A View From: Influential Hall of Fame Trails
As Rails to Trails Conservancy marks its 40th anniversary this year, we are inspired by the decades of effort by neighbors, families and friends who have banded together to transform disused spaces into well-loved, vibrant trails. Over the past four decades, the country has witnessed how these pathways have generated endless benefits for communities, from economic vitality to safe mobility options and connections to our shared historical and cultural heritage.
Since 2007, RTC has recognized America’s most exemplary trails by inducting them into the Hall of Fame. Here, we take a look at several of our favorites.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2026 issue of Rails to Trails magazine and has been reposted here in an edited format. Subscribe to read more articles about remarkable trails while also supporting our work.
Heritage Rail Trail County Park (Pennsylvania)
Paralleling the Northern Central Railway of York (formerly Steam Into History), Pennsylvania’s Heritage Rail Trail County Park is a shining example of a successful rail-with-trail pairing. It follows the route of the rail line once ridden by President Lincoln en route to deliver his famed “Gettysburg Address.” Excursion trains pulled by a replica 1860s steam locomotive and featuring costumed reenactors celebrate this history. Extending nearly 30 miles north from the Maryland border, the rail-trail also offers two historical depots and a railroad tunnel dating to the early 1800s.
Monon Trail (Indiana)
In Central Indiana, the Monon Trail, a community asset for nearly three decades, is serving as a springboard for an ever-growing network of trails across the region, including Hamilton County’s Hubway system announced in 2025. Spanning nearly 30 miles from Indianapolis through its northern suburbs, the rail-trail has sparked business development and the creation of neighborhood gathering spaces. In Carmel, for example, visitors will find a pathway lined with shops and restaurants and sprinkled with public art, playgrounds and Ping-Pong tables in the once industrial corridor.
Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail (California)
The Bureau of Land Management administers a whopping 15,000 miles of historical, scenic and multiuse trails. Four decades ago, the agency took on the Bizz Johnson Trail, which became a model for community partnerships and rail-trail conversions nationwide. Following an old logging route through the upland forests of Northern California, the 25-mile pathway provided a template for public access to a remote landscape, offering a comfortable experience through the rugged (and stunningly beautiful) Susan River Canyon.
Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail (Florida)
Although its origins are rooted in tragedy—a 17-year-old was killed while attempting to cross a causeway on his bike—Florida’s Pinellas Trail now provides a safe transportation option for approximately 2 million people annually. Since its first section opened in 1990, the rail-trail has served as a national model for urban environments with a design that includes numerous overpasses and underpasses at busy road intersections. It’s also a component of the 75-mile Pinellas Trail Loop, a key connector in the most densely populated county in the state.
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway (Massachusetts)
The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway’s connection to history doesn’t stop at its name. Massachusetts’ 10-mile rail-trail, located just outside of Boston, follows part of Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride of April 18, 1775. Along the way, it provides access to a handful of battle sites from the Revolutionary War, and trailside displays help share that story. Another stop is Munroe Tavern, which once served as a headquarters for the British. The trail ends near the Lexington Battle Green, where minutemen faced British soldiers.
Raccoon River Valley Trail (Iowa)
If asked to guess the location of one of the largest paved trail loops in the country, you might not suspect central Iowa, but the Raccoon River Valley Trail has become a beacon for what a rural rail-trail experience can be. Already spanning nearly 90 miles, the rail-trail was connected to the adjacent High Trestle Trail in 2024, creating 120 miles of continuous pathway in the Des Moines area. The duo is also part of the Great American Rail-Trail®, an ambitious effort to connect trails between Washington, D.C., and Washington State.
Tammany Trace (Louisiana)
Located north of New Orleans, Louisiana’s Tammany Trace shows how it’s possible to create the feeling of a natural oasis within easy reach of a major city. While the trail winds through piney woods and wetlands along Lake Pontchartrain’s north shore, many of its sections feel remote, even though the downtowns of five quaint communities are close at hand. The Trace was also the first segment of the Louisiana Bootlace Trail Network, an effort to link 100+ miles of trails circling the lake and connecting New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Pere Marquette Rail Trail (Michigan)
In a state chock-full of rail-trails (nearly 140), Michigan’s Pere Marquette Rail Trail is a standout for the indomitable human spirit that made it possible. With a 30-year legacy of strong community support, it’s become a gold standard for collaborative partnerships and volunteer efforts. Beginning from a three-span bridge called The Tridge, the pathway extends 30 miles northwest with no shortage of trailside parks, museums and other attractions. When it reaches Clare, the 2024 closure of a gap now makes it possible to continue the adventure on the 60-mile Pere Marquette State Trail.
Walkway Over the Hudson (New York)
When it opened in 1888, the railroad bridge that is now the Walkway Over the Hudson was hailed as the Great Connector, linking New England cities with supplies from Pennsylvania, the Midwest and beyond. Today, the bridge reprises that connector role as part of New York’s Empire State Trail, which spans the state. Beginning in Poughkeepsie, the Walkway—one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world—crosses the Hudson River and touches down in Highland, connecting to rail-trails on either side.
Hall of Fame trails have been selected based on merits such as scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, accessibility, excellence in management and maintenance of facility, community connections and geographic distribution.
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