Posts by Laura Stark Page 4

Seven Wonders of the Ohio to Erie Trail

Posted 07/14/16 by Laura Stark in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Biking, IHTC, Ohio, Tourism , Trail Communities, Trail Destinations

Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail (under Hope Memorial Bridge) along Cleveland's Cuyahoga River | Photo courtesy Behnke Landscape Architecture

One state, 202 miles, four days, two wheels—it all adds up to an awesome biking adventure on the Ohio to Erie Trail, which crosses the Buckeye State at a diagonal like a prized sash. Here are seven amazing highlights of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail in downtown Akron | Photo by Bruce Ford, courtesy Summit Metro Parks

Ohio's Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail

Posted 06/09/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with IHTC, Ohio, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Like a virtual rolling history book, remnants of an early-19th century canal unfold along the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail as it journeys 85 miles through an eclectic panoply of landscapes in northeastern Ohio. Down the pathway, adventurers will discover a series of canal locks, restored historical buildings, interpretive signage and, of course, the canal itself—a magnificent structure of well-worn sandstone filled in some areas with water, but for the most part dry with the haunting beauty of an ancient ruin.

Running and biking on the popular Shelby Farms Greenline | Photo courtesy Shelby Farms Park Conservancy

Tennessee's Shelby Farms Greenline

Posted 05/16/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Tennessee, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Memphis is singing a new song to the tune of a bike bell. The Home of the Blues, once settling near the bottom of lists ranking pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly cities, is climbing its way up thanks largely to an explosion of demand sparked by the Shelby Farms Greenline, one of the city’s most popular multi-use trails. Just last year, the city earned a Bronze-Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation, an honor that just a few years ago would have seemed unlikely if not downright impossible.

View from the Walkway Over the Hudson rail-trail in New York | Photo by Aaron Schmidt

5 Amazing Rail-Trail Destinations for Your Bucket List

Posted 04/12/16 by Laura Stark in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Colorado, Featured Magazine Articles, Hall of Fame, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Trail Destinations

In recognition of this year’s 30th anniversary of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, RTC is conducting a public vote for the 30th addition to our Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. We thought that it was the perfect opportunity to share with you why this year's nominees are also amazing destinations you won't want to miss. Here's a little more info for you, plus travel and bike rental info!

Spectacular mountains along the Rio Grande Trail | Photo courtesy Roaring Fork Transportation Authority

Colorado’s Rio Grande Trail

Posted 04/11/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Colorado, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

The windswept beauty of sage brush and scrub oaks, richly scented forests of ponderosa and spruce, verdant crops and ranchlands ringed in jagged mountains and crystal clear rivers: These are the visual postcards of Colorado. The beloved Rio Grande Trail traverses this rich mix of terrains along a 42-mile route (nearly all paved) winding from the famed ski town of Aspen to Glenwood Springs.

Former B&O Railroad bridge along the North Bend Rail Trail leading to the quaint town of Cairo, West Virginia | Photo by Mike Tewkesbury

Six Great Things You'll See on the North Bend Rail Trail

Posted 04/04/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Sojourn Series, Tourism , Trail Destinations, West Virginia

The North Bend Rail Trail exemplifies “Wild and Wonderful” West Virginia. For those who seek adventure on this remote and pristine pathway, RTC’s West Virginia Sojourn (June 19-22) provides a stress-free way to explore the 72-mile rail-trail with a friendly group of fellow travelers and experienced guides. Here are some of our favorite highlights from the route.

The well-loved Walkway Over the Hudson serves a multitude of users. | Photo by Fred Schaeffer

New York's Hudson Valley Trail Network

Posted 03/17/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Celebrating 30 Years, Hall of Fame, New York, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

The morning wind playfully tousles Fred Schaeffer’s hair as he stands in quiet wonder on the Walkway Over the Hudson—something he’s done for nearly a decade of mornings since the trail opened. The view looking out over the inky waters of the river more than 200 feet below and the sleepy hillsides awakening against a softly brightening sky is one he never tires of. The enchanting setting is fitting for something once deemed impossible.

The rural southern end of the rail-trail. | Photo by Kelly R Williams

Oregon’s Banks-Vernonia State Trail

Posted 01/19/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Oregon, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

A thread of black in an emerald blanket, the Banks-Vernonia State Trail weaves its way between two peaceful towns in the foothills of Northwest Oregon’s Coast Range, less than an hour’s drive from Portland. Most of the 22-mile paved pathway is enveloped by the tall trees that attracted the lumber industry in the early 1900s—a verdant mix of Douglas fir, maple, cedar and alder.

Rio Grande Trail | Photo courtesy RFTA

RTC Invites America to Choose 2016 Hall of Fame Rail-Trail

Posted 01/19/16 by Laura Stark in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Celebrating 30 Years, Hall of Fame, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), we’ll be conducting a public vote for the 30th entry into the prestigious Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Here's a quick look at our five candidates, which will be highlighted in our Trail of the Month TrailBlog feature stories between January and May. Take a look!

Florida’s Snake Creek Trail | Photo courtesy Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department

Florida’s Snake Creek Trail

Posted 11/17/15 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Florida, Health and Active Living, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Urban Pathways

Neighborhood trails don’t come much nicer than the Snake Creek Trail in southeast Florida. While not a rail-trail, the paved 6.5-mile route offers a similar easy and level riding experience along a pleasant, palm-tree-dotted canal connecting North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens (home of the Miami Dolphins).