TrailBlog Page 9

Photo by Shawn Gossman, graphic by RTC

Trail Moments | How a Rail-Trail Helped Save My Life and Redirect My Focus

Posted 08/06/21 by Shawn Gossman in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Illinois, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

That first time I rode on the rail-trail, I fell madly in love with it and cycling. I also found my first hiking trail while riding the trail. I then started hiking and eventually created a YouTube channel to show friends and family where I hike and bike.

Indianapolis Cultural Trail | Photo by Indiana Cultural Trail, Inc.

Despite Earlier Fears, the State of State Trail Funding Looks Strong

Posted 08/04/21 by Andrew Dupuy, Brian K. Housh in Policy | Tagged with COVID-19, Demand for Trails, Funding, State and Federal Programs

As of the summer of 2021, the state of trails in the states is much stronger than we anticipated. In the summer of 2020—RTC successfully fought an attempt by some Pennsylvania legislators to raid a state outdoor recreation fund that supports trails. Expected similar assaults elsewhere never materialized.

Silver Comet Trail | Photo by TrailLink user papa t

Long-Distance Rides on Hall of Fame Rail-Trails

Posted 08/03/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Alabama, Best Of, Georgia, Hall of Fame, How-to, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, Trail Destinations

Here’s a fun look back at some of our previous Hall of Fame winners spanning nearly 100 miles or more. This collection of prestigious pathways—selected on merits such as scenic value, trailside amenities, historical significance and community connections—showcases some of the country’s best trail tourism destinations.

42nd Street Slow Street in Oakland, California | Photo by Ben Kaufman

What’s Ahead for the Movement to Create Safe Outdoor Space in Every Neighborhood

Posted 08/02/21 by Christina Sturdivant Sani in America's Trails | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Encouraging Trail Use, Mode Shift, Success Stories, Trail Communities, Transportation Alternatives, Walkability and Bikeability

An analysis of 31 trail counters for the week of March 16–22 found a nationwide trail usage increase of nearly 200% from that same week in 2019. It was clear that the demand for safe spaces to be active outside was far exceeding supply. The organization used this data as the driver for a petition that advocated for cities and towns to close streets to vehicle traffic (which had dropped substantially due to mandatory lockdowns), creating more places for people to walk, bike and roll at a safe distance from one another. In the transportation world, this is known as the Open Streets movement.

Louisiana's Lafitte Greenway | Photo by Hunter King, courtesy Friends of the Lafitte Greenway

Top 10 Trails in Louisiana

Posted 07/27/21 by Dayani Guevara in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Louisiana, Top10, Trail Destinations

To many, Louisiana is the perfect place to visit—known for its jazz music, Cajun cuisine and Mardi Gras—but locals know the Bayou State has much more to offer. Winding trails connect many of Louisiana’s top attractions and allow for picturesque views of everything from greenery to bustling urban streets.

Georgia's Columbus Fall Line Trace | Photo courtesy of Dragonfly Trail Network

Top 10 Trails in Georgia

Posted 07/22/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Georgia, Top10, Trail Destinations

With 200+ miles of open rail-trail—and more in the works—Georgia is the South’s preeminent trail state. Burgeoning trail networks—like the Atlanta BeltLine and Columbus’ Dragonfly Trails—in its major cities, as well as segments of the national East Coast Greenway, are a testament to the growing status of the Peach State in the trail movement. Not to be outdone by their big-city cousins, several rural rail-trail projects are also actively being pursued, including the 39-mile Firefly Trail and 21-mile Man O’ War Railroad Recreation Trail. From urban settings bursting with cultural attractions to tranquil rides through bucolic countryside, here’s a look at some of Georgia’s best trail experiences.

Puerto Rico's Tunel de Guajataca | Photo by Jorge Borrelli

Top Trails in Puerto Rico

Posted 07/15/21 by Ken Bryan in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Top10, Trail Destinations

As a territory of the United States, no passport is required for Americans to visit Puerto Rico—and there are plenty of reasons to do so! The island commonwealth is known for its amazing Spanish-Caribbean culture, warm and welcoming people, beautiful outdoor spaces (including El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system), world-class beaches, 16th-century Spanish forts, pirate tales, tantalizing rums and now its rail-trails.

Three Rivers Greenway | Photo by Robert Annis

South Carolina’s Three Rivers Greenway

Posted 07/08/21 by Robert Annis in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, South Carolina, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

While pedaling the completed 19.4 miles of South Carolina’s Three Rivers Greenway, the word “potential” keeps popping up in my mind. The greenway follows the Broad, Saluda and Congaree Rivers, and everywhere I look, people are swimming, floating and otherwise having a good time.

Photo courtesy Marjorie Turner Hollman, graphic by RTC

Trail Moments | Adapting to the Pandemic: Finding Safe Outdoor Spaces in a Changed World

Posted 07/07/21 by Marjorie Turner Hollman in America's Trails | Tagged with People with Disabilities, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Finding a tandem bike I could use has been a journey in and of itself, but once we located one I could get on—and stay on—safely, the sky (or at least as far as we were able to drive) has been the limit in exploring rail-trails. Pedaling along on the back of our tandem, I feel like I am flying. What an intoxicating sensation, after feeling so earthbound by the health challenges I have learned to adapt to these past nearly 30 years.

Idaho's Route of the Hiawatha | Photo courtesy Kenneth Baker

Top 10 Trails in Idaho

Posted 07/06/21 by Mary Terra-Berns in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Idaho, Top10, Trail Destinations

From the forested and lake-laden north to the Snake River plain in the south, Idaho offers a variety of exceptional trails for walking, jogging, bicycling, trailside fishing, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing. Urban, rural, or a bit on the wild side, Idaho has trails that are as diverse as the state’s topography. Here are a few of our favorites. Especially notable is the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, a key part of the Great American Rail-Trail™, a signature project of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy that crosses the United States from Washington D.C. to the state of Washington. The 3,700-mile route will connect people and communities by creating a nationwide network of public trails traveling through natural environments, and linking cultural and historical resources.

Photo courtesy Thresa Giles and Albert Grant, graphic by RTC

Trail Moments | Older, Wiser and Faster: A Friendly Competition Among Family

Posted 06/30/21 by Thresa Giles and Albert Grant in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Florida, Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Although our first ride together was only 5 miles, the after-effects were excruciating: muscle pain, fatigue and a few choice words. But despite the Florida heat and the muscle pain, we were not deterred from riding. We became a daily fixture on the sidewalks of our neighborhood. Soon, we became known as “the riding couple” on the weekends.