gateways for communities to achieve critical strides in active transportation, conservation and economic development. Here, we take a look at 20 iconic bridges and trestles in the United States (in no particular order) that have played—or are playing—transformative connectivity roles in their regions. For a more in-depth […]
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connecting Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska | Photo by Matthew Nissen
Blog
Richmond’s Roots
May 11, 2022
It’s a chilly mid-November Saturday morning in California’s East Bay, and a collection of staff members from Urban Tilth, an agricultural nonprofit that operates a farm and community gardens in Richmond, California, is leading a volunteer cleanup and planting session on a section of the 3-mile Richmond Greenway. Their focus is on a trail block that houses […]
California's Richmond Greenway | Photo by R.D. Lopez
Blog
Cómo volver a montar en bicicleta después de años (8 consejos simples)
March 24, 2022
Read this blog in English. Tengo treinta y largos, y recientemente comencé a andar en bicicleta nuevamente después de un largo tiempo. La última y única bicicleta que tuve fue una azul sencilla de tres velocidades que compré cuando tenía 15 años y, aunque me encantaba, la montaba en todos los destinos típicos de los adolescentes. […]
Foto cortesía de Bicycle House Tallahassee
Blog
Equipamiento de ciclismo útil para senderos, ¡y algunos consejos de MacGyver!
March 22, 2022
Read this blog in English. Para algunos de nosotros en climas fríos de invierno, la primavera marca el momento en que volvemos al ritmo de las cosas después de no haber recorrido los senderos por un tiempo. Dicho esto, es un momento ideal para que los ciclistas evalúen sus paseos en dos o tres ruedas, […]
2017 Opening Day for Trails en Three Rivers Heritage Trail en Pittsburgh, Pensilvania | Foto de Amy Kapp
Blog
A Look Ahead for the Trails Movement in 2022 and Beyond
December 21, 2021
As we usher in 2022, people around the country prove more passionate than ever about trails, walking and biking. The same is true at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), where the team is more dedicated than ever to connecting the nation by trail. At RTC, we believe in the transformative power of trails—for the health and vitality […]
Richmond Greenway | Courtesy RTC
Blog
Here Are Six Reasons Rails-to-Trails Is Celebrating This Year
December 10, 2021
A year of positive momentum. That’s how we’d describe 2021, which—despite many challenges and much uncertainty—still came with so much hope and progress for trails and those who made them happen. We saw how trails were embraced in America. We heard from thousands of people who personally shared their stories of just how much they value trails […]
White River State Trail, part of the Route of the Badger trail network | Photo by TrailLink user lkgatu
Blog
Top 10 Trails in Washington, DC
December 02, 2021
Check out some of our favorite trails in Washington, DC, below. It’s to be expected that our nation’s capital would contain some of the most renowned landmarks and green spaces in America—connecting us to our history and heritage, and celebrating the many people and diverse cultures that make up our country. But D.C. has a […]
Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Branch Trail | Photo by India Kea
Blog
Eight Creepy Cool Trailside Attractions
October 27, 2021
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s editorial team really loves Halloween. For some much-needed levity (no pun intended) this spooky fun season, check out this list of some of our favorite creepy trailside attractions. And if you like this, don’t miss “10 Haunted Tales from America’s Trails.” Special thanks to all the trail organizations and historical sites that participated in […]
Photo by Hunter Franklin, courtesy Facebook.com:dollsheadtrail
Blog
History Along the Great American Rail-Trail: A Kick-Off With the Creators
June 14, 2021
In 2019, TrailLink.com™, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC’s) national trail-finder website, embarked on an ambitious historical exploration of the developing Great American Rail-Trail™, with a goal to shine a light on the people, landmarks and innovations that encapsulate this iconic 3,700-mile route between Washington, D.C., and Washington State. The project—which is supported by American Express and publicly launches this summer—comprises hundreds […]
Capital Crescent Trail in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Jon Lowenstein
Blog
Top 10 Trails in Virginia
April 20, 2021
The Old Dominion is truly a Commonwealth—of trails, that is, with some 49 connecting some of the country’s most renowned geographic and cultural landmarks, and 11 more on the way. Here are just some of the reasons why we think Virginia trails are truly top-notch. Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail Counties: Grayson, Washington Running for […]
Virginia Creeper Trail | Photo by Anthony Le
Blog
Top 10 Trails in Wisconsin
March 04, 2021
With more than 101 rail-trails spanning nearly 2,000 miles, 25,000 miles of snowmobiling routes and a national scenic trail that traverses 1,000 miles of glaciated terrain, Wisconsin is clearly a place where the outdoors reign supreme—perhaps as well regarded as the state’s cheese and beer industries? (But you’ll certainly find an abundance of both along […]
Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta State Trail | Photo by Eric Reischl Photography
Blog
Winter “Share the Trail” Etiquette and Safety Tips
February 01, 2021
If you live in a place that experiences snow and colder weather in the winter months, then you know that winter can be a glorious, but also slightly more challenging, time to be active in the outdoors. In addition to specific health considerations that come with being out in frigid conditions, the varied mix of different […]
Pennsylvania's Trout Island Trail | Photo by TrailLink user vicki1960
Blog
American Icons: Rail-Trails That Helped Shape the National Landscape
January 22, 2021
In September 1963, the Chicago Tribune published a reader’s letter titled “Future Footpath,” which was authored by an esteemed 70-year-old naturalist named May Theilgaard Watts. The letter extolled the virtues of developing a trail along the disused Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railway corridor connecting Chicago and its western suburbs—a call to action to preserve the […]
Along the Illinois Prairie Path in Warrenville | Photo by Beverly Horne/Daily Herald/dailyherald.com
Blog
Top 10 Trails in Pennsylvania
January 08, 2021
The Keystone State is a very fitting nickname for Pennsylvania—not only for its central role in the development of the country, but also for its role as a leader in national trail development, claiming 188 completed rail-trails to date collectively spanning more than 2,100 miles. That’s more rail-trails than any other state! Check out this list […]
Great Allegheny Passage (gaptrail.org) | Photo by Milo Bateman
Blog
Looking Back, With Gratitude, on a Year of Challenges and Triumphs for Trails
December 23, 2020
As 2020 draws to a close—a year of extreme changes and challenges—it is with incredible appreciation that we reflect on the collective impact of our movement across the country. While the COVID-19 pandemic has altered our lives dramatically, it has also made clear just how vital trails are to people and places—serving as important space […]
Photo by India Kea
Blog
Atlanta’s Doll’s Head Trail Is an Eerily Cool Trailside Attraction—With a Great Cause
October 27, 2020
It began as kind of a dark joke, all told, but the Doll’s Head Trail—a name that doesn’t quite sum up the 2.5-mile whimsical (and sometimes creepy) trail-turned-art exhibit tucked away in DeKalb, County’s Constitution Lakes Park in Atlanta, Georgia—has evolved into a regional and national attraction since its inception a decade ago. We chatted with the trail’s […]
Doll’s Head Trail in DeKalb County’s Constitution Lakes Park, Atlanta, Georgia | Photo by Marcus O. Bst | CC BY 2.0 GENERIC
Blog
America’s Most Unique Trailside Attractions
July 27, 2020
For years, we’ve been hearing about those strange and extraordinary attractions that have made for classic road trips across the country. But what about trailside? Connecting some of the most diverse communities, landmarks and geography in America, trails are the perfect places to find the inspiring, the unique and—in some cases—the truly bizarre. In that […]
Longeberger Basket Company former world headquarters along the T.J. Evans Panhandle Trail in Ohio | BY-NC-ND 2.0
Blog
How the Great Allegheny Passage Transformed a Region
May 12, 2020
Since its formal inception in the 1990s, the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) (gaptrail.org) in Southwestern Pennsylvania and Western Maryland has gone from a vision to a premier rail-trail destination in the United States. The effort would take nearly two decades, but the results, achieved on a cascading tidal wave of collaboration, sweat equity and unwavering persistence, […]
Great Allegheny Passage just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Photo by Milo Bateman
Blog
Rail-Trail Cases That Have Shaped the Movement
February 20, 2020
When Andrea Ferster became Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC’s) general counsel in October 1992 after seven years with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and in private practice, the legal framework around rail-trails was relatively undeveloped. Now, 25 years later, Ferster—who has represented RTC in more than 60 cases defending rail-trails—is one of the nation’s leading experts […]
Andrea Ferster | Photo by Eli Griffen
Blog
Nine Romantic Trail Destinations That Will Make You Swoon
February 10, 2020
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we thought it was a great time to bust out this list of top romantic trails in the United States, chosen for their “swoon-worthy” romantic views, date-worthy amenities and just plain good old-fashioned charm. (And with Celebrate Trails Day just around the corner—you can never have too many great ideas […]
View from the Ivanhoe Trestle along New River Trail State Park | Courtesy Virginia DCR
Blog
Connectivity Evolution: Examining a Decade of Rails-to-Trails’ Impact, 2010–2020
December 31, 2019
By 2010, the rail-trail movement had taken hold across America—having gone from an idea in the 1960s to preserve precious transportation corridors, to a full-fledged national movement. From the historic railbanking statute and federal funding programs and innovations that helped spur more than 20,000 miles of rail-trails and new walk-bike infrastructure (by the early 2010s), to the development of cutting-edge […]
Photo courtesy RTC
Blog
Seven Ways Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Brought Big Impact in 2019
December 05, 2019
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has a big goal: To connect the entire nation by trail, delivering connected, seamless pathways for walking, biking and rolling that are completely separated from vehicle traffic. And with it, we hope to deliver big, transformative outcomes for people and places—new opportunities for mobility, for economic growth, for health and wellness, for […]
Great American Rail-Trail preferred route reveal in South Cle Elum, Washington | Photo by Kathy Young
Blog
Former Rails-to-Trails President Keith Laughlin Named 2019 Rail-Trail Champion
December 02, 2019
When Keith Laughlin became the second president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) in 2001, he did not envision he’d help usher in a golden age for trails. He was just excited for the next chapter of his career, a duration of “five to seven years,” he told the board, in which he hoped his 22 years […]
Keith Laughlin riding Caracara Trails | Photo courtesy RTC
Blog
10 Haunted Tales from America’s Trails
October 17, 2019
With histories that go back centuries and even millennia, trails might just be the perfect locations to trigger our supernatural senses. In the “spirit” of fun this Halloween, RTC searched for the spookiest tales we could find on America’s diverse collection of rail-trails and multiuse pathways. *Check out these 10 great (and sometimes strange) tales […]
Ghost of Silver Run | Illustration by Anthony Le
Blog
Five Common Types of Trail Use Rules (Everyone Should Know)
September 13, 2019
When you’re out on the trail, knowing and following the rules seems easy enough, but rules can vary from trail to trail. Some rules are universal, while others differ by state and municipality. Although it’s impossible to list the rules for every trail in the United States, we’ve broken them down into five simple categories that all […]
Photo courtesy John Gresham | CC by 2.0
Blog
16 Historic Highlights Along the Route of the Great American Rail-Trail
May 08, 2019
Rail-trails are the perfect way for us to connect to each other, our communities and our cultural heritage. Unique in makeup and geography, each trail that’s hosting the 3,700-miles-plus preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail has many stories to tell—some as old as, or far older than, our country itself. Both well known and lesser known, […]
Pony Express station at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center | Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management | CC by 2.0
Blog
Protecting Trails in 2018: Five Ways We Mobilized in Communities This Year
November 15, 2018
All across the country—from the great redwoods of California, to the trestles of Missouri, to the stream valleys and neighborhoods of Baltimore, Maryland—Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and the national trail community put itself on the front lines to protect and defend trails in 2018.  RTC worked closely alongside trail groups, advocates and friends to protect trails […]
Baltimore, Maryland | Photo by Side A Photography
Blog
Pete Raynor, Railbanking Author, Named 2018 Rail-Trail Champion
September 27, 2018
One of the most important moments in the history of the rail-trail movement happened behind the scenes, with little fanfare or notice, when National Park Service (NPS) staffer Peter Raynor drafted an invaluable piece of legislation in just a few words. His work was inspired by the way the Maryland legislature protected sail-powered oyster dredging […]
2018 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champions Award ceremony honoring Pete Raynor | Photo by Hung Tran
Blog
These Farm Markets and Gardens Are Inspiring Health on America’s Trails
August 09, 2018
What’s better than a farmers’ market or community garden for providing locally grown food and encouraging good eating? Why, a market or garden next to a trail, of course! Here are three that are leading the charge for food equity, healthy lifestyles and social interaction in America’s underserved communities. Texas Historic Battlefield Trail: Brownsville Farmers’ […]
Urban Tilth community garden | Photo courtesy Urban Tilth
Blog
Ohio Senators Steve Wilson and Sean O’Brien on Creating a Statewide Trail System
May 11, 2018
In Spring 2017, Ohio launched the Ohio Legislative Trails Caucus, a bipartisan group of state-elected officials committed to connecting Ohioans via a statewide trails network. Formed by Sens. Sean O’Brien (D) and Steve Wilson (R), the unique group of 29 legislators seeks to establish new policies and funding streams that will help turn their vision […]
Left to Right- Senators Sean O’Brien and Steve Wilson | Photo by Brian Housh
Blog
Useful Biking Gear for Trails—Plus a Few MacGyver Tips!
March 30, 2018
Este contenido también está disponible en español. For some of us in cold-winter-weather climates, spring marks the time when we’re getting back into the swing of things after not hitting the trail in a while! That said, it’s an ideal time for cyclists to evaluate their two- or three-wheeled rides, get tune-ups (if needed) and inventory what they need […]
2017 Opening Day for Trails on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Photo by Amy Kapp
Blog
Five Rail-Trails Along the Underground Railroad
February 15, 2018
These rail-trails along the route are providing connections to some of the Underground Railroad’s celebrated and historic landmarks. Spanning more than 2,007 miles between Alabama and Canada, the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route (UGRR) memorializes the network that helped slaves escape to freedom before and during the Civil War. A Historic Route Created by the Adventure Cycling Association in […]
Mario Brown from the Center for Health Equity at the University of Pittsburgh and Adventure Cycling member George Thomas in front of Bertie Hall, along the Niagara River Recreation Trail in Ontario, Canada, during the 2007 inaugural tour of the Underground Railroad Bicycling Route | Photo by C. Spratling, courtesy Adventure Cycling Association
Blog
Trail Geek Terminology (A Cheat-Sheet to Satisfy Your Inner Wonk)
January 29, 2018
As the debate continues on how funding for trails, walking and biking will fare in the next federal infrastructure bill, RTC will be calling on policy makers to ensure trails, walking and biking are included in a big way—and we hope that trail lovers everywhere will join the conversation. That said, we’ve put together this little trail-geek cheat-sheet so […]
Photo Courtesy RTC
Blog
Bright Horizons: Florida’s Miami LOOP
January 12, 2018
This 225-mile trail network project throughout Miami-Dade County is taking the region to new levels of transportation, health, and economic and environmental resiliency. “In a big urban area like Miami-Dade, connec­tivity is very important.” —David Henderson, Intermodal Manager, Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization At barely 6 feet above sea level, and with urban development at maximum […]
The Atlantic Greenway in South Beach is part of Florida’s 225-mile developing Miami LOOP. | Photo by Lee Smith
Blog
Former Congressman Tom Petri Named RTC’s 2016 Rail-Trail Champion
December 06, 2016
Since 2011, the Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champions Award honors individuals around the nation who have made significant contributions to the rail-trail movement through their work, volunteerism or support—in short, people who have gone above and beyond in the name of trails. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is pleased to name former U.S. Congressman Tom Petri as the 2016 Doppelt […]
A nostalgic image of former Congressman Tom Petri biking with his daughter Alexandra (now a columnist with the Washington Post) and wife Ann (DeDe) Petri | Photo courtesy Tom Petri
Blog
Former R.E.M. Tour Manager Creates Rural Connections in Washington
November 07, 2016
“There’s nothing more positive or punk rock than giving back to your community.” – Bobby Whittaker It may be a no-brainer that Seattle-born Bobby Whittaker has always loved the outdoors, having been raised by the first American to summit Mt. Everest. It was the city’s music scene, however, that led him to a rewarding 25-year career, […]
Bobby Whittaker, president of Ferry County Rail Trail Partners, with 770-foot trestle over Curlew Lake in background | Photo by Rich Landers
Blog
10 More Game-Changing Rail-Trails
June 10, 2016
Earlier this year, we posted Ten Trails That Helped Build the Movement. But of course, with almost 2,000 completed rail-trails across the country, we just scratched the surface. In 1986, there were only 250 miles of rail-trails. Three decades later—thanks to a lot of passionate people—rail-trails have transformed America. Here are 10 more game-changing rail-trails (in no particular […]
Martin Olav Sabo Bridge over Hiawatha Avenue along the Midtown Greenway in Minnesota | Photo courtesy Tony Webster | CC by 2.0
Blog
How May T. Watts Inspired the Illinois Prairie Path and U.S. Rail-Trail Movement
March 14, 2016
May Theilgaard Watts (1893-1975) was a writer, illustrator, naturalist, scientist and teacher. Her determination that Americans stay connected to their natural landscape in a time of increasing urbanization was the catalyst that led to the formation of the Illinois Prairie Path, which was created in the 1960s and now forms a 61-mile web through the Chicago […]
Illinois Prairie Path | Trail photo courtesy David Wilson | CC by 2.0 | Photo of Watts by Isabel Wasson
Blog
30 Years: Birth and Evolution of the American Rail-Trail Movement
March 10, 2016
From preserving rail-trails to creating healthier communities: RTC celebrates the evolution of the American Rail-Trail Movement and its 30th anniversary in 2016. The U.S. rail-trail movement began not with a bang—but as an intriguing idea that quietly took hold in the Midwest in the 1960s and eventually spread across the country. By that time, the railroad industry […]
Montour Trail in Pennsylvania | Photo courtesy Jim Brown
Blog
10 Rail-Trails That Helped Build the Movement
February 11, 2016
Let me start by writing that, emphatically, there was no way to cover in this post every trail that was influential in the development of the 22,000 miles of rail-trails we know and love today. So consider this post #1 on this subject.   In February 1986, RTC opened its doors, and since that time, trails […]
The High Line in New York City | Photo by Adrian Cabrero
Blog
10 Movies with Great Walking Moments
November 24, 2015
Last year, in honor of the great tradition of turkey day movie watching in America, we posted 10 Great Biking Moments in Movies. With Thanksgiving upon us again, and with the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent Call to Action on Walking, we figured it was the perfect time to follow up with: 10 Movies with Great Walking Moments. […]
Stand by Me (1986) | Copyright by Columbia Pictures and other respective production studios and distributors. Intended for editorial use only.
Blog
Final Missouri Rock Island Trail Segment Confirmed in 450-Mile Trail Network
October 01, 2015
When it rains, it pours … There’s been a lot of action surrounding the Rock Island Trail in Missouri this month—culminating in an announcement made on Sept. 30 by Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and KCATA President Joe Reardon that a cooperative agreement has been reached to purchase a 17.7-mile section of disused Rock Island […]
Photo courtesy Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc.
Blog
10 Great Hiking and Walking Trails
September 30, 2015
Rail-trails are great places to walk, providing incredible backdrops for people to get to work and school, hang with family and friends, and reach great community destinations. In honor of Trails, Parks and Outdoor Spots month, here’s a list of 10 great walking and hiking trails across America (in no particular order). 1. Manitou Incline (Colorado) […]
Chessie Nature Trail | Photo by Frank N. Carlson
Blog
How to Get Back on a Bike—Years Later (8 Simple Tips)
July 09, 2015
Este contenido también está disponible en español. I’m in my later thirties, and I recently started riding a bike again after a long time. The last and only bike I ever owned was a no-frills, blue three-speed purchased when I was 15, and while I loved it, rode it to all your typical teenager destinations, I […]
Photo courtesy Bicycle House Tallahassee
Blog
Triumph on the Trails: How One Woman Reclaimed Her Health After Cancer
January 06, 2015
We were so deeply touched and inspired by the recently published third video installment of “Life on the Atlanta BeltLine,” which outlines the story of Jenny—wife, mother of twins and courageous individual who regained her health on Atlanta’s Eastside Trail after recovering from breast cancer.  According to the video blog: “Jenny and her husband initially moved to […]
Photo courtesy Ed Yourdon via Flickr
Blog
10 Great Biking Moments in Movies
November 25, 2014
Movie watching is a Thanksgiving tradition in America, and bike riding is a daily tradition at RTC and in many households across the country. Therefore, we’re pleased to bring you 10 biking movies (in order of release). Many of these films remind us of just how much we have to be thankful for: friendships, family, […]
Image courtesy RTC
Donate today!

Donate

Everyone deserves access to safe ways to walk, bike, and be active outdoors.