how-to

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.

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.”

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.

Along the Great Rivers Greenway trail network in St. Louis, Missouri. | Photo courtesy Great Rivers Greenway

Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks

Posted 08/31/22 by Ryan Chao, Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, Bike Commuting, Biking, ebike, Gear, How-to, Mode Shift, Trail Use Tips, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?, Winter Uses

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is embarking on an eight-week “Swap-a-Trip” challenge. Beginning Sept. 6, #TeamRTC will explore new ways to embrace active transportation by swapping car trips with walking, bicycling and other self-propelled activities—while getting the physical and mental health benefits to boot. Whether it’s to reduce your carbon footprint, or steep gas prices have got you down—we hope you will consider swapping a car trip for a walk or a bike ride. Here is a collection of tips and advice, brought to you from RTC, to change up that daily car commute or errand run while embracing trails, active transportation and a more active lifestyle.

Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail | Courtesy of Chelsea Murphy

Trail Moments | Tips for Outdoor Outings With Your Kids

Posted 08/04/22 by Chelsea Murphy in Trail Use | Tagged with Gear, How-to, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips

As someone who has hiked, biked, skied, climbed and simply enjoyed being outside in nature and beyond with her family, Chelsea Murphy had a lot of fun stories and wisdom to share. Check out what she’s learned from their many experiences and her takeaways for planning your own #TrailMoments with kids!

Biking in D.C.'s Rock Creek Park | Photo by Hayden Duncan, courtesy Victoria Yuen

Trail Moments | Swapping a Car for a Bike? Here’s What I Learned.

Posted 07/07/22 by Victoria Yuen in Trail Use | Tagged with Gear, How-to, Motorized Use, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, Urban Pathways, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

A year into our new routine, I decided to purchase my own e-bike and conquer my own fears of biking in the city. That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. On my first day of owning the bike, I rode 30 miles by myself. Now, I can fearlessly go to the grocery store, meet up with friends, exercise and have a generally more pleasant way of getting around the city.

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.

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.

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.

Photo courtesy Groundspeak Inc. (dba Geocaching)

Geocaching: Find the Fun!

Posted 03/30/22 by Chris Ronan in Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, How-to, Trail Use Tips, Why Use Trails?

With millions of geocaches hidden throughout the world, there’s a very good chance one is located on your favorite trail! Geocaching is a high-tech game of hide and seek. Put simply, someone hides a container for others to find. The game started in early 2000. When Geocaching.com launched later that year, only 75 geocaches existed. Today, there are more than 3.3 million geocaches in 190 countries.

El autor, Willie Karidis, en una expedición con raquetas de nieve | Cortesía de Willie Karidis

El mágico mundo de las raquetas de nieve: una guía práctica para senderos

Posted 03/24/22 by Willie Karidis in Trail Use | Tagged with Alaska, Gear, How-to, Spanish, Trail Use Tips, Winter Uses

Caminar con raquetas de nieve puede parecer un poco intimidante al principio, pero, una vez que lo prueba, es posible que encuentre una nueva libertad para recorrer los senderos. Yo era un niño cuando aprendí a caminar con raquetas de nieve. Fue en la cabaña de los padres de mi amigo “en el Norte”, en Conover, Wisconsin. Mi amigo y yo nos abrochamos nuestras raquetas de nieve con armazón de roble con correas de cuero sin curtir y fijaciones de cuero y luego partimos. Ninguno de nosotros había caminado con raquetas de nieve antes y, al ser jóvenes y aventureros, lo intentamos de inmediato. Aunque mi par de raquetas de nieve actual es muy diferente, las lecciones que aprendí ese día todavía están conmigo.