Skip to content

Rails to Trails Magazine

Virginia’s W&OD Trail | Photo by Albert Ting

Rails to Trails magazine is dedicated to exploring America’s remarkable rail-trails and trail networks, with a focus on the impact they have in communities nationwide. Published quarterly—three times per year in print plus one all-multimedia edition—the magazine is a benefit of membership to Rails to Trails Conservancy. Subscribe now to get great trail content while supporting RTC and the trails movement.

Preview Latest Issue

Fall 2024 Issue

That’s the theme of this, our Fall 2024 issue of Rails to Trails, which takes a closer look at how trails across America are creating thriving, vibrant public spaces where people come together, and impact is made.

See What’s In This Issue

In this issue, we:

Runners on Hawaii's Ke Ala Hele Makālae | Photo courtesy Kauai Path
Hawai’i’s Ke Ala Hele Makālae | Photo courtesy Kauai Path

Green Issue 2024

In this all-multimedia issue, we examine the joy and impact that trails bring. Celebrating your child learning to ride a bike, or the accomplishment of achieving your first 10K. The wonder in experiencing new and otherworldly landscapes, and the way the trail helped grow thriving trailside businesses that blossomed into a regional economy. The important role the trail serves as a new route through town to get to school.

Explore Green Issue

^

Get Rails to Trails free with your membership graphic by RTC

Subscribe to the Magazine

Rails to Trails magazine is a benefit of membership to Rails to Trails Conservancy, which is $18 a year, $4 of which supports the magazine. In addition to the magazine, members receive discounts on RTC gifts and publications.

Read More Magazine Stories

View More Blogs

^

Digital Feature Videos

In the all-multimedia Green IssueRails to Trails magazine takes a closer look at the leadership, public investment and community collaboration that is fueling efforts to create and connect trails—and bring this essential infrastructure to communities that have long been disinvested and under-resourced.

A Civic Transformation: The Rise of Texas’ Trail Networks

Across Texas, a cultural revolution is underway. In a state known for its highways, trail networks are emerging in numbers. Communities are building big visions to become walkable and bikeable—putting a priority on the safety of their friends and neighbors, and leveraging the power of this infrastructure to create new economic opportunity alongside new access to the outdoors. Leadership in the state is taking note and taking action, with the Texas Department of Transportation reimagining its signature federal funding programs to account for large-scale projects necessary to connect trails and trail networks.

A poster child of the change that’s underway can be seen in Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley, where regionwide connectivity is a long-sought goal of public leaders and residents, who are seeking to connect key community destinations, urban centers and outdoor amenities into the 428-mile Caracara Trails system, an RTC TrailNation™ project.

Featuring:

Noah Heath, TxDOT; Rose Gowen, City of Brownsville; Helen Ramirez, City of Brownsville; Eva Garcia, Rio Grande Valley MPO

Produced by Rails to Trails magazine and DS Simon Media


Energizing a Region: Missouri’s Rock Island Trail State Park

The people of Missouri are leading the charge for the Rock Island Trail State Park, anticipating the incredible impact the trail, when realized, could have along the 144-mile corridor. This video shines a light on how the communities are making it happen, with a goal to revitalize towns, spur new business and commerce, create safe off-road routes to destinations in dozens of towns along the route, and establish a new statewide tourism identity.

Read more about the Rock Island Trail State Park project in our online feature.

Featuring:

Rep. Bruce Sassmann, Missouri House of Representatives, 62nd District; Mayor Shannon Grus, City of Rosebud; Kim Henderson, Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park; Cary Parker, Gerald City Council/Bistro at the Mill; Jimmy Zumwalt, Mid-State Pipeline Maintenance/City of Belle

Produced by Rails to Trails magazine and DS Simon Media


Photo Essays

View More Blogs

^

Get Rails to Trails free with your membership graphic by RTC

Subscribe to the Magazine

The magazine is a benefit of membership to Rails to Trails Conservancy, which is $18 a year, $4 of which supports the magazine. In addition to the magazine, members receive discounts on RTC gifts and publications.

Past Magazine Issues

View digital versions of past issues below or contact us for back issues.

Rails to Trails Magazine 2024 Winter issue
2024 Winter issue
Rails to Trails Magazine 2024 Spring/Summer Issue
2024 Spring/Summer Issue
Rails to Trails Magazine Fall 2024 Issue
2024 Fall Issue
Green Issue 2024 hero illustration by RTC
2023 Winter issue
2023 Winter issue
2023 Spring/Summer Issue
2023 Spring/Summer Issue
2023 Fall Issue
2023 Fall Issue
2022 Winter issue
2022 Winter issue
2022 Spring/Summer issue
2022 Spring/Summer issue
2022 Fall Issue
2022 Fall Issue
2021 Winter Issue
2021 Winter Issue
2021 Spring/Summer Issue
2021 Spring/Summer Issue
2021 Fall Issue
2021 Fall Issue
2020 Winter issue
2020 Winter issue
2020 Spring/Summer Issue
2020 Spring/Summer Issue
2020 Fall Issue
2020 Fall Issue

^

We Want to Hear From You!

Our members always have plenty to say (and write) about Rails to Trails—and we’re always eager to hear it! If you enjoyed or have comments on a recent issue of the magazine, please submit a short letter to our editor. If we can—we’ll print it in the next edition! You can also contact us for former issues and articles of Rails to Trails not listed in the archive. Don’t forget to check out our TrailBlog for more stories.