Trail of the Month

Alaska’s Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

Posted 05/13/21 by Christina Sturdivant Sani in America's Trails | Tagged with Alaska, Best Of, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Local Organizing, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Walkability and Bikeability, Wild and Wonderful, Winter Uses

Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail | Courtesy Erin Kirkland

The Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail is a beautiful oasis in the middle of Anchorage, Alaska. Running east to west from Goose Lake Park to Westchester Lagoon, the greenbelt boasts scenic views of the Chugach Mountains. “You would never know you’re going through an industrial area,” said Beth Nordlund, the executive director of the Anchorage Park Foundation.

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Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail | Courtesy Erin Kirkland

Alaska’s Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail

Posted 05/13/21 by Christina Sturdivant Sani in America's Trails | Tagged with Alaska, Best Of, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Local Organizing, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Walkability and Bikeability, Wild and Wonderful, Winter Uses

The Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail is a beautiful oasis in the middle of Anchorage, Alaska. Running east to west from Goose Lake Park to Westchester Lagoon, the greenbelt boasts scenic views of the Chugach Mountains. “You would never know you’re going through an industrial area,” said Beth Nordlund, the executive director of the Anchorage Park Foundation.

The Loop | Photo by Gerry Loew, Pima County Communications

Arizona’s Santa Cruz River Park Trail

Posted 04/12/21 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Arizona, Best Of, Bike Commuting, Demand for Trails, Ecology and Environment, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Transportation and Health, Urban Pathways, Why Use Trails?

Starting in the centuries-old birthplace of Tucson in the south, the Santa Cruz River Park Trail follows the sandy and mostly dry riverbed, passing nearby murals and taquerias in neighborhoods like Midvale Park and Santa Cruz Southwest, lively shops and hotels of the downtown area, and busy parks and ballfields of the El Camino Del Cerro area in the northwest.

Spring to Spring Trail | Courtesy Pat Northey

Florida’s Spring to Spring Trail

Posted 03/16/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Florida, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

The Sunshine State’s Spring to Spring Trail doesn’t hide any tricks up its sleeve; as its name implies, travelers will see several natural springs along this scenic, nearly complete 26-mile route winding through the old-growth forests and tree-draped lakesides of Central Florida.

Portneuf Greenway through the Edson Fichter Nature Area | Photo by Charles R. Peterson

Idaho’s Portneuf Greenway

Posted 02/11/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Idaho, Tourism , Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

With a rugged Rocky Mountain landscape and more than 20 million acres of national forest land, Idaho is known for its boundless recreational opportunities. Here, in the southeastern corner of the Gem State, lies a diamond in the rough: the Portneuf Greenway, a developing trail system that aims to connect the entire Portneuf River valley, including Pocatello and neighboring Chubbuck.

Cape Henlopen State Park Bike Loop | Courtesy Delaware State Parks

Delaware’s Cape Henlopen State Park Bike Loop

Posted 01/13/21 by Robert Annis in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Delaware, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Trail users roll past sand dunes and beaches, the Delaware Bay to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Cooper’s hawks and ospreys are frequently spotted in the sky, while red foxes are known to dart across the trail occasionally. These are but some of the glimpses of natural beauty to be found along the trails that wind through Delaware’s Cape Henlopen State Park.

Canyon Rim Trail | Courtesy Los Alamos County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Division

New Mexico’s Canyon Rim Trail

Posted 12/04/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Federal, Funding, Health and Active Living, New Mexico, Schools and Young People, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Walkability and Bikeability

One of Los Alamos County's most popular pathways, the Canyon Rim Trail, provides an easy—and easy to reach—option in the heart of the community, packing a lot of wonder into its 2.5 miles.

Historic Battlefield Trail | Photo by TrailLink user Christina Garza

Texas’ Historic Battlefield Trail

Posted 11/13/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Texas, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

The Historic Battlefield Trail has become a catalyst for a burgeoning 428-mile trail network that will link the rich natural, cultural and historical resources of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and promote increased physical activity regionwide.

Tweetsie Trail entrance in Johnson City | Courtesy Carter County Tourism

Tennessee’s Tweetsie Trail

Posted 10/13/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Health and Active Living, Tennessee, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Walkability and Bikeability

Nestled into the recreational playground of northeastern Tennessee, the Tweetsie Trail connects two charming towns in the Appalachian foothills, following a railroad corridor that once snaked through the mountains and crossed into North Carolina.

Caperton Trail bridge at the mouth of Deckers Creek in Morgantown | Courtesy RTC

Mon River Rail-Trail System (West Virginia)

Posted 09/09/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, TrailNation, West Virginia

Branching out from its nexus in Morgantown, home to West Virginia University, the Mon River Rail-Trail System comprises 48 miles of seamlessly connected pathway featuring an ensemble cast of environments.

Anacostia River views from the trail | Photo by Joe Flood

Washington, D.C., and Maryland’s Anacostia River Trail

Posted 08/13/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Capital Trails Coalition, District Of Columbia, Heritage and Restoration, History Happened Here, Maryland, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, TrailNation

Just beyond the iconic monuments and museums that make up the central core of Washington, D.C., lies one of the area’s best kept secrets: the Anacostia River Trail, a 20-mile route along the city’s eastern waterway that offers an extraordinary tapestry of experiences on its journey to Bladensburg, Maryland.

Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail | Photo by TrailLink user jsusany324

Ohio’s Little Beaver Creek Greenway

Posted 07/13/20 by Robert Annis in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, IHTC, Ohio, Tourism , Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

the Little Beaver Creek Greenway introduces visitors to the beauty and history of the Appalachian foothills. Located in a former railroad depot, the Lisbon trailhead is about a quarter mile from the actual start of the greenway. From there, the trail gradually rises about 450 feet over its 12.5-mile length, running north to Washingtonville.

Tacony Creek Trail | Photo by Thom Carroll

Pennsylvania’s Tacony Creek Trail

Posted 06/09/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Circuit Trails, Connected Systems, Delaware, Ecology and Environment, Equity, Maintenance and Volunteers, Pennsylvania, Trail of the Month, TrailNation

Philadelphia is tucked between two major rivers, the Delaware to the east and the Schuylkill to the west; between them, Tacony Creek—a tributary of the Delaware—runs its course through the city’s northeast neighborhoods. In this densely populated pocket, the 3.2-mile Tacony Creek Trail, paved and smooth as a river stone, flows along the waterway under the hush of tall old-growth trees.