Tag: bike trails

Go exploring on these 5 new rail trails across the US

Discover the trails.

Chances are, there’s a rail trail near you. Since 1986, the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) has turned abandoned and unused railway corridors into multi-use paths. As the conservancy says in its mission statement, “we are building a nation connected by trails. We reimagine public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors.” You’ll also find runners, wheelchair users, inline skaters, and sometimes even cross-country skiers or horseback riders on the more than 25,000 miles of open rail trails.

The RTC recently noticed a tipping point in rail trail appreciation. “We used to say there’s a rail-trail in every single state, and now we can say there’s at least one developing trail network in every state,” said Brandi Horton, vice president of communications for the RTC, in a statement. “It matters so much because it illustrates the relevance of trail networks to the nation. This is happening literally everywhere in America.”

Here are five of the most exciting RTC developments from 2023.

Discover one of Maryland’s best hikes on Billy Goat Trail

It’s time to explore.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park spans Maryland, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. Within this sprawling park, the wildly popular Billy Goat Trail branches into three sections — A, B, and C. As of November 2023, Section B is closed due to erosion and trail damage. Even with this section closed, Billy Goat Trail remains “one of the busiest trails in the D.C. area.”

What brings so many hikers to this trail? Visitors report enjoying the challenge of navigating rock scrambles while traveling along the scenic Potomac River. If you’re planning a trip to Billy Goat Trail, discover what you can expect there with this helpful photo guide.

Biking and skiing adventures await at Vermont’s Madbush Falls

You’ll be riding high.

Avid and aspiring mountain bikers will be stoked to hear about Madbush Falls, a new bike and ski-centered basecamp that opened this summer in Vermont’s Green Mountains. The 20-acre property has all a mountain or gravel biker needs, with a world-class trail network, 75-seat restaurant, bar, bike and ski shop, guiding center, and 20-room lodge. Oh, and a waterfall and swimming hole. Come winter, biking gives way to skiing. You might never want to leave.

Madbush is the brainchild of long-time Vermonter Jonny Adler, who dreamed of starting a Vermont biking hub. He wanted to share Vermont’s loamy dirt, warm pastures, ridgelines, gravel roads, and cool shaded woods with other enthusiasts. In November 2021, he closed a deal on the old Madbush Alpine Chalet. While the 1950s-era motel had been vacant for 20 years, the property had potential with a river running through it and a 30-foot waterfall. And it’s only about 40 miles from Burlington.

Aerial view of a biking resort surrounded by forest.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls

The finished basecamp is a truly Vermont collaboration. The property’s woodwork, metalwork, landscaping, art, and interior design feature Vermont materials and are crafted by Vermonters. The bike trails are community-built and maintained by Mad River Riders, a founding chapter of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association.

A biker biking through a forest.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls

Guests can bring their own bikes or rent one from the bike shop. Certified guide-instructors from Stowe Mountain Bike Academy can recommend routes ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 hours. Intermediate and advanced riders will find jumps and technical challenges. If you want more variety in your vacation, the Blueberry Lake route lets you combine a ride with a swim, picnic, and SUP.

People swimming and jumping in a pond near a waterfall.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls

“Here at Madbush Falls, we’ve thought through everything you need to power your riding adventure,” Adler explains in a welcoming message on Madbush’s website. “Above all else, Madbush Falls is a magical place,” he says. “Its energy is real.”

A hotel room with an orange and white bed, wood accents, and a loft with a blue fence railing.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls

Bike from Montana to Idaho on the Route of the Hiawatha

It’s a ride to remember.

Go on a bike ride to remember on the Route of the Hiawatha. Once the site of a historic railroad, this 15-mile biking and hiking trail travels a scenic path between Idaho and Montana. It’s the ideal location for a serene tour of picturesque forests. Plus, for curious adventurers, the region’s mysterious tunnels and past glories provide enough intrigue to fuel a weekend of exploration.

Before this trail became the Route of the Hiawatha, it was a railroad known as the Milwaukee Road. The line prospered in the 1800s, sailed through a massive forest fire in 1910, and eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1935 (and 1977). Today, cyclists can unravel these stories and more while traveling past miles of thriving trees and bright blue skies. Learn more about these iconic stories and sights with this photo guide to the Route of the Hiawatha.