TrailBlog

Tapping into Federal Funding: Five Trail Tales of Success

Posted 05/28/20 by Laura Stark in Policy, Success Stories | Tagged with Federal, Funding, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas

Flint Hills Trail State Park | Courtesy Kansas Tourism

We explore a handful of rail-trails that have been supported by essential Transportation Alternatives funds, and the impact they’ve had on local communities and the nation. Many of these trails are part of larger, connected networks of trails and active transportation infrastructure that provide both critical recreational opportunities and much-needed transportation options to daily destinations or transit. Others connect communities and help promote tourism or travel between towns.

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Wissahickon Trail in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Photo by Patrick Wittwer | CC by 2.0

Taking Care of Our Trails and Parks in the Midst of COVID-19

Posted 05/22/20 by Amy Kapp, Eric Oberg in America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, Maintenance and Volunteers, Trail Etiquette, Trail Use Tips

As trails remain on the front lines in providing outdoor opportunities and mobility for Americans, managers continue to explore new ways to work with their communities to ensure positive experiences for record numbers of users in the face of limited maintenance resources, reduced staffing and curtailed volunteer activities.

Great Allegheny Passage just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Photo by Milo Bateman

How the Great Allegheny Passage Transformed a Region

Posted 05/12/20 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, Pennsylvania, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail Use Tips

The story of the GAP is one of vision, tenacity and transformation. But at the heart of it all, it is the story of what’s possible when people come together with a great idea.

Milwaukee Road Rail Trail in Thompson Park | Photo by Preston Keres, courtesy USDA Forest Service

Montana’s Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail (Thompson Park)

Posted 05/11/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Biking, Great American Rail-Trail, Maintenance and Volunteers, Montana, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Wild and Wonderful

Framed by the majestic Rocky Mountains, Montana’s Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail (Thompson Park) sits roughly equidistant between two national parks—just a half-day’s drive from both Yellowstone and Glacier.

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail | Photo by TrailLink user orangedoug

The Great American Rail-Trail: Projects to Watch in 2020

Posted 05/08/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Encouraging Trail Use, Great American Rail-Trail, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, TrailNation, Washington

At the end of last year, RTC reported that nearly $13 million in funding has been secured for Great American segments, which will help close trail gaps and improve existing sections of trail along the 3,700-mile route between Washington, D.C., and Washington State. This year, nearly 100 miles of new trail along the route are expected to be completed. As a pre-kick-off to May, here’s a sneak peek at a handful of these exciting projects.

Tanglefoot Trail | Photo by Wendy Crosby, courtesy mightybus.wordpress.com

A Sneak Peek at the New Edition of the "Rail-Trail: Hall of Fame" Guidebook

Posted 04/23/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, Hall of Fame, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations

In this new edition of the Rail-Trail: Hall of Fame guidebook are updated descriptions of our previous winners and the four latest entries (spotlighted below), which were ushered in by public vote. So, settle in and explore these rock star trails from home, and get ready to plan your future trail adventures.

Gallery view of Celebrate Trails @Home broadcast | Courtesy RTC

What We Learned at Our Celebrate Trails @Home 2020 Virtual Bash

Posted 04/22/20 by Amy Kapp, Suzanne Matyas in America's Trails | Tagged with Community Events, COVID-19, Demand for Trails, Encouraging Trail Use, Healthy Aging, OpeningDay, RTC in Action, Trail Communities, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

On Saturday, April 18, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) hosted “Celebrate Trails @Home,” our all-virtual tribute to America’s pathways and their impact on communities everywhere—especially right now as people flock to their local trail for physical activity and solace at a safe social distance.

Mineral Belt Trail | Photo by Scott Stark

Four Rail-Trails That Are Part of Transformative Environmental Clean-up Projects

Posted 04/21/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Colorado, Ecology and Environment, Featured Magazine Articles, Heritage and Restoration, IHTC, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, TrailNation, West Virginia

In honor of Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary this year, Rails to Trails magazine is highlighting four rail-trails that have had a transformative Cinderella story, going from industrial dumping grounds to beloved community assets.

Alex Haley Heritage Square in Knoxville, TN | Photo by Brent Moore

Lose Yourself on a Literary Trail

Posted 04/20/20 by Scott Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with History Happened Here, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Tennessee

Just as trails physically knit together communities and strengthen bodies, books have the power to connect individuals and strengthen minds. Celebrate World Book Day (March), National Library Week (April) and Book Lovers Day (August) with a trip down these literary-themed trails.

Trail runner | Photo by Aarni Heiskanen | CC by 2.0

Here’s the Latest Expert Guidance on Outdoor Activity and COVID-19

Posted 04/18/20 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with COVID-19, Health and Active Living, Trail Etiquette

As Americans work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 across the United States, public health professionals continue to provide important safety guidance on engaging in outdoor physical activity. Experts are urging people to stay as close to home as possible when seeking places to be active in the outdoors, and to engage in physical activity on their own. They are also suggesting face coverings as a voluntary public-health measure. New guidelines from the CDC about the safe use of parks and outdoor recreation facilities reinforce these recommendations. Here’s the latest on how to safely be outdoors in the midst of COVID-19.