

View inspiring trail stories about:
Biking • Walking, Running and Hiking • Family Time • Accessibility • Engaging More Trail Users • Nature
Ohio's Camp Chase Trail | Photo by Jay LaPrete/AP Images
A Collection of Inspiring Trail Stories
Through our Trail Moments campaign, more than 2,000 people have shared the importance of trails in their lives and what motivates them to get outdoors. To encourage more people to explore trails and be active outdoors, we’re highlighting a few of those inspirational tales in our story gallery about biking, walking, running and hiking, family time, accessibility, engaging diverse trail users and enjoying nature. We hope you enjoy reading them and that you’ll continue to share your #TrailMoments!
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Biking
Erick Cedeño (@Bicycle_Nomad) on Self-Care
Health, restoration and well-being: “It gives me the sense of adventure my spirit loves. It also allows me to spend time alone and check-in with myself.”

Kara (@YourNorthWestieBestie) on Finding Adventure Nearby
Discovering adventure—close to home and checking off the bucket list: “Rail-trails provide an off-the-beaten opportunity to explore amazing places in a whole new light.”

Sam Westby (@SamCWestby) on Biking Across the Country
Connecting with family, friends and community: “Multiuse trails welcome people of all abilities, so no matter who you are, the trail is for you.”

Shawn Gossman (@HikingWithShawn) on Enjoying Fitness on Rail-Trails
Health, restoration and well-being: “That first time I rode on the rail-trail, I fell madly in love with it and cycling.”

Teacher Shares Bike Commuting Lessons
by Chris Hill
Cycling for Life
by Kathleen Richardson
BRB—I'm Enjoying the B2B (Border to Boston Trail)!
by Chris Roop
Enjoying the Trike Life
by Lew Roscoe
#TrailMoments with Albert Ting (@pootie_ting)
by Albert Ting, @pootie_ting
Couple Celebrates Half a Century of Healthy, Happy Biking
featuring John and Janine Brobst
Swapping a Car for a Bike? Here’s What I Learned.
by Victoria Yuen, @rudefoodpics
Advice From a Mom: How to Get Kids to Love Biking
by Laura Stark
A Path Forward for Better Biking in Roswell, New Mexico
by Daniel Cederberg, Moonrock Outfitters
Safe Trails Save Lives
by Stephen Dunn, @thebikingfireman
A Student of Biking: Learning to Love Trails
by Ugesh Egala
Finding Love Feet First
featuring Arias and Stephen Flory
Letting the Good (and Bad) Times Roll: New York Bike Shop Opens in the Midst of a Covid World
featuring Hal Simon, Fortress Bikes
Finding Health, Healing and Hope on the Trail
featuring MaShanta Ashmon
The Great Bike Shortage? For Me, It Was the Great Bike Summer!
by Silvia Ascarelli, exploringbybike.com
From Burnout to Biking: Rediscovering My Love for the Outdoors on Ohio’s Trails
by Amy Collins-Warfield
Stealing Moments of “Me Time” on the Trail as a Mom During COVID
by Brandi Horton
From Father to Son—A Beautiful Life on a Bike Seat
by Jorge Brito
LONG-DISTANCE BIKE TOURING
Our Quest to Visit All of America’s Hall of Fame Rail-Trails
by Carol Alexander
How To Long-Distance Bike Tour With (Six!) Young Kids
by Dale Majors
A Tale of a Tour: Traveling by Trail in Wisconsin
by Rachel and Patrick Hugens, racpat
Walking, Running and Hiking
Vanessa (@Vanessa_Chav) on Ways to Make Strides for the Planet
Climate action and resilience: “Trails are a vessel for us to connect with ourselves, each other and nature.”

Hollie (@fueledbylolz) on Connecting to Her New Community on Trails
Discovering adventure: “Running on trails was one of the best and most enjoyable ways to see the country safely.

Native Women Running Founder Verna Volker Gets a Running Start on Social Change
featuring Verna Volker, Native Women Running
Trail Moments with Latinx Hikers Co-Founder, Adriana Garcia
featuring Verna Volker, @outdoorhomie & @latinxhikers
Running for Good Health and a Good Cause
by Guy Monteleone
An Everlasting Love of Trails in the Evergreen State
by Art Segal
Morgantown Man Gets a Running Start to a Healthier Life on Trails
featuring Vincent Viars
Family Time
Miranda (@mirandagoesoutside) on Connecting on the Great American Rail-Trail
Connecting with family, friends and community: “I feel really lucky to have lots of access to these trails.”

Chelsea Murphy (@she_colorsnature) on Getting Outside With Your Kids
Connecting with family, friends and community: “As a family, we try to engage with everything that nature has to offer us and aim to get outside for 30 minutes every day.”

Ajoa (@SheIsFocused_Next) on Connecting with Family
Connecting with family, friends and community: “I have had many amazing trail experiences, and my most favorite trail moments have been those that I have shared with family and friends while building community. ”

Advice From a Mom: How to Get Kids to Love Biking
by Laura Stark
Couple Celebrates Half a Century of Healthy, Happy Biking
featuring John and Janine Brobst
Adapting Trail Trips for a Hiker With a Disability: A Family’s Advice
by Dan Brownstein
Connecting to Nature, Connecting as a Family, on America’s Trails
by Darlene Maxfield
How To Long-Distance Bike Tour With (Six!) Young Kids
by Dale Majors
Older, Wiser and Faster: A Friendly Competition Among Family
by Thresa Giles @t.money08 and Albert Grant @therealalbertgrant
A Journey Along the Anacostia River Trail
by James Heilig
Accessibility
Five Trail Moments with Ian Mackay (iansride.com)
Health, restoration and well-being : “Having a safe trail space where I can go explore my own interests, interact with the community, and run my own errands is monumental to my happiness.”

Bree Corbin and Noodle (@NoodsterScootster) on Accessibility on Trails
Connecting with family, friends and community: “A trail is something all people and animals can find enjoyment in. The more access we have to these trails, the more connected we can all be.”

Adapting to the Pandemic: Finding Safe Outdoor Spaces in a Changed World
by Marjorie Turner Hollman, marjorieturner.com
Adventure for All: Advocating for Accessible Outdoor Spaces
by Laura Stark
Adapting Trail Trips for a Hiker With a Disability: A Family’s Advice
by Dan Brownstein
Connecting to Nature, Connecting as a Family, on America’s Trails
by Darlene Maxfield
Engaging More Trail Users
Adriana Garcia (@latinxhikers) on Finding Healing in Nature
Spending time in nature: “There is something about seeing someone out on the trails or at the campsite with that sparkly look in their eye from trying something new that just keeps me going.”

Black Women In Nature (@BlkWomenInNature) on Creating Safe Spaces in Nature
Connecting with family, friends and community: “Being outdoors gives people time to rest and recharge, which pushes back on the notion that the busier we are, the more valuable we are.”

Trail Moments with Jeff Jenkins of Chubby Diaries
by Jeff Jenkins, chubbydiaries.com
Trail Moments with Latino Outdoors Outings Leader Valerie Pasión
featuring Valerie Pasión, Latino Outdoors
A Conversation With Chelsea Murphy of She Colors Nature
by Chelsea Murphy, @she_colorsnature
Native Women Running Founder Verna Volker Gets a Running Start on Social Change
featuring Verna Volker, Native Women Running
Nature
Keith Russell On Birding
Spending time in nature: “Birding can help us become better listeners and observers, as well as more careful and detailed thinkers.”

Equestrian Finds Emotional Freedom on the Trail
by Megan Gray
#TrailMoments with Vanessa @vanessa_chav
by Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada, @vanessa_chav
Tips for Outdoor Outings With Your Kids
by Chelsea Murphy, @she_colorsnature
Philly Birder Takes Fledgling Bird Enthusiasts Under His Wing
featuring Keith Russell
From Burnout to Biking: Rediscovering My Love for the Outdoors on Ohio’s Trails
by Amy Collins-Warfield
How Trails and Outdoor Access Provide Important Mental Health Benefits
by Cory Matteson