Why Use Trails?

Joe Rebar and Carol Walter on the trail | Photo courtesy Joe Rebar

Trail Moments | Biking Through Triumphs and Troubles

Posted 03/15/23 by Laura Stark in Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, People with Disabilities, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

“I only go on rail-trails now,” Carol said. “They make me feel safer because I don’t have to be watching for cars and traffic. And I can’t go very fast—I have to go slow so that I can see.”

On the Appalachian Trail in 2021 | Photo courtesy Retha Charette

Hiking Hacks: Long-Distance Prep Tips and Tricks for Rail-Trails 101

Posted 02/14/23 by Retha Charette in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, Health and Active Living, How-to, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

A long-distance hike can truly be the adventure of a lifetime. With rail-trail thru hiking becoming more and more popular every day, I wanted to share some knowledge I’ve learn over the many years and thousands of miles I’ve spent on hiking and rail-trails about the world.

Betzy Salcedo, Brenda Hamilton and Kathleen Richardson at the end of a ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., via the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. | Photo by Joseph Richardson

Trail Moments | Cycling for Life

Posted 02/13/23 by Kathleen Richardson in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living, Trail Moments, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Cycling on America’s rail-trails has been an integral part of my journey—helping me to survive PH physically as well as emotionally. I’m so glad these trails exist, and I look forward to another 20 years of riding them.

Photo courtesy Getty Images

Reflecting on 2022: Capturing Once-in-a-Generation Opportunities for Trails, Walking and Biking

Posted 12/08/22 by Ryan Chao, Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Demand for Trails, Encouraging Trail Use, Equity, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Rail-Trail Champion, RTC in Action, Trail Moments, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?

This December, we’re taking time to reflect on the challenges and changes, hard work and persistence, that’s made up the fabric of this impactful year. As we bid farewell to 2022, we take stock of our impact and extend our appreciation to the many partners, friends and supporters who’ve worked so passionately to make our collective achievements possible.

Golf cart trail in Arizona's Oro Valley | Photo courtesy Lew Roscoe

Trail Moments | Enjoying the Trike Life

Posted 11/28/22 by Lew Roscoe in Trail Use | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

I used to ride a regular two-wheeled bike; however, one morning in the summer of 2020, as I was riding, I got caught up in a tight turn and fell, breaking my elbow and pelvis. After recovering from the accident, I decided to switch to a three-wheeler, so I tried a few options and bought a recumbent electric Catrike.

Florida's Pinellas Trail in Dunedin | Photo courtesy Pinellas County Marketing and Communications

New TrailNation Collaborative Community to Escalate Trail Network Development Nationwide

Posted 11/16/22 by Mary Ellen Koontz, Heather Irish in Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Funding, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?

RTC is bringing together its expertise and network of thousands of partners nationwide to launch the TrailNation Collaborative—a learning community where advocates, public leaders and professionals can come together to share their experiences, their challenges and their strategies for accelerating the pace of connecting trails and active transportation infrastructure.

Packed up for the return trip at Morgan's Riverside Campground | Photo courtesy McKinney Middle School

Ohio Students Venture Into the Wild

Posted 11/09/22 by Anietra Hamper in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with How-to, Ohio, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

“We should be exposing our students to lifelong physical activity and should be helping them develop the skills and confidence to enjoy those activities,” said Jack Hatert, principal of McKinney Middle School. “Our schools are the heartbeat of a cycling community, and we have to pass the passion on to our students.”

National Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming | Photo by Amy Kapp

10 Great Places of Learning Along the Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 11/04/22 by Zach Zimmerman in Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Top10, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

The Great American Rail-Trail® and its hosts trails connect to many places of learning, history and culture where students can take a break from the grind of classwork and explore. Here are some of our favorites.

Arriving home at the end of the Great American Rail-Trail journey | Photo courtesy David Berrigan

Trail Moments | Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream on the Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 11/03/22 by David Berrigan in Trail Use | Tagged with Connected Systems, Encouraging Trail Use, Gear, Great American Rail-Trail, How-to, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

The stars aligned a few years ago when family, work and life combined with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s announcement of their Great American Rail-Trail® project to push me toward a serious commitment to a long-distance bike trip.

Angela Mitchell and Ivory Levert, Co-Founders, Black Women In Nature | Photo by Doreen Dawkins

#TrailMoments With Black Women In Nature (@BlkWomenInNature)

Posted 10/07/22 by Black Women In Nature in Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Great American Rail-Trail, Health and Active Living, Ohio, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

Meet Ivory Levert and Angela Mitchell, the power pair beyond Black Women In Nature, and learn how they’re inspiring more people to get outside on the trail!