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.”

Erick (@Bicycle_Nomad) on the Exposition Line Bikeway | Photo courtesy Erick Cedeño

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.”

Kara Patajo @YourNorthWestieBestie on the Olympic Discovery Trail | Photo courtesy Kara Patajo

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.”

Somewhere in Indiana | Photo courtesy Sam Westby (@SamCWestby)

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.”

Shawn Gossman (@HikingWithShawn) at Tunnel Hill State Park | Photo by Shawn Gossman

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

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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.”

Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada (@Vanessa_Chav) | Photo by Micheli Oliver

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.

Hollie (@FueledByLOLZ) on Snake River Canyon Trail | Photo courtesy Hollie Sick

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

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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.”

Miranda (@MirandaGoesOutside) and her mother on Capital Crescent Trail | Video still courtesy RTC

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.”

Chelsea Murphy (@She_ColorsNature) | Photo courtesy Chelsea Murphy

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. ”

Ajoa (@SheIsFocused_Next) | Photo courtesy Ajoa Abrokwa

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

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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.”

Ian Mckay (iansride.com) - Photo by Jesse Major — Ian Mckay (IansRide.com) - Photo by Jesse Major

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.”

Bree and Noodle (@NoodsterScootster) | Photo courtesy of Bree Corbin

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

Use TrailLink to find accessible trails

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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.”

Adriana Garcia (@LatinxHikers) | Photo by Cherisa Hawkins (@SwitchbackShawty)

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.”