TrailBlog Page 5

Michigan's Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail | Photo by TrailLink user jeanette.sheler

Top 10 Trails in Michigan

Posted 08/12/21 by Dayani Guevara in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Michigan, Top10, Trail Destinations

Michigan is home to an intricate and expansive network of multiuse trails. With 2,478 miles of rail-trails, trail users can easily weave through all parts of the state, getting a glimpse into both urban and rural environments. Michigan is also positioned in the perfect spot for breathtaking views of the Great Lakes—the state touches four of them—and the surrounding scenery. With so many beautiful trails to enjoy, here are just 10 of our favorites.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Misses Opportunity to Prioritize Walking and Biking as Essential

Posted 08/09/21 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding

The U.S. Senate today passed the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, the bipartisan infrastructure deal that has been painstakingly negotiated by the White House and moderates of both parties—negotiators who were not necessarily experts in transportation policy. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC’s) analysis finds the end result to be lacking.

Tokul Trestle on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail | Photo by Eli Brownell, courtesy King County Parks

Washington’s Snoqualmie Valley Trail

Posted 08/09/21 by Agueda Pacheco Flores in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Demand for Trails, Great American Rail-Trail, Local Organizing, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington

To experience the best of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer, head to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail (SVT). It’s more than a state gem—the trail comes to represent a historical and cultural backbone of western Washington.

Photo by Shawn Gossman, graphic by RTC

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, 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.