Posts by Cindy Barks

George S. Mickelson Trail at the Deadwood Trailhead | Photo courtesy South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

A Milestone for the Mickelson Trail: Celebrating 25 Years

Posted 09/13/23 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Legal Issues, Local Organizing, South Dakota, Trail Communities

The 109-mile George S. Mickelson Trail, named after the South Dakota governor who championed the trail before dying in a plane crash in 1993, was officially dedicated in the midst of much fanfare in 1998.

California's Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Pathway | Photo courtesy Marin County Bicycle Coalition

California’s Mill Valley/Sausalito Multiuse Pathway

Posted 06/13/23 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with BATC, California, Ecology and Environment, Federal, Funding, Mode Shift, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

It’s a popular route for children heading to school, a place for retirees to get in a morning walk and a crucial link for bicycle commuters on their way to work. As any of its numerous advocates will tell you, coastal California’s Mill Valley/Sausalito Multiuse Pathway more than lives up to its multiuse name.

Greenway of Greater Grand Forks | Photo by TrailLink user thejake91739

Minnesota and North Dakota’s Greenway of Greater Grand Forks

Posted 10/06/22 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Ecology and Environment, Minnesota, North Dakota, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Over the past two decades, the Greenway of Greater Grand Forks has attracted more and more uses, and Greendahl said she often gets requests for new features, such as more river access points.

The Scarborough bridge on Maine's Eastern Trail | Courtesy Eastern Trail Alliance

Maine’s Eastern Trail

Posted 03/15/22 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Maine, Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Bob Hamblen takes to the Eastern Trail on his bike, riding through various sections of the route that traverses 24 miles of southern Maine’s spectacular coastline. While he sees it as “a win” wherever he ends up on the trail, the long-time Saco resident has his favorites.

Graphic by RTC, photo courtesy Missouri Rock Island Trail Inc.

Breaking News: The Rock Island Trail Is a 144-Mile On track to Be Game-Changer for Missouri

Posted 12/14/21 by Cindy Barks in Taking Action, Building Trails, Success Stories, America's Trails | Tagged with Corridors and Railbanking, Missouri, Rock Island, RTC in Action, Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations

Governor Mike Parson and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced that they have officially railbanked the 144-mile Rock Island Railroad corridor between Windsor and Beaufort, Missouri. The governor’s announcement comes after decades of advocacy and negotiations, marking the final step in railbanking the corridor, which is now destined to be preserved—and enjoyed—as a trail.

Jordan River Parkway Trail | Photo by TrailLink user trailrider622

Utah’s Jordan River Parkway Trail

Posted 12/06/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, COVID-19, Trail of the Month, Utah

With the majestic Wasatch Mountains looming in the distance and bucolic wetlands attracting a range of birds and wildlife along the way, the Jordan River Parkway Trail can feel eons away from it all. The reality, though, is that the trail cuts a nearly 50-mile path through Utah’s most densely populated region. Traversing portions of Salt Lake City—the state’s largest city—and passing through a host of smaller towns and suburbs, the Jordan River Parkway Trail is said to be easily accessible for nearly half of Utah’s population.

South Dakota's George S. Mickelson Trail | Photo by Keith Laughlin

Top 10 Trails In South Dakota

Posted 11/12/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, South Dakota, Top10, Trail Destinations

Despite its somewhat under-the-radar locale in the very center of the United States, South Dakota has plenty of claims to fame when it comes to notable sights. In fact, several of the state’s best-known attractions also happen to be some of the nation’s most iconic images. From the starkly beautiful sandstone buttes of the Badlands National Park to the herds of bison and cathedral-like rock spires of the Black Hills, South Dakota’s famous places are sure to resonate. The state is also home to sprawling prairies, fertile farmland and glacial lakes. And through it all—from the mountains of the Black Hills in the west to the rivers and grasslands in the east—a growing network of trails provides wonderful access to South Dakota’s treasures. Here are 10 of our favorites.

Chief Ladiga Trail | Photo by Ed and Jenn Coleman

Top 10 Trails in Alabama

Posted 10/08/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Alabama, Best Of, Top10, Trail Destinations

Mention the landscapes of Alabama, and most people are apt to conjure up images of the beaches of the Gulf Shores region or the forested Talladega Mountains. And for good reason— the beaches are famous for their sugar-white sand, and the mountains offer epic views of tree-covered ridges and valleys. Still, Alabama has plenty more to offer in the terrain department. Known as the most biodiverse state east of the Mississippi River, it is also home to river deltas, coastal plains and open prairies. Fortunately, a robust system of trails offers access to Alabama’s scenic bounty. Here are 10 of our favorite trails, from the bustling cities in the north to the sand and surf in the south.

Utah's Red Canyon Bicycle Trail | Photo by TrailLink user acewickwire

Top 10 Trails in Utah

Posted 06/28/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Top10, Trail Destinations, Utah

In a state known worldwide for its “Mighty Five” national parks, it should come as no surprise that the trails are monumental as well. Utah is home to a string of national parks that feature glowing sandstone arches, dreamlike rock hoodoos and luminous slot canyons. Accentuating all of that natural grandeur is a network of trails that takes cyclists and hikers right into the midst of the epic park scene.

Arizona's Prescott Peavine National Recreational Trail | Photo by Cindy Barks

Top 10 Trails in Arizona

Posted 06/08/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Arizona, Best Of, Top10, Trail Destinations

From the vast chasm of the Grand Canyon to the cactus/tumbleweed landscape of the Sonoran Desert, Arizona’s trails are big on both views and culture. In fact, if it’s iconic scenes of the American West you’re after, the Grand Canyon State’s trails are among the best places to find them. Along with the classic desert and canyon terrain that Arizona is famous for, the top trails take in canal-side settings through metropolitan areas and railroad routes that once served rural communities. Here are 10 of our favorite trails for savoring the vistas and soaking up the history.

The Loop | Photo by Gerry Loew, Pima County Communications

Arizona’s Santa Cruz River Park Trail

Posted 04/12/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Arizona, Best Of, Bike Commuting, Demand for Trails, Ecology and Environment, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Transportation and Health, Urban Pathways, Why Use Trails?

Starting in the centuries-old birthplace of Tucson in the south, the Santa Cruz River Park Trail follows the sandy and mostly dry riverbed, passing nearby murals and taquerias in neighborhoods like Midvale Park and Santa Cruz Southwest, lively shops and hotels of the downtown area, and busy parks and ballfields of the El Camino Del Cerro area in the northwest.