Rails to Trails

By Rhonda Ostertag
Published on August 7, 2008
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Autumn colors shine in the evening light along the Douglas State Trail in Minnesota.
Autumn colors shine in the evening light along the Douglas State Trail in Minnesota.
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Cyclists take to the Virginia Creeper Trail in Grayson County, Virginia. Green Cove station, the renovated depot, serves as a visitor’s center for the trail.
Cyclists take to the Virginia Creeper Trail in Grayson County, Virginia. Green Cove station, the renovated depot, serves as a visitor’s center for the trail.
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User signs mark the Withlacoochee Trail in Withlacoochee Trail State Park, Florida.
User signs mark the Withlacoochee Trail in Withlacoochee Trail State Park, Florida.
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Welcome to New York’s Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Taconic State Park.
Welcome to New York’s Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Taconic State Park.
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Watoga Bridge covers part of the Greenbrier River Trail in West Virginia.
Watoga Bridge covers part of the Greenbrier River Trail in West Virginia.
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Rails to Trails Fun Facts

Railroads once linked the nation, bringing “the city,” its information and goods, to small towns across the country. Now that the heyday of railroading has faded (though rising gas prices might mean a resurgence in rail travel), a reverse magic is visiting the railway system. Abandoned lines are being reclaimed for recreational corridors, carrying people out of the cities and towns into the fresh air of the countryside and revitalizing local communities in the process.

The rails-to-trails movement is rapidly expanding the trail systems in all 50 states. With the sagebrush swept away and the ties and rails removed, these routes become ideal pathways with level beds and modest grades suitable for seniors to toddlers. The paths wind through history, old whistlestop towns and forgotten places. Because the railroads had their choice of land, routes pass through prized scenery and hug picturesque waterways. Trekkers can sculpt short family strolls or long-distance “see-the-country” bicycle rides.

What is a rail-to-trail?

A rail-to-trail, or rail trail, is a former rail line that has been fully reclaimed and repurposed for recreational use. In many cases, these lines are banked (earmarked and preserved) for future transportation needs, making rail trails doubly useful: serving the recreation needs of today and the transportation needs of tomorrow. It is not surprising that such a practical recycling solution had its roots in the Midwest.

The rails-to-trails movement began under the radar in the mid-1960s. At its start, it was an organic movement rather than an organized one. Wherever tracks were pulled up, Midwesterners would start using the corridors. The abandoned grades were great for walking, jogging and just getting together. The idea to grow and improve these corridors formally evolved from there, and the rails-to-trails movement was born. Today, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., provides an organized voice and spirits the movement forward.

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