Trail Moments

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.

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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.

New Jersey's Henry Hudson Trail | Photo by Avery Harmon

Trail Moments | Safe Trails Save Lives

Posted 05/17/22 by Stephen Dunn in America's Trails, Taking Action | Tagged with Repairs and Trail Safety, Demand for Trails, Local Organizing, New Jersey, Trail Moments, Transportation Alternatives, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

In New Jersey, where I live, 82% of fatalities are on state, county and municipal roads. A disproportionate number of these deaths are pedestrians or cyclists, and members of vulnerable populations.

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.

New Mexico's Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge | Courtesy Moonrock Outfitters

Trail Moments | A Path Forward for Better Biking in Roswell, New Mexico

Posted 04/27/22 by Daniel Cederberg in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Local Organizing, New Mexico, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Moments

We love the adventures that trails bring—seeing what lies beyond the next bend, drop, curve or climb. Roswell has two main trails in the downtown area, which provide safe ways to transport yourself across the city while avoiding traffic. They’ve also provided great spaces for us to offer clean-up rides, garden rides and after-dark glow rides for residents to get out and experience more of the community.

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.

Traveling by trail | Courtesy Rachel and Patrick Hugens

Trail Moments | A Tale of a Tour: Traveling by Trail in Wisconsin

Posted 02/25/22 by Rachel and Patrick Hugens in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Route of the Badger, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?, Wisconsin

What we like about cycle touring is the experience of meeting people. Traveling by bike allows you see snapshots of people’s daily lives and interact with them. As a fellow traveler told us once, “Traveling lets you see a thousand lives you might have lived.”

Fortress Bikes interior | Courtesy Hal Simon

Trail Moments | Letting the Good (and Bad) Times Roll: New York Bike Shop Opens in the Midst of a Covid World

Posted 01/03/22 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Biking, COVID-19, Demand for Trails, Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments

Simon’s bike rental shop, a first for the town, is situated on Hurleyville’s Main Street, just steps from the rail-trail. “It’s 7 miles of beautiful, flat pavement,” he said. “You’ll see bodies of water, farmland and forest. And the colors are gorgeous in the fall—you have foliage, history and wildlife.”

Richmond Greenway | Courtesy RTC

A Look Ahead for the Trails Movement in 2022 and Beyond

Posted 12/21/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Equity, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Recreational Trails Program, Route of the Badger, Trail Moments, TrailNation, Transportation Alternatives

The challenges of the past couple years have shown us that our work remains more important than ever. As we look ahead, we see opportunity and potential in the work and in the inspiration provided by the partners, friends and advocates with whom we share our collective vision.

White River State Trail, part of the Route of the Badger trail network | Photo by TrailLink user lkgatu

Here Are Six Reasons Rails-to-Trails Is Celebrating This Year

Posted 12/10/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Indiana, Trail Moments, TrailNation, TrailsTransform, Transportation Alternatives, Wisconsin

A year of positive momentum. That’s how we'd describe 2021, which—despite many challenges and much uncertainty—still came with so much hope and progress for trails and those who made them happen.