TrailBlog

A Conversation With the 2021 Rail-Trail Champion: Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb

Posted 01/25/22 by Brandi Horton, Cory Matteson in America's Trails | Tagged with Champions, Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, Indiana, Rail-Trail Champion

Gov. Eric Holcomb at the Next Level Trails program announcement in 2019 | Courtesy Indiana Department of Natural Resources

The state’s Next Level Trails program, part of the broader Next Level Connections infrastructure directive pushed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, is investing millions to accelerate trail development across the state. The program, which levels the playing field for trail projects of all sizes and spreads investment to small towns, suburbs and urban hubs alike, could serve as a model for other states and is one reason that RTC is honoring Holcomb as the 2021 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion.

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Gov. Eric Holcomb at the Next Level Trails program announcement in 2019 | Courtesy Indiana Department of Natural Resources

A Conversation With the 2021 Rail-Trail Champion: Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb

Posted 01/25/22 by Brandi Horton, Cory Matteson in America's Trails | Tagged with Champions, Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, Indiana, Rail-Trail Champion

The state’s Next Level Trails program, part of the broader Next Level Connections infrastructure directive pushed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, is investing millions to accelerate trail development across the state. The program, which levels the playing field for trail projects of all sizes and spreads investment to small towns, suburbs and urban hubs alike, could serve as a model for other states and is one reason that RTC is honoring Holcomb as the 2021 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion.

California Coastal Trail | Photo by TrailLink user davidgordon144

Commuting Across and Exploring the Bay Area Will Become More Accessible to Millions of Residents Via 2,590 Miles of Connected Trails

Posted 01/12/22 by Heather Irish in America's Trails | Tagged with BATC, California, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Ecology and Environment, Facts and FIgures, TrailNation

This vision is becoming a reality with nearly 60% of the 2,590-mile Bay Area regional trail network complete. Leading the charge is the Bay Area Trails Collaborative, a group of more than 50 businesses, agencies and organizations that is chaired by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC).

Indiana's Big 4 Trail | Courtesy Town of Zionsville

Indiana’s Big 4 Trail

Posted 01/11/22 by Agueda Pacheco Flores in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Indiana, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Surrounded by tree canopies, beautiful countryside and the charm of small towns, the Big 4 Trail traverses a Midwestern wonderland. The developing rail-trail serves as an important regional connector—spreading diagonally across Boone County, crossing into Clinton County and, eventually, continuing into Tippecanoe County.

Fortress Bikes interior | Courtesy Hal Simon

Trail Moments | Letting the Good (and Bad) Times Roll: New York Bike Shop Opens in the Midst of a Covid World

Posted 01/03/22 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Biking, COVID-19, Demand for Trails, Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments

Simon’s bike rental shop, a first for the town, is situated on Hurleyville’s Main Street, just steps from the rail-trail. “It’s 7 miles of beautiful, flat pavement,” he said. “You’ll see bodies of water, farmland and forest. And the colors are gorgeous in the fall—you have foliage, history and wildlife.”

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.

Alaska's Waterfront Trail | Photo Courtesy City of Seward

Top 10 Trails in Alaska

Posted 12/15/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Alaska, Best Of, Top10, Trail Destinations

With rugged peaks, sparkling seas and verdant forests, Alaska is unparalleled in natural beauty. Holding more than half of America’s national park land by area, as well as numerous wildlife refuges, national forests, state parks and other outdoor assets, opportunities to recreate in the state are nearly boundless.

Vermont's Island Line Rail Trail | Photo by Traillink user sluberry

Top 10 Trails in Vermont

Posted 12/15/21 by Amy Grisak in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Top10, Trail Destinations, Vermont

Regardless of the season, Vermonters make the most of their trails. From spring when the wildflowers abound to the stunning autumn display of the hardwood forests, traveling by trail is a part of life. And during the winter, it doesn’t matter if there are feet of snow on the ground because many of the trails are plowed or groomed for cross-country skis, snowshoes or fat-tired bikes. Exploring these routes gives trail users the most eye-catching paths leading from home into town, or venturing into the bucolic Vermont landscape that is rich in cultural history and natural beauty.

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.

Hawaii's Ke Ala Hele Makalae | Photo by Kevin Clark

Top 10 Trails in Hawaii

Posted 12/14/21 by Suzanne Matyas in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Hawaii, Top10, Trail Destinations

With its picturesque beaches, lush tropics, diverse wildlife, and dramatic mountains and volcanos, it’s no wonder Hawaii is considered to be “like no place on Earth.” More than 1,500 years ago, Polynesians sailed to and first began settling on this breathtaking archipelago of more than 130 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Today, the six main Hawaiian Islands—Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai—offer trails and parks that allow you to explore the state’s variety of landscapes, history and rich culture. Grouped by island, here is an assortment of greenways and rail-trails that you’ll want to say “hi!” (but not “bye”) to in the Aloha State.

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.

Nevada's Historic Railroad Trail | Photo by Traillink User gayinspandex

Top 10 Trails in Nevada

Posted 12/09/21 by Amy Grisak in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Nevada, Top10, Trail Destinations

It doesn’t take long to realize that Nevada is more than glittering lights. Exploring its trails opens up a world that exists in a land many view solely as an arid, harsh environment. While the unique beauty of the desert dominates much of the landscape, there is still so much more to see, including forests, rivers and stunning lakes. Many routes provide opportunities to easily navigate through the urban footprint ultimately finding peace in the wide-open spaces.