TrailBlog Page 4

Biden Infrastructure Goals Would Be Achieved With More Strategic Investment in Walking and Biking

Posted 04/13/21 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Equity, Federal, Funding, TrailsTransform, Walkability and Bikeability

The Biden Administration unveiled The American Jobs Plan, outlining a series of strategies for investing in America’s infrastructure, including transportation. What the plan is missing, however, is a focus on creating low-stress walking and biking routes, like trail and active transportation networks, that are needed to increase rates of walking and biking, which is fundamental to the goals laid out by the administration.

The Loop | Photo by Gerry Loew, Pima County Communications

Arizona’s Santa Cruz River Park Trail

Posted 04/12/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Arizona, Best Of, Bike Commuting, Demand for Trails, Ecology and Environment, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Transportation and Health, Urban Pathways, Why Use Trails?

Starting in the centuries-old birthplace of Tucson in the south, the Santa Cruz River Park Trail follows the sandy and mostly dry riverbed, passing nearby murals and taquerias in neighborhoods like Midvale Park and Santa Cruz Southwest, lively shops and hotels of the downtown area, and busy parks and ballfields of the El Camino Del Cerro area in the northwest.

Minnesota's Mesabi Trail | Photo courtesy of Iron Range Tourism

Top 10 Trails in Minnesota

Posted 04/09/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Minnesota, Top10, Trail Destinations

When it comes to rail-trails, Minnesota is a power player with more than 2,100 open miles of such pathways to explore in every corner of the state, including a half dozen rail-trails spanning more than 100 miles each. Today’s visitors can enjoy many of these long-used corridors now reshaped as trails for walking, biking, horseback riding and other outdoor pursuits.

Fun Run 5k on the W&OD Trail in Northern Virginia | Courtesy RTC

How to Train for a 5K or 10K Using Rail-Trails

Posted 04/05/21 by Emilia Benton in Health and Wellness, Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, How-to, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Rail-trails are an especially great option for training for that first race for a variety of reasons. For one thing, many of these trails are paved, flat or with a very light grade. They’re free to use, often close to home and easily accessible, making them an excellent option for anyone who loves to be outdoors.

New York's Keuka Outlet Trail | Photo by TrailLink user leppfan_99

Top 10 Trails in New York

Posted 03/25/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, New York, Top10, Trail Destinations

New York is famed for the vibrancy and culture of New York City, the Statue of Liberty, breathtaking Niagara Falls and the natural beauty of the Catskills, Adirondacks, two Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes. Another wonderful thing the state has going for it is its expansive trail system, including more than 100 rail-trails and the 750-mile Empire State Trail.

Indiana's Erie Lackawanna Trail | Photo by Tom Roach

Top 10 Trails in Indiana

Posted 03/24/21 by Ally Neutze in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, Hall of Fame, Indiana, Top10, Trail Destinations

Originally serving as a primary pathway to deliver goods and people to and from Chicago, Indiana’s extensive railway system makes the state ideal for rail-trail exploration. Its ever-expanding network of trails provides residents and visitors with an abundance of options for recreation, commuting and physical activity, with 73 completed rail-trails and 34 rail-trail projects in progress as of 2021.

Spring to Spring Trail | Courtesy Pat Northey

Florida’s Spring to Spring Trail

Posted 03/16/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Florida, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

The Sunshine State’s Spring to Spring Trail doesn’t hide any tricks up its sleeve; as its name implies, travelers will see several natural springs along this scenic, nearly complete 26-mile route winding through the old-growth forests and tree-draped lakesides of Central Florida.

Heartland Trail in Ohio | Courtesy Rails-to-Trails of Wayne County

2021 Trail Grants Awardees Support Community Connections On and Off Trails

Posted 03/15/21 by Mary Ellen Koontz in Building Trails | Tagged with Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington

RTC has announced the recipients of its 2021 Trail Grants Program, awarding a total of $145,000 to support 11 trail projects across the country that have been strategically designed to support local and regional economic, health, social, environmental and active transportation goals.

Little Miami Scenic Trail | Photo by TrailLink user orangedoug

Top 10 Trails in Ohio

Posted 03/15/21 by Ally Neutze in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Ohio, Top10, Trail Destinations

Ohio is a true treasure trove of trails, which wind through national parks, along the lakeshores and waterways, and through the biggest cities in the Buckeye State. Though the state has the fifth-most rail-trails, and more than 1,000 miles of completed rail-trail, Ohio has no plans of slowing down, as with multiple trail networks in development and 45 known rail-trail projects underway.

Notice: Upcoming Railroad Abandonment in Boone County, West Virginia

Posted 03/11/21 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Abandonment Notices, Corridors and Railbanking, West Virginia

On or about Feb. 25, 2021, CSX Transportation, Inc. filed for the abandonment of 9.9 miles of track in Boone County, West Virginia. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.