The open air present ample alternatives to discover, from multi-month backpacking journeys on the Appalachian Trail to paths excellent for weekend warrior adventures. While many of those trails are designated for hikers solely, rails-to-trails pathways throughout the U.S. supply multi-use journey choices for hikers, bikers, and others on the lookout for a extra accessible journey.
If you’re seeking to see what the rails-to-trails buzz is all about, we’ll introduce you to those paths under, protecting:
- Background on what they’re precisely
- How you possibly can help their improvement
- 5 rails-to-trails to place in your record to take a look at
What is a rails-to-trails pathway?
Rails-to-trails paths are public trails created on outdated railroad beds. To guarantee trains can energy up a slope, railways sometimes haven’t any steeper of a grade than 4%. This makes rail-trails pretty flat, with solely mild climbs and descents.
Given their composition, rails-to-trails pathways supply a extra accessible possibility for having fun with the outside than another climbing trails would possibly. Depending on particular path laws, rail-trails can be utilized for climbing, biking, skating, snowboarding, wheelchair use, or horseback driving.
How can I help the rails-to-trails motion?
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy obtained began in Washington, D.C. in 1986 to advocate for preserving outdated unused railroads for public use. The group now has 1 million grassroots supporters and has championed the event of 24,000+ miles of rail-trails within the U.S., with over 8,000 extra miles within the works. Its newest mission is to hyperlink rail-trails all the way in which from the District of Columbia to Washington State, touring over 3,700 miles by way of 12 states.
You can help tasks just like the Great American Rail-Trail, in addition to smaller rails-to-trails tasks in your personal group, by donating to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and utilizing their planning and advocacy instruments to jumpstart new path tasks.
5 of the Best Rails-to-Trails Paths to Explore This Year
The greatest method to perceive the great thing about the rails-to-trails idea is to decide on one to discover! Below, we’ve rounded up 5 distinctive rail-trails to get you began.
1. Tweetsie Trail: Johnson City to Elizabethton, Tennessee
The Tweetsie Trail is situated within the outside playground of northeast Tennessee, a area wealthy with Appalachian climbing trails, rivers for fly fishing, and ample mountain biking circuits. It occupies a 9.6-mile stretch between Johnson City and Elizabethton that used to deal with the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad. Its identify comes from the sound these steam engines used to whistle as they handed by way of city.
The path’s location makes it straightforward to slot in a day of out of doors journey whereas visiting the realm for its different city delights, like music and barbeque. History buffs may even get pleasure from this path, because it passes a duplicate prepare station, Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, and the oldest standing body home in Tennessee. There’s additionally discuss of increasing the path within the coming years. You can hike or bike the path, and if it’s essential to lease some wheels, Local Motion Cyclery is conveniently situated on the Johnson City trailhead.
2. Virginia Creeper Trail: Abingdon to Whitetop, Virginia
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34.4-mile rail-trail that runs from the quaint city of Abingdon to Whitetop within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, near the North Carolina border. Around its midpoint, it additionally passes by way of the Appalachian Trail city of Damascus—an excellent relaxation cease the place you need to undoubtedly seize an affogato at Main Street Coffee and Cream. If you need to add some conventional climbing path miles to your rail-trail journey, you’ll discover an AT trailhead simply outdoors the Damascus city heart.
If you need to bike the Virginia Creeper Trail one-way, beginning in Whitetop gives you the benefit of a principally downhill trip to Abingdon. The grade is refined, however sufficient to make it really feel like a sluggish rollercoaster trip. The Whitetop to Damascus portion presents stunning river views, mountainous forests, and rhododendron and laurel blooms on the proper time of yr. From Damascus to Abingdon, you’ll get pleasure from comforting rolling farmland and forest.
3. Great Allegheny Passage: Cumberland, Maryland to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Great Allegheny Passage is a 150-mile climbing and biking rail-trail that travels by way of valleys and mountains and alongside three rivers. Along the way in which, vacationers cross the Mason & Dixon Line and the Eastern Continental Divide at 2,393 ft. It passes by way of Laurel Highlands, Ohiopyle State Park, outdated coal and mining nation, and Point State Park. With waterfalls, farmland, gorges, tunnels, and bridges, the trek is a scenic one.
It additionally crosses by way of a number of path cities and campgrounds, making it straightforward to plan a multi-day journey. Many shuttle companies can be found to assist with one-way treks.
4. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park: Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland
If you’re eager to stretch your trek of the Great Allegheny Passage even farther, you’re in luck! The path connects with the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Trail in Cumberland, Maryland—which means you possibly can get pleasure from a 334.5-mile car-free journey all the way in which from Pittsburgh to the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
The C&O Canal path follows the Potomac River and is surprisingly wild given its proximity to the nation’s capital. Hikers and bikers can count on to see a wide range of birds, turtles, and different wildlife alongside the way in which. It’s additionally filled with historical past of the canal alongside the way in which and passes by way of one other National Park Service web site, Great Falls. There are ample campsites with filtered water pumps alongside the way in which, in addition to alternatives to bike or stroll into close by cities.
5. Mickelson Trail: Deadwood to Edgemont, South Dakota
The 109-mile George S. Mickelson Trail is a phenomenal method to discover the Black Hills of South Dakota. It contains over 100 transformed railroad bridges and 4 rock tunnels. There are 15 trailheads the place hikers, bikers, and horseback riders can entry the trail. Most of the path travels by way of National Forest land and showcases spruce, ponderosa, and aspen forests rising alongside the distinctive granite mountains of the southern hills and the sandstone, shale, and limestone canyons of the northern hills.
There are a couple of campgrounds in cities and at Forest Service websites alongside the way in which to make it right into a multi-day trek. The path passes by way of the small city of Custer, which is value a lunch cease or an in a single day. Foodies will benefit from the Custer Wolf or Skogen for dinner and the Custer Beacon is a superb place to get pleasure from some trailside reside music.
Start Your Next Adventure on a Rails-to-Trails Pathway
Rails-to-Trails paths are one of many some ways to discover your personal yard or a brand new a part of the nation. Their straightforward grades make them extra accessible to all talent ranges they usually usually include the advantages of historic significance, pretty surroundings, and enjoyable path cities.
Hop on one in the present day and see how one can assist construct and protect these outside treasures. We’d additionally like to see your rail-trail adventures! Share them with us by tagging us on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
If you loved this text, you may additionally need to take a look at a few of our different content material on the Light Feet weblog: