Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Celebrate Trails Day: Ideas and Resources for Trail Fun

Posted 04/13/21 by Suzanne Matyas in Trail Use | Tagged with CelebrateTrailsDay, Encouraging Trail Use, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

This national day—“Celebrate Trails Day”—is a chance for people from coast to coast to enjoy the tens of thousands of miles of trails that connect the country. With that in mind, our team developed a list of suggestions that could help anyone have a fun time on the trail on Celebrate Trails Day and beyond!

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.

Fun Run 5k on the W&OD Trail in Northern Virginia | Courtesy RTC

How to Train for a 5K or 10K Using Rail-Trails

Posted 04/05/21 by Emilia Benton in Health and Wellness, Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, How-to, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Rail-trails are an especially great option for training for that first race for a variety of reasons. For one thing, many of these trails are paved, flat or with a very light grade. They’re free to use, often close to home and easily accessible, making them an excellent option for anyone who loves to be outdoors.

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.

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

Trail Moments | 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.

Photo by Vasu Sojitra | Triple Tree, Drinking Horse and the M trails, on the land of Apsáalooke, Salish-Kootenai, Northern Cheyenne, Niitsitapi, Shoshone-Bannock and many other Nations

Tips, #TrailMoments and Talk with Vasu Sojitra

Posted 12/07/20 by Suzanne Matyas in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Equity, People with Disabilities, Trail Moments, Video, Why Use Trails?

RTC interviewed Vasu Sojitra, a professional athlete, and a diversity, equity and inclusion strategist. It was an awesome and eye-opening conversation about his time on the trail—his favorite #TrailMoments—and how we can all make outdoor spaces more inclusive and accessible.

Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C., and Maryland | Photo by India Kea

How to Build Physical Activity Into Daily Life on Trails During COVID-19

Posted 11/20/20 by Cory Matteson in America's Trails, Health and Wellness, Trail Use | Tagged with COVID-19, Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging, People with Disabilities, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Getting outside right now, especially on local trails, can provide a wealth of benefits to your body and mind—once you get in the habit. Some of the most common trail activities—biking, skating, running—can burn over a thousand calories in an hour’s time. And being out in nature—especially right now, as more people are staying home and cool weather is making people less inclined to step outside—can strengthen your resilience and mental health.

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

Trail Moments | 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.

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!

Trail Moments | 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.

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