Imagine triking across the USA on a bike path!
Add this one to your bucket list!
The Great American Rail-Trail is an epic ongoing project to create an off road trail through scenic and historic routes across the entire USA! When completed, the trail will stretch from sea to shining sea – Seattle, Washington to Washington, D.C.
Announced in early 2019 by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the Great American Rail-Trail will take an enormous amount of organizing and collaboration across federal, state and local municipalities. The masterplan for the trail is to utilize the extensive network of existing rail trails, as well as other multiuse trails. Over 50% of the route is already completed, thanks to decades of cycling advocacy work.
RTC’s late co-founder David Burwell is the visionary behind the Great American Rail-Trail. His dream was that one day cyclists could pedal “across this entire country… on flat, wide, off-road paths.” He wanted trail users to be able to trace American history along the country’s rail-trails, towpaths and greenways. Spanning 4,000 miles, the trail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an enduring gift for generations to come. This trail will truly become a ‘National Treasure.’
This article has been excerpted from the RailstoTrails.org website.
www.greatamericanrailtrail.org
A Few Of The Connecting Trails Along The Way…
WASHINGTON D.C.
The Easternmost Endpoint For The Great American Rail-Trail Begins In Washington, D.C., At The Steps Of The U.S. Capitol. Heading West Through The National Mall, The Route Is Hosted By Trails Featuring Some Of America’s Most Renowned Landmarks And A Portion Of Rock Creek Park, The Oldest Urban Park In The National Park Service. After Traveling Through Historic Georgetown, The Route In D.C. Ends Near Fletcher’s Cove, A Well-Known Fishing And Outdoor Recreation Area Of The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
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IOWA
The First State In The Nation To Put The Railbanking Act Of 1983 To Use, Iowa Has A Long History Of Leadership In Trail Development. Its Rich Network Of Trails Includes Well-Established Pathways Such As The Picturesque Cedar Valley Nature Trail—One Of The State’s First Rail-Trail Conversions And The State’s Great American Gateway Trail—And The Nationally Renowned High Trestle Trail With Its Famous Mine-Shaft-Themed Art Installation. These Trails Will Join With Dozens Of Other Trails To Create A 465-Miles-Plus Route From Davenport To Council Bluffs.
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MONTANA
