Since I stopped running, biking has become my most significant activity. I have long dreamed of long, casual bike rides with no time limit. Those are where I can ride and enjoy life and the beauty around me.
I researched some trains, and Larry Lee, who retired about 7 years ago, shared with me some of the great trails he has found. Here is a list of some that intrigue me:
Multiple Day Trails
The Great Allegheny Passage starts in Cumberland, Maryland, and ends in Downtown Pittsburgh. It is a spectacular 150-mile nonmotorized path that soars over valleys, snakes around mountains, and skirts alongside several rivers on a nearly level, crushed-limestone surface. Tracing old footpaths and railroad corridors through the wilderness offers glimpses into the country's westward expansion and industrial might. When paired with the connecting C&O Canal Towpath, it makes long-distance trail travel possible between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.
Silver Comet Trail and Chief Ladiga Trail - The Silver Comet Trail runs 62 miles from Smyrna on the outskirts of Atlanta to the Georgia/Alabama state line. It connects to the Chief Ladiga Trail and winds through 33 miles of scenic Alabama countryside. The Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet add up to nearly 100 miles of blissful Trail!
The Paul Bunyan State Trail is 115 miles long and has short on-road connections through Baxter and Bemidji. It is the longest of Minnesota's state trails and the longest continuously paved rail trail in the country.
The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a spectacular trail that runs for 73 miles on smooth asphalt. It spans the Idaho panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. It was created through a unique partnership between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the U. S. Government, and the State of Idaho. The Trail meanders through the historic Silver Valley, along the Coeur d'Alene River, past scenic Lake Coeur d'Alene, and through rolling farmlands to Plummer. Twenty developed trailheads provide entry points, and there are twenty scenic waysides along the route with tables to stop for a picnic or a short rest.
George S. Mickelson Trail—This is a 108-mile trail through South Dakota. The map has varied elevations and many great sites to enjoy! There are four tunnels (between Hill City and Rochford), 35 interpretative signs (great lessons in history), and more than 100 bridges.
The Katy State Trail is a 237-mile trail stretching across most of Missouri. Over half the Trail's length follows Lewis and Clark's path up the Missouri River, where you can ride beneath towering river bluffs while eagles circle overhead. After leaving the river, the Trail meanders through peaceful farmland and small-town America.
Wabash Trace Nature Trail - The Trail is a converted railroad right-of-way running 63 miles through the scenic Southwest Iowa countryside. It has +72 bridges. It is close to home in Iowa.
Singe Day Trails
The Provo River Parkway trail is a 15.2-mile point-to-point trail near Provo, Utah. Generally considered a moderately challenging route with about 800 feet of climb.
The Grand Teton National Park Trail - This 7.8-mile point-to-point Trail near Moose, Wyoming, is generally considered an accessible route. My son did this segment when he rode from Canada to Denver, and I drove as. a crew member. It was spectacular!
The River Mountains Trail - The River Mountains Trail is approximately 34 miles long and surrounds the River Mountains, connecting Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Hoover Dam, Henderson, Boulder City, and the rest of the Las Vegas Valley.
The Heartland State Trail could be a multiple-day ride for an out and back! It was one of the first rail-to-trail projects in the country. It is a 49-mile multiple-use trail between Park Rapids and Cass Lake. The Trail is located entirely on a level abandoned railroad grade, except for a four-mile segment north of Walker on sharply rolling terrain for snowmobilers.
Banks-Vernonia State Trail is the first "rails-to-trails" park in Oregon. The Trail follows an abandoned railroad bed that stretches 21 miles between Banks and Vernonia, with highlights including 13 bridges and views from the 733-foot long, 80-foot high Buxton Trestle, open to hikers and bicyclists. A ground-level equestrian bypass crosses Mendenhall Creek. The south end of the Trail begins in Banks, a town of 1,900 surrounded by agricultural operations. Heading north, the Trail passes farming lands and riparian areas before reaching the thickly forested foothills of the Coast Range and ending in Vernonia, a town of 2,200 surrounded by private timberland and small farms.
Hugh S. Branyon Trail—The 28-mile path in Gulf State Park takes riders through nine different ecosystems, including coastal dunes, freshwater lakes, marshes, and maritime forests peppered with longleaf pines, palmettos, and moody oaks dripping in Spanish moss. The path crosses boardwalk bridges to a white sand beach and passes Lefty, the resident alligator's usual hangout, and the nests of two mating pairs of bald eagles.
I am not looking for mountain bike trails; rails to trails are my favorite. Do you have any suggestions?
Carry on, my friends, carry on!
1 comment:
Look up the Withlacoochee State Trail in Florida. 46 miles. I jog on it frequently. Send me a note if you ever get down. My blog is called How Far to the Barn.
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