Rail-with-Trail

Kara Patajo @YourNorthWestieBestie on the Spruce Railraod Trail, part of the Olympic Discovery Trail | Photo courtesy Kara Patajo

Kara Patajo's Trail Moments: Discover Nature Where You Are

Posted 09/08/23 by Kara Patajo in Trail Use | Tagged with Great American Rail-Trail, Trail Moments, Washington

When coming up with a plan for my Trail Moments this summer, my intention was to show how to connect with nature both inside and outside of the city of Seattle. First, we visited the Olympic Discovery Trail.

At the top of the Continental Divide in Colorado at Loveland Pass | Photo courtesy Sam Westby

Sam Westby’s Trail Moments: Sharing the Trail Near and Far

Posted 08/09/23 by Sam Westby in Trail Use | Tagged with Biking, Great American Rail-Trail, Trail Etiquette, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips

Trails were mostly relaxing for me and my dad. There were no cars. Navigating was easy. People were friendly. It was common for someone to come up and start talking to us while we were taking a break on a bench.

Red Brick Road | Photo by Gene Bisbee

Explore Trails While Learning About the Nation's Rich History

Posted 04/04/23 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation in America's Trails | Tagged with CelebrateTrailsDay, Encouraging Trail Use, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Trail Destinations

According to The Historical Marker Database, there are more than 176,000 historic markers, and there will be even more historic markers dedicated to elevating the stories of people and places along the Great American Rail-Trail®.

Charlotte Rail Trail | Photo by Eric Casella

North Carolina’s Charlotte Rail Trail

Posted 01/19/23 by Lindsay Martell in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Art, Best Of, North Carolina, Rail-with-Trail, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Transportation and Health

The bustling Charlotte Rail Trail is a 12-foot-wide swath of urban utopia in North Carolina’s largest city. Bikers stream by in packs, toddlers sprint away from their stroller-pushing parents, curious puppies on leashes pull their owners to every corner of the path; these are just a few of the sights that pop up along the way.

Pennsylvania's Newtown Rail Trail ribbon cutting | Photo courtesy Bucks County Planning Commission

Seven Sensational New Rail-Trails to Celebrate in 2022

Posted 12/21/22 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Caracara, Circuit Trails, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rail-with-Trail, Texas, TrailNation, Utah, Vermont

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is proud to showcase a handful of the new rail-trails that opened in 2022, bringing with them impactful changes that strengthened and improved the communities they connect while expanding options for people to be active outdoors—whether for recreation or transportation.

Megan Gray | Photo by Jovanka Novakovic, courtesy RTC

Trail Moments | Equestrian Finds Emotional Freedom on the Trail

Posted 09/20/22 by Megan Gray in Trail Use | Tagged with Great American Rail-Trail, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

My motto has always been “emotional freedom starts on the trail,” and it’s something I’ve trademarked for my business, as I truly believe in it. In the process of being out there on the trail—if you have lost yourself somewhere along the way—I promise you that trails will help you find yourself again. Hope is always there, and you are never, ever alone.

Hall of Fame milestone on Florida's Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail | Courtesy Carol Alexander

Trail Moments | Our Quest to Visit All of America’s Hall of Fame Rail-Trails

Posted 07/05/22 by Carol Alexander in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, Hall of Fame, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

For the last three years, we have concentrated on pedaling different regions of the country using two important planning tools: the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame guidebook and TrailLink.com. We have also expanded our agenda by incorporating other interests such as canoeing and geocaching. Our journey started with an F150 pickup carrying two solo canoes on the roof, bicycles and hiking attire in the truck bed, and a very comfortable 20-foot travel trailer towed behind.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Photo by Jake Lynch

New USDOT Report Provides 25 Years of Lessons Learned for Rails-with-Trails

Posted 06/25/21 by Kelly Pack in America's Trails | Tagged with Capital Trails Coalition, Circuit Trails, Federal, Rail-with-Trail, Success Stories, TrailNation, Walkability and Bikeability

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released Rails-with-Trails: Best Practices and Lessons Learned—a long-awaited update to its first release, published in 2002. Offering in-depth insights on the design, development, operations and benefits of rails-with-trails in America, the report has served as an authoritative resource for trail builders for nearly two decades.

Capital Crescent Trail in Washington, D.C. | Photo by Jon Lowenstein

History Along the Great American Rail-Trail: A Kick-Off With the Creators

Posted 06/14/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

In 2019, TrailLink.com™, RTC’s national trail-finder website, embarked on an ambitious historical exploration of the developing Great American Rail-Trail, with a goal to shine a light on the people, landmarks and innovations that encapsulate this iconic 3,700-mile route between Washington, D.C., and Washington State.

Historic Virginia and Truckee Trail | Photo by Jenny Anderson Haas, courtesy Muscle Powered

Historic Virginia and Truckee Trail to Rejuvenate Famous Nevada Rail Corridor

Posted 12/05/19 by Donna Inversin in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, Funding, Heritage and Restoration, History Happened Here, Nevada, Rail-with-Trail, State and Federal Programs, Trail Communities

The rail corridor’s new life as the Historic Virginia and Truckee Trail will connect five counties, five cities and six museums. Portions of the trail have already been constructed; Carson City, the state capital, has several miles of the V&T on the ground. And bicyclists ride along much of the old route, without even realizing it, through Washoe and Pleasant Valleys in Washoe County.

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!