Encouraging Trail Use

Trail Moments | An Everlasting Love of Trails in the Evergreen State

Posted 06/13/22 by Art Segal in America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington, Why Use Trails?

Washington's Coal Creek Trail | Photo by Art Segal

I enjoy various types of trails, from easy and fairly level to more challenging—steeper with large tree roots and rocks—depending on how I feel on a given day, or the season and purpose of our outing. I love all kinds of trails, and my favorites range from deep forest and lakes to high mountain passes with spectacular views—such as Mt. Rainier in Washington State.

Full Story
Washington's Coal Creek Trail | Photo by Art Segal

Trail Moments | An Everlasting Love of Trails in the Evergreen State

Posted 06/13/22 by Art Segal in America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington, Why Use Trails?

I enjoy various types of trails, from easy and fairly level to more challenging—steeper with large tree roots and rocks—depending on how I feel on a given day, or the season and purpose of our outing. I love all kinds of trails, and my favorites range from deep forest and lakes to high mountain passes with spectacular views—such as Mt. Rainier in Washington State.

Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail | Courtesy of Chelsea Murphy

Trail Moments | A Conversation With Chelsea Murphy of She Colors Nature

Posted 06/10/22 by Chelsea Murphy in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Equity, Great American Rail-Trail, Health and Active Living, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington, Why Use Trails?

Recently, we were able to sit down with Chelsea Murphy to talk about her Trail Moments. Chelsea is a self-proclaimed “adventure mom,” who simply loves getting outdoors and inspiring others to do the same through sharing her experiences on She Colors Nature and building a welcoming community.

Keith Russell leading a bird walk at Philadelphia's Discovery Center | Photo by Gregory Walker

Trail Moments | By Sight & Sound: Tips for Birding Beginners

Posted 05/30/22 by Keith Russell in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, How-to, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?, Wild and Wonderful

I love birding for many reasons. In addition to exposing us to the wonder and beauty of birds and the natural world, birding can help us become better listeners and observers, as well as more careful and detailed thinkers.

Colorado's Farmers High Line Canal Trail | Photo by Scott Stark

Trail Moments | Advice From a Mom: How to Get Kids to Love Biking

Posted 05/06/22 by Laura Stark in Trail Use | Tagged with Biking, Encouraging Trail Use, How-to, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

Biking has always been a part of Layla’s life, and as a middle schooler now she typically rides about 20 miles a week commuting to and from school. I’ll share some of the tips we used to help her become a successful and happy rider, and we welcome advice from other parents in the article comments.

Celebrate Trails Day event in Columbus, Ohio | Photo by Jeffrey A. Tilford

Celebrate Trails Day Inspires Trail Users to Be Active

Posted 05/04/22 by Brad Byrne in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, CelebrateTrailsDay, Community Events, Encouraging Trail Use, Facts and FIgures, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

From riding down Historic Route 66 to encountering black bears to overcoming a mountainous climb, so many great stories came to us from Celebrate Trails Day participants about the special moments they had on the trail—and what trails mean to them.

Photos by Stephen Matera, courtesy IZIP

Slow Down and Enjoy the Trail With These E-bike Tales and Tips from IZIP

Posted 04/14/22 by Corey August at IZIP in Trail Use | Tagged with Bike Commuting, Biking, ebike, Encouraging Trail Use, Why Use Trails?

We believe that pedal-assist e-bikes provide an intuitive experience that gives you all the benefits of cycling plus the power to ride longer and stronger. IZIP eBikes integrate some of the most efficient, state-of-the art, mid-drive and hub-drive electric motor systems which include a drive unit, battery pack, display and user interface.

Whitney Washington | Courtesy Whitney Washington

Trail Moments | Recapturing Life on a Great American Journey

Posted 04/14/22 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Great American Rail-Trail, How-to, Trail Etiquette, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

If a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, Whitney Washington’s 3,700-mile route across the country began with a few hard-earned turns of the bike wheel. She estimates that she traveled about 5 miles her first day, but as she gained strength and experience over the course of weeks and then months, that number grew to 20 and then 40 and then as many as 87 miles in a single day near the end of her journey.

Rails-to-Trails staffers Kevin Belanger and Marianne Wesley Fowler at the opening of the Beverly Bridge along the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail in Washington | Courtesy Kevin Belanger

Beverly Bridge Opening Marks Major Jump Toward Statewide Trail Connectivity in Washington

Posted 04/12/22 by Kevin Belanger in America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Great American Rail-Trail, Washington

On April 8, 2022, a ribbon cutting marked a new beginning for the Beverly Bridge—gathering more than 200 people to celebrate its long-anticipated revitalization after years of advocacy from organizations around the state. For the first time since the bridge was closed in 1980 as part of the disused Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, people can cross the Columbia River on this iconic piece of infrastructure.

Photo courtesy Groundspeak Inc. (dba Geocaching)

Geocaching: Find the Fun!

Posted 03/30/22 by Chris Ronan in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, How-to, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

With millions of geocaches hidden throughout the world, there’s a very good chance one is located on your favorite trail! Geocaching is a high-tech game of hide and seek. Put simply, someone hides a container for others to find. The game started in early 2000. When Geocaching.com launched later that year, only 75 geocaches existed. Today, there are more than 3.3 million geocaches in 190 countries.

Northern Rail Trail de New Hampshire | Cortesía de New Hampshire State Parks

Consejos para senderos ferroviarios para esquí de fondo (una guía 101)

Posted 03/24/22 by Tom Sexton in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, How-to, Spanish, Trail Use Tips, Winter Uses

Si está tratando de encontrar formas nuevas y divertidas de salir al aire libre este invierno, ¿por qué no agregar el esquí de fondo o nórdico a su lista? No deje que la palabra esquí lo intimide, no es tan difícil como piensa; la verdadera palabra en la que debe enfocarse es "fondo", ya que puede ver a fondo el paisaje local bajo una luz completamente nueva, mientras mantiene los pies un poco más calientes que cuando va caminando, ya que se deslizan sobre la nieve. Y, si bien es bueno para las piernas, por supuesto, también es un excelente ejercicio para la parte superior del cuerpo y los abdominales.

Foto de Mark Wilkinson

Siete cosas que pueden salir mal en recorrido en bicicleta, ¡y cómo solucionarlas!

Posted 03/24/22 by Katie Harris in Trail Use | Tagged with Biking, Encouraging Trail Use, How-to, Spanish, Trail Use Tips

Todos hemos tenido esos días en los que las cosas simplemente no salieron según lo planeado. Su calentador de agua falló a mitad de la ducha, su compañero de cuarto se bebió lo último de su leche y no pudo encontrar un par de calcetines que combinaran. Y eso fue antes de que saliera de casa.