Trail Moments

Five Trail Moments with Ian Mackay, Founder of Ian's Ride

Posted 04/13/21 by Ian Mackay in Trail Use, Health and Wellness, America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, Encouraging Trail Use, Equity, People with Disabilities, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington, Why Use Trails?

Ian Mackay on Olympic Discovery Trail | Photo by Jesse Major

I was able to retain my happiness and sanity during this difficult year by getting outside. My preferred venue: The Olympic Discovery Trail. Here are 5 #TrailMoments that were particularly special for me during the 2020 year.

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Ian Mackay on Olympic Discovery Trail | Photo by Jesse Major

Five Trail Moments with Ian Mackay, Founder of Ian's Ride

Posted 04/13/21 by Ian Mackay in Trail Use, Health and Wellness, America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, Encouraging Trail Use, Equity, People with Disabilities, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington, Why Use Trails?

I was able to retain my happiness and sanity during this difficult year by getting outside. My preferred venue: The Olympic Discovery Trail. Here are 5 #TrailMoments that were particularly special for me during the 2020 year.

Photo courtesy Jeff Jenkins, graphic by RTC

Trail Moments with Jeff Jenkins of Chubby Diaries

Posted 03/01/21 by Jeff Jenkins in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

Jeff Jenkins, as a prolific travel-blogger and the creator of Chubby Diaries—an “online community for plus-size travelers who are passionate about seeing the world, experiencing new foods and learning clever hacks along the way”—shares his Trail Moment.

Photo by Karen Beck, courtesy of Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel, graphic courtesy RTC

These #TrailMoments Stories Will Warm Your Heart In Winter

Posted 02/05/21 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

Whether leaves or snow were falling on the ground, the RTC team has been incredibly moved by how many people have shared their experiences and stories from the trail—their #TrailMoments—over the last few months. Here are some stories that will warm your heart in Winter.

The Three of Us | Courtesy Darlene Maxfield

Connecting to Nature, Connecting as a Family, on America’s Trails

Posted 01/14/21 by Darlene Maxfield in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with COVID-19, Demand for Trails, Encouraging Trail Use, Equity, People with Disabilities, Trail Moments

Since COVID-19 began, our activities have been limited and our universe has shrunk. I know we’re not alone in this; so many people have been limited in what they can do during this time. But we found that one activity still brings us so much joy—biking as a family on our local trails.

Photo by India Kea

Looking Back, With Gratitude, on a Year of Challenges and Triumphs for Trails

Posted 12/23/20 by Amy Kapp, Paola Tejada Lalinde in America's Trails, Success Stories, Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Best Of, Capital Trails Coalition, Caracara, COVID-19, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Route of the Badger, RTC in Action, Trail Moments, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?

As 2020 draws to a close—a year of extreme changes and challenges—it is with incredible appreciation that we reflect on the collective impact of our movement across the country.

Ed and Jenn Coleman on the Chief Ladiga Trail | Courtesy Ed Coleman

The Long Trail Home

Posted 12/17/20 by Ed Coleman in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Alabama, Arizona, California, COVID-19, Encouraging Trail Use, Florida, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

Trail riding encompasses my fondest childhood memories and confirmation of my life partner. It grounds me to myself and makes the world around me my home. I lost that connection during the pandemic, and I have realized that rediscovering the trails around me—my #TrailMoments—makes me feel whole and like the world will be ok.

Tacony Creek | Photo by Thom Carroll

When Trails Connect Everyone, Everywhere

Posted 12/01/20 by Ryan Chao in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Equity, Great American Rail-Trail, RTC in Action, Trail Moments, TrailNation, TrailsTransform

Throughout this year, as we’ve continued to galvanize the trails movement in a virtual world, the movement itself has inspired us—in particular, the stories so many have shared of the moments of joy, respite, healing and strength they have found on the trail. The impact of our work in this time has brought urgency and focus to our path forward.

Amy on Ohio's Camp Chase Trail | Courtesy Amy Collins-Warfield

From Burnout to Biking: Rediscovering My Love for the Outdoors on Ohio’s Trails

Posted 11/20/20 by Amy Collins-Warfield in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, Ohio, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

The outdoors always brings me pleasure and relaxation, but this year it means more than ever. I explored new places and identified new flora and fauna. I developed a better appreciation for the natural world in my part of the state.

Courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

This Bouquet of #TrailMoments Will Inspire You

Posted 11/05/20 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in America's Trails, Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Best Of, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

Through our national Trail Moments initiative, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is inviting everyone—both new and tried-and-true trail users—to share these special moments of connection and demonstrate what trails mean to each of us right now. Here, we’ve collected a small bouquet of #TrailMoments from people across the country; we hope you are as inspired as we are!

Image by RTC, Photos courtesy Hollie S.

She Moved Cross-Country During COVID: How One Runner Is Connecting to Her New Community on Trails

Posted 10/26/20 by Hollie S. in America's Trails, Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with COVID-19, Health and Active Living, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

Moving across the country during the pandemic was one of the scariest—but also most exciting—things we've ever done. Along the way, we stopped at several rail-trails. Running on trails was one of the best and most enjoyable ways to see the country safely.

Metropolitan Branch Trail | Photo by India Kea

Americans Urged to #RecreateResponsibly As Trail Use Surges During COVID

Posted 10/23/20 by Christina Sturdivant Sani in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with COVID-19, Encouraging Trail Use, Trail Etiquette, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

Across the country, some trails spiked to levels more than 200% higher than the same time last year, according to trail count data released by RTC in July. Currently, trail use is still far exceeding previous usage; since the pandemic began, RTC’s trail count data shows that usage has been 60% higher [on average] than in 2019.

Vincent Viars and his running partners on the Mon River Trail | Courtesy Vincent Viars

Morgantown Man Gets a Running Start to a Healthier Life on Trails

Posted 10/23/20 by Laura Stark in Health and Wellness, America's Trails | Tagged with COVID-19, Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging, IHTC, Trail Moments, West Virginia, Why Use Trails?

Vincent Viars is running for his life. Both his mother and one sister had suffered from heart problems and diabetes, passing away in their 60s. Another sister had triple bypass surgery and several stents. Overweight and living a sedentary lifestyle, Viars’ gnawing fear of dying grew as he approached middle age, so he decided to make a change with a health journey that began one literal step at a time.