Posts by Amy Kapp

A Look Ahead for the Trails Movement in 2022 and Beyond

Posted 12/21/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Equity, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Route of the Badger, Trail Moments, TrailNation

Richmond Greenway | Courtesy RTC

The challenges of the past couple years have shown us that our work remains more important than ever. As we look ahead, we see opportunity and potential in the work and in the inspiration provided by the partners, friends and advocates with whom we share our collective vision.

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Richmond Greenway | Courtesy RTC

A Look Ahead for the Trails Movement in 2022 and Beyond

Posted 12/21/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Equity, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Route of the Badger, Trail Moments, TrailNation

The challenges of the past couple years have shown us that our work remains more important than ever. As we look ahead, we see opportunity and potential in the work and in the inspiration provided by the partners, friends and advocates with whom we share our collective vision.

White River State Trail, part of the Route of the Badger trail network | Photo by TrailLink user lkgatu

Here Are Six Reasons Rails-to-Trails Is Celebrating This Year

Posted 12/10/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Indiana, Trail Moments, TrailNation, TrailsTransform, Wisconsin

A year of positive momentum. That’s how we'd describe 2021, which—despite many challenges and much uncertainty—still came with so much hope and progress for trails and those who made them happen.

Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Branch Trail | Photo by India Kea

Top 10 Trails in Washington, DC

Posted 12/02/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Capital Trails Coalition, District Of Columbia, Great American Rail-Trail, Top10, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

It’s to be expected that our nation’s capital would contain some of the most renowned landmarks and green spaces in America—connecting us to our history and heritage, and celebrating the many people and diverse cultures that make up America. But D.C. has a lot treasures to discover—not least of which are its rail-trails and multiuse pathways, which provide linkages, large and small, to many of the communities, rich recreational opportunities and iconic places and spaces D.C. is known for. What’s more: D.C.’s trails are playing a key role in the Capital Trails Coalition, which is in the process of connecting the entire metropolitan region with an equitably distributed 800-mile trail network!

Photo by Hunter Franklin, courtesy Facebook.com/dollsheadtrail

Eight Creepy Cool Trailside Attractions

Posted 10/27/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, District Of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, History Happened Here, Maryland, Ohio, Trail Destinations

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy editorial team really loves Halloween. And while this year may not see the normal amount of costume- and candy-filled events due to safety measures surrounding COVID-19—we still thought we’d present this list of some of our favorite creepy trailside attractions for some much-needed levity (no pun intended?) and fun!

Capital Crescent Trail in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Jon Lowenstein

History Along the Great American Rail-Trail: A Kick-Off With the Creators

Posted 06/14/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

In 2019, TrailLink.com™, RTC’s national trail-finder website, embarked on an ambitious historical exploration of the developing Great American Rail-Trail, with a goal to shine a light on the people, landmarks and innovations that encapsulate this iconic 3,700-mile route between Washington, D.C., and Washington State.

Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta State Trail | Photo by Eric Reischl Photography

Top 10 Trails in Wisconsin

Posted 03/04/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Route of the Badger, Top10, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

With more than 101 rail-trails spanning nearly 2,000 miles, 25,000 miles of snowmobiling routes, and a national scenic trail that traverses 1,000 miles of glaciated terrain, Wisconsin is clearly a place where the outdoors reign supreme. Here are just 10 of our favorite Badger State trails.

Pennsylvania's Trout Island Trail | Photo by TrailLink user vicki1960

Winter “Share the Trail” Etiquette and Safety Tips

Posted 02/01/21 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, How-to, Motorized Use, Trail Etiquette, Trail Use Tips, Winter Uses

We chatted with some of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s most knowledgeable winter trail afficionados to find out how we can all “Share the Trail” together safely—while still gleaning the best that winter has to offer on America’s trails.

Along the Illinois Prairie Path in Warrenville | Photo by Beverly Horne/Daily Herald/dailyherald.com

American Icons: Rail-Trails That Helped Shape the National Landscape

Posted 01/22/21 by Amy Kapp in Policy, America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Featured Magazine Articles, Federal, History Happened Here, Illinois

Over the last 60 years, rail-trails have gone from a quiet idea to pillars of America’s social, health, economic, environmental and transportation landscapes—with more than 2,200 rail-trails today encompassing some 24,000+ miles across the United States. Here, as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, we take a closer look at some of the country’s earliest rail-trails, and how they helped inspire and build a nationwide movement.

Great Allegheny Passage (gaptrail.org) | Photo by Milo Bateman

Top 10 Trails in Pennsylvania

Posted 01/08/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Circuit Trails, IHTC, Pennsylvania, Top10, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

Check out RTC's list of Pennsylvania's top 10 trail, which travel through major metropolitan areas, by some of America’s most treasured historical and cultural sites, and through the breathtaking wilderness and viewscapes that make the state a premier outdoor destination.

Photo by India Kea

Looking Back, With Gratitude, on a Year of Challenges and Triumphs for Trails

Posted 12/23/20 by Amy Kapp, Paola Tejada Lalinde in America's Trails, Success Stories, Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Best Of, Capital Trails Coalition, Caracara, COVID-19, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Route of the Badger, RTC in Action, Trail Moments, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?

As 2020 draws to a close—a year of extreme changes and challenges—it is with incredible appreciation that we reflect on the collective impact of our movement across the country.

Doll’s Head Trail in DeKalb County’s Constitution Lakes Park, Atlanta, Georgia | Photo by Marcus O. Bst | CC BY 2.0 GENERIC

Atlanta’s Doll’s Head Trail Is an Eerily Cool Trailside Attraction—With a Great Cause

Posted 10/27/20 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Georgia, Maintenance and Volunteers, Trail Destinations

It began as kind of a dark joke, all told, but the Doll’s Head Trail—a name that doesn’t quite sum up the 2.5-mile whimsical (and sometimes creepy) trail-turned-art exhibit tucked away in DeKalb, County’s Constitution Lakes Park in Atlanta, Georgia—has evolved into a regional and national attraction since its inception a decade ago.