Montana

The stunning 22-mile NorPac trail in Idaho and Montana, is a host trail of the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail. | Photo by TrailLink user cstineyb

Great American Rail-Trail: Long-Distance Adventures

Posted 05/07/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Biking, Great American Rail-Trail, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Tourism , Trail Destinations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, bicycle purchases have surged, and trail use around the country has seen a sustained uptick of more than 50% over previous years. Being outside has helped millions to cope, buoying support—and demand for—projects like the developing 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail, the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail. Here are just a few of the long-distance outdoor adventures to be found along this unique and vital route between Washington State and Washington, D.C.

Montana's Headwaters Trail System | Photo by Scott Stark

Top 10 Trails in Montana

Posted 05/06/21 by Amy Grisak in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, Montana, Top10, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

Montana has plenty of room to roam. With roughly 30-million acres of state and federal lands, choosing the path less traveled is a distinct possibility. Wide open spaces take you through rolling grasslands and bucolic farmland, and past peaceful waterways within sight of, if not surrounded by, spectacular mountains. And the trails within towns, such as the former Milwaukee Road that is now part of the Riverfront Trail in Missoula, give users opportunities to explore the nuances of neighborhoods and natural areas within these more populated, but rarely crowded, regions. With continual improvements on the trail systems throughout the state every year, here is a handful of our current favorites.

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.

Northern Rail Trail | Photo by TrailLink user sc302

Five Top Trails That Make the Case for America’s Recreational Trails Program

Posted 09/21/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding, Idaho, Maintenance and Volunteers, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Recreational Trails Program, TrailsTransform, Transportation Alternatives, Vermont

Nearly three decades after its inception, the need for the RTP has only intensified as trail development accelerates nationally. Looking at the rail-trail niche alone, the country has increased its number of rail-trails from around 500 to more than 2,200. And, in many places, individual trails are now coalescing into expansive networks of interconnected trails spanning hundreds of miles. Awareness and use of trails has grown in tandem—but with more footfalls, hoofbeats and wheel revolutions than ever, funding for trail maintenance is not keeping pace with demand.

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.

Lake Easton State Park in Washington | Courtesy Washington State Parks

Eight Scenic State Parks for RV Camping Along the Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 01/29/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, Hall of Fame, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, TrailNation, Washington

To experience a trail of such length—the Great American spans more than 3,700 miles—some may prefer to hop in an RV to cover greater distances and experience more trails within the route. Near many of these trails, travelers can often find state parks tucked along the banks of scenic rivers or lakes, providing idyllic settings for camping. Here are a few of these picturesque parks along the Great American that are perfect for a long-distance journey of RV-plus-trail.

Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail in Thompson Park | Photo by TrailLink.com user jdodge_tl

The Great American Rail-Trail Experience: Connections to Our National Scenic and Historic Trails

Posted 11/12/19 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, District Of Columbia, Great American Rail-Trail, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Trail Destinations, Washington, Wyoming

The Great American Rail-Trail’s own unique journey through 12 states and the District of Columbia, combined with its ties to both National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails, offers an enriching and meaningful lens through which to see the country.

Potential Midtown Greenway extension over the Mississippi River | Photo courtesy Midtown Greenways Coalition

RTC’s Doppelt Fund Supports 10 Multiuse Trail Projects in 2019

Posted 05/30/19 by Eli Griffen in Building Trails | Tagged with Repairs and Trail Safety, Colorado, Demand for Trails, Florida, Funding, Georgia, Heritage and Restoration, Iowa, Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Rail-with-Trail, RTC in Action, Trail Communities, Virginia, Washington

With National Trails Day just around the corner, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Doppelt Family Trail Development Fund grant program!

Pony Express station at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center | Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management | CC by 2.0

16 Historic Highlights Along the Route of the Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 05/08/19 by Cory Matteson, Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Destinations, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming

Unique in makeup and geography, each trail that’s hosting the 3,700-miles-plus preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail has many stories to tell—some as old as, or far older than, our country itself. Both well known and lesser known, the histories found along the route demonstrate why the “Great American” is a true national treasure.

Richmond Greenway in California | Photo courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

At the Heart of It: Trails and Public Spaces

Posted 05/03/19 by Ryan Chao in America's Trails | Tagged with BATC, California, Cross-Sector Collaboration, Great American Rail-Trail, Montana, Route of the Badger, RTC in Action, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?

We are pleased to present this new blog series by RTC President Ryan Chao—who will provide monthly insights on the role of trails in connecting the nation, and creating healthy, thriving communities across America. Enjoy!

The developing Silver Bow Creek Greenway in Montana is a key player in the tail end of a decades-long environmental restoration effort in the Butte Area. | Courtesy Silver Bow Creek Greenway

From Toxic Site to Thriving Rail-Trail: Montana's Silver Bow Creek Greenway

Posted 04/20/19 by Scott Stark in Building Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Design Strategies, Ecology and Environment, Featured Magazine Articles, Montana, Rural Communities

By the early 20th century, Butte, Montana, was already being called the richest hill on Earth, an acknowledgement of the nearly inconceivable amounts of ore being mined there. In 1910 alone, 284 million pounds of copper ore were extracted from the Butte area. “Butte electrified America,” said Dori Skrukrud, the community development coordinator for the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow. “Butte provided the metals to win world wars. But it paid a significant price.”