Meet the 2026 Hall of Fame Nominees
Since 2007, RTC has been honoring America’s preeminent multiuse trails through the Hall of Fame. During this monumental year, set against the backdrop of America 250 and RTC’s 40th anniversary, we’re thrilled to spotlight nominees that exemplify the joyful transformation trails have brought to the country’s landscape. Inductees receive the honor based on merits such as scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, accessibility, excellence in management and maintenance, and community benefit, plus connectivity locally and to regional trail and active transportation systems.
Three trails are in the running to enter the Hall of Fame this year, and with your support, one of them will join the ranks of the iconic trails that have received this honor. Each nominee is deserving of recognition, which is why we need your help. Which trail is your pick to join the Hall of Fame? Let us know when online voting kicks off on August 5!
Mount Vernon Trail, Virginia
In the early 1970s, community efforts led by Ellen Pickering and Barbara Lynch, two grassroots activists, resulted in the development of the first 4.5 miles of the Mount Vernon Trail. Today, the paved pathway spans 18.5 miles and serves as a major component of Northern Virginia’s trail system, the regional 469-mile Capital Trails Network and the multi-state East Coast Greenway. It offers opportunities to explore American history through sites like George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate; view iconic scenery, including the Washington and Lincoln Memorials; and visit popular destinations like Old Town Alexandria. Additional connections to the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and the 9/11 Memorial Trail offer access to more destinations and enhance the opportunities for cultural and historical learning.
With leadership from the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail, formed by a group of dedicated trail users in 2018, volunteers participate in educational and community events to remove invasive vegetation, improve trail safety and foster a deeper appreciation for the trail. In the years to come, the trail will see connections to more parks and trails, dining and retail, and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The Mount Vernon Trail is a prime example of the power of trails to connect people to each other, recreation, transportation, nature and other trails.
Learn more in our Take an American Adventure on 10 Presidential Pathways article.
Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Ohio
Currently winding 92 miles through northeastern Ohio—and planned to extend to 101 miles by 2030—the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail connects communities across four counties from Cleveland to New Philadelphia. With a mix of surfaces, including asphalt, crushed limestone and dirt, the trail offers a varied experience for hiking, bicycling and inline skating, as well as equestrian use in some sections.
Paralleling an early-19th century canal, views along the way include a series of canal locks, restored historical buildings and, in some areas, the water-filled canal that now supports native wildlife like beavers, turtles, fish and herons. Additionally, the trail provides access to trail towns, parks and lakes. After the Great Flood of 1913, the towpath went unused until the 1980s when former Congressman Ralph Regula saw its potential and championed for the Ohio & Erie Canalway to be designated as a National Heritage Area. That came to pass in 1996, and the effort kickstarted the restoration of the trail.
Today, the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail serves over 2.5 million users annually and is a major component of the state-spanning 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail and the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail® developing across the country. It traverses Cuyahoga Valley National Park and offers access to a plethora of historic and scenic sites, such as the wildlife-rich Beaver Marsh and Fort Laurens, a Revolutionary War site. A portion of the route also runs adjacent to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Learn more in our Trail of the Month article.
Historic Battlefield Trail, Texas
Located in Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley, the 10-mile Historic Battlefield Trail allows users to visit major battle sites of the Mexican-American War. In addition to sharing this part of America’s story, the trail provides opportunities for physical activity and alternative transportation. Running from downtown Brownsville, through Palo Alto Battlefield National Park and to Los Fresnos, the paved pathway offers a convenient option for accessing several residential neighborhoods, eateries, museums and other destinations. Amenities found throughout the trail include picnic areas, playgrounds and bicycle racks.
It also plays an important role in the developing Caracara Trails, envisioned to be a 428-mile connected network of hiking and biking trails, paddling trails and bicycle routes across Cameron County. Kayaking waterways, a community garden and the 8-mile Rose M.Z. Gowen M.D. Trail (formerly known as the West Rail Trail) can also be reached by the Historic Battlefield Trail. Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2013, and to date the only trail south of San Antonio with this designation, the Historic Battlefield Trail provides a great way for exploring South Texas and seeing its palm trees, mesquites and other natural landscapes and wildlife.
Learn more in our Trail of the Month article.
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