Trail Use Page 3

On the Appalachian Trail in 2021 | Photo courtesy Retha Charette

Hiking Hacks: Long-Distance Prep Tips and Tricks for Rail-Trails 101

Posted 02/14/23 by Retha Charette in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, Health and Active Living, How-to, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

A long-distance hike can truly be the adventure of a lifetime. With rail-trail thru hiking becoming more and more popular every day, I wanted to share some knowledge I’ve learn over the many years and thousands of miles I’ve spent on hiking and rail-trails about the world.

Betzy Salcedo, Brenda Hamilton and Kathleen Richardson at the end of a ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., via the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. | Photo by Joseph Richardson

Trail Moments | Cycling for Life

Posted 02/13/23 by Kathleen Richardson in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Cycling on America’s rail-trails has been an integral part of my journey—helping me to survive PH physically as well as emotionally. I’m so glad these trails exist, and I look forward to another 20 years of riding them.

Charlotte Rail Trail | Photo by Eric Casella

North Carolina’s Charlotte Rail Trail

Posted 01/19/23 by Lindsay Martell in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Art, Best Of, North Carolina, Rail-with-Trail, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Transportation and Health

The bustling Charlotte Rail Trail is a 12-foot-wide swath of urban utopia in North Carolina’s largest city. Bikers stream by in packs, toddlers sprint away from their stroller-pushing parents, curious puppies on leashes pull their owners to every corner of the path; these are just a few of the sights that pop up along the way.

Will Oldaker (far right) and his family drove hours to experience the Blue Ridge Tunnel in Virginia; traveling with him (left to right) were his mother Lyn Oldaker, his children Traci and Riley, and his wife Beth. | Photo by Nancy Sorrells

Blue Ridge Tunnel Accessibility Day Makes Dreams Come True

Posted 12/27/22 by in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with People with Disabilities, Virginia, Walkability and Bikeability

Closer to home, the trio of Amy and Greg Eye and Barbara Ramsey live in the western shadow of Afton Mountain through which the 4,264-foot tunnel passes, accessible via the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail.

The B2B's Old Eastern Marsh Trail at Lion’s Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts | Photo by Chris Roop

Trail Moments | BRB—I'm Enjoying the B2B (Border to Boston Trail)!

Posted 12/21/22 by Chris Roop in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Hall of Fame, Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Trail Moments

When complete, the Border to Boston (B2B) Trail will span 70 miles from the New Hampshire state line to Massachusetts’ capital and largest city. It’s the north-south backbone of a growing trail network in the northeastern region of the Bay State offering both local and long-distance connections.

Michigan's Kal Haven Trail State Park in South Haven | Photo by C.M. McGuire

Michigan’s Kal-Haven Trail State Park

Posted 12/09/22 by Amy S. Eckert in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Michigan, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Leading from South Haven to Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Kal-Haven Trail State Park ranks as one of the state’s most popular rail-trails. Comprised of a nearly unbroken 34-mile tunnel of hardwood trees, the trail is cool and shady in summer and spectacularly colorful in fall, blazing with shades of red and yellow.

Golf cart trail in Arizona's Oro Valley | Photo courtesy Lew Roscoe

Trail Moments | Enjoying the Trike Life

Posted 11/28/22 by Lew Roscoe in Trail Use | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

I used to ride a regular two-wheeled bike; however, one morning in the summer of 2020, as I was riding, I got caught up in a tight turn and fell, breaking my elbow and pelvis. After recovering from the accident, I decided to switch to a three-wheeler, so I tried a few options and bought a recumbent electric Catrike.

National Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming | Photo by Amy Kapp

10 Great Places of Learning Along the Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 11/04/22 by Zach Zimmerman in Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Top10, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

The Great American Rail-Trail® and its hosts trails connect to many places of learning, history and culture where students can take a break from the grind of classwork and explore. Here are some of our favorites.

Arriving home at the end of the Great American Rail-Trail journey | Photo courtesy David Berrigan

Trail Moments | Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream on the Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 11/03/22 by David Berrigan in Trail Use | Tagged with Connected Systems, Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, Great American Rail-Trail, How-to, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

The stars aligned a few years ago when family, work and life combined with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s announcement of their Great American Rail-Trail® project to push me toward a serious commitment to a long-distance bike trip.