With the heat, floods and fires, its been a hard summer to get outside and exercise for many of us. Many also face the problem of finding a good place to bike or walk. One very nice solution for staying fit is the “rail trails” network here in the US.
Whether you are looking for a good place to bike or walk near home or possibly for an upcoming trip, you should check into TrailLink.com.
The Rails-To-Trails Conservancy helps local communities with converting unused railroads into recreational trails. At present there are over 1,400 of these rail trails located all over the nation to help you enjoy getting out and getting fit.
Here is just a sample from the trail list:
Pittsburg, PA to Cumberland, MD – 150 miles
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail – 68 miles
Mass Central Rail Trail – 100 miles
Capital Crescent Trail, DC to Silver Springs, MD – 11 miles
Silver Comet-Chief Ladiga Trail, Smyrna, GA to Anniston, AL – 101 miles
Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, Key Largo to Key West – 106 miles
Not all of the trails are currently open to biking but more trails are being developed and improved as their popularity continues to grow. Many of the urban trails are only 2 to 5 miles long but they all try to provide a pleasant experience. The TrailLink.com site lists all the trails and provides maps, pictures and other specifics for each trail.
Another advantage of these trails is that they are generally very level and most are very accessible to wheelchairs. This also makes them more attractive to those of us just looking to enjoy a pleasant ride or walk.
These trails are a wonderful asset for all of us and they make getting out an enjoyable experience. I think all of us want exercise to be as much fun as possible and I hope these trails can do that for you.
