From Rails to Trails

From Rails to Trails PDF

Author: Peter Harnik

Publisher: U of Nebraska Press

Published: 2021-05

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 1496226550

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If, as Wallace Stegner said, the national park is “the best idea we ever had,” the rail-trail is certainly a close runner-up. Part transportation corridor, part park, the rail-trail has revolutionized the way America creates high-quality, car-free pathways for bicyclists, runners, walkers, equestrians, and more. It was only a few decades after railroad barons had run roughshod over America’s economy and politics that they began to shed nearly one hundred thousand miles of unneeded railroad corridor. At the same time, bicyclists were being so thoroughly pushed off ever-more-intimidating roadways they came close to extinction. Through political organizing and lawyerly grit, an unlikely, formerly marginalized advocacy arose, seized on seemingly worthless strips of land, and created a resource that is treasured by millions of Americans today for recreation, purposeful travel, tourism, conservation, and historical interpretation. From Rails to Trails is the fascinating tale of the rails-to-trails movement as well as a consideration of what the continued creation of rail-trails means for the future of Americans’ health, nonmotorized transportation networks, and communities across the country.

Rail-Trails Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York

Rail-Trails Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York PDF

Author: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Publisher: Wilderness Press

Published: 2011-01-04

Total Pages: 386

ISBN-13: 0899976670

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Across the country, more than 1,600 unused railroad corridors have been converted to level, public, multiuse trails, where people can enjoy a fitness run, a leisurely bike ride, or a stroll with the family. In this newest addition to the popular series, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy presents the Northeast's finest rail-trails. Rail-Trails Northeast covers one hundred of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania's rail-trails. With a rich industrial and passenger rail history, the Northeast is one of the densest rail-trail regions in the country. Rural, suburban, or urban, rail-trails serve as the backbone of an impressive trail system. This two-color book includes succinct descriptions of each trail from start to finish, plus at-a-glance summary information indicating permitted uses, surface type, length, and directions to trailheads for each trail. Every trip has a detailed map that includes start and end points, trailhead, parking, restroom facilities, and other amenities.

Rail-Trails Florida

Rail-Trails Florida PDF

Author: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Publisher: Wilderness Press

Published: 2016-04-18

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0899978207

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Florida visitors are often surprised by both the beauty of its trails and by the great variety of its landscapes. Although Florida doesn't have any mountains, it does offer trails with views of everything from beaches and bluffs to prairies and wetlands. In this comprehensive trail guide, you'll find some of the best, most beautiful trails in Florida. Many of the trails were converted from unused railroad corridors to become some of the best multiuse rail-trails in the state. In this guidebook, experts from Rail-to-Trails Conservancy present their final list of the top trails and rail-trails in Florida, selected from more than 100 in the state. In addition to details about each trail, Rail-Trails Florida also provides information about trail amenities, including restrooms, parking facilities, and water fountains.

Rail-Trails Southeast

Rail-Trails Southeast PDF

Author: Rails-to-Trails-Conservancy

Publisher: Wilderness Press

Published: 2012-01-15

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 0899977081

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The official guidebooks for the nationwide rail-trails system, the new Rail-Trails series books have an easy-to-use layout and design, clear maps, and precise trip descriptions. With 55 rural, suburban, and urban trails spanning 630 miles, Rail-Trails Southeast covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. Visit historic battlefields, see the world's largest cast-iron statue, travel through a gorge, and watch beavers and herons along the Southeast's historic rail-trails. Includes two-color maps for each trip and succinct directions.

Rail-Trails Midwest Great Lakes

Rail-Trails Midwest Great Lakes PDF

Author: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Publisher: Wilderness Press

Published: 2009-06-02

Total Pages: 394

ISBN-13: 0899977065

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In this edition in the popular series, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy presents the best of the Great Lakes rail-trails, home to the most rail-trails in the country. With 113 rural, suburban, and urban trails threading through nearly 2300 miles, Rail-Trails Midwest: Great Lakes covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Many rail-trails are paved and run through the most popular parts of town, such as the 61-mile Illinois Prairie Path, which links Chicago-area suburbs. Others take you back in time for a look at regional history, like Ohio's 11-mile Holmes County Trail. The Midwest has thousands of miles of rail corridor that have been turned into 360 rail-trails in the Great Lakes alone. Every trip has a detailed map that includes start and end points, trailhead, parking, restroom facilities, and other amenities. Many of the level rail-trails are suitable for walking, jogging, bicycling, inline skating, wheelchairs, and horses.

Rail-Trails West

Rail-Trails West PDF

Author: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Publisher: Wilderness Press

Published: 2009-06-01

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 0899974899

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In this newest edition in the popular series, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy presents the best of the West. With 70 rural, suburban, and urban trails threading through 1,050 miles, Rail-Trails West covers 60 trails in California, eight in Arizona, and two in Nevada. Many rail-trails offer escapes from city life, like the Mount Lowe Railway Trail, high above the buzzing Los Angeles basin on a rail line vacationers once took to a mountaintop resort. Others offer the pure sensory thrill of sweeping terrain, like Arizona's 7-mile Prescott Peavine Trail. Still more juxtapose the natural world with the railroad's industrial past, like Nevada's Historic Railroad Hiking Trail, which passes through five massive tunnels to reach Hoover Dam. Every trip has a detailed map, directions to the trailhead, and information about parking, restroom facilities, and other amenities. Many of the level rail-trails are suitable for walking, jogging, bicycling, inline skating, wheelchairs, and horses.

Rail-Trails Minnesota

Rail-Trails Minnesota PDF

Author: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Publisher: Wilderness Press

Published: 2016-04-18

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 0899978223

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Whether you're looking for a trail for a leisurely stroll, a bike ride with the family, or something a bit more challenging, you'll find it in this comprehensive trail guide highlighting the best, most highly rated trails in Minnesota. Many of the trails were converted from unused railroad corridors to become some of the best multiuse rail-trails in the state. In this guidebook, experts from Rail-to-Trails Conservancy present their final list of 48 of the best trails and rail-trails in Minnesota. Experience first-hand how Minnesota earned the nickname "Land of 10,000 Lakes" by taking one of several paths through the various lake districts, including the 121-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, one of the longest rail-trails in the United States. In addition to details about each trail, Rail-Trails Minnesota also provides information about trail amenities, including restrooms, parking facilities, and water fountains.

Rail-Trails Northern New England

Rail-Trails Northern New England PDF

Author: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Publisher: Wilderness Press

Published: 2018-05-15

Total Pages: 522

ISBN-13: 0899978983

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Explore 60 of the best rail-trails and multiuse pathways across three states—Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont—with this official guide. All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted to public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present the best of these rail-trails—as well as other multiuse pathways—in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Bucket-listers won’t want to miss Vermont’s 13.4-mile Island Rail Trail, which boasts a spectacular 2.7-mile marble causeway crossing Lake Champlain. Those who like short and sweet might check out the 2.1-Eastern Promenade Trail showcasing Portland’s Casco Bay and Portland Harbor, or for lengthier adventures, New Hampshire’s 58-mile Northern Rail Trail—the longest rail-trail in the state—offers a variety of wooded landscapes, waterside enjoyment, and welcoming small towns. Whether you’re on your feet, wheels, or cross-country skis, there’s something for everyone in this collection of multiuse trails in Northern New England. In this book, you’ll find: Detailed maps for each trail, plus driving directions to trailheads Icons indicating the activities each trail can accommodate Succinct descriptions written by rail-trail experts Rails-to-Trails Conservancy serves as the national voice for more than 160,000 members and supporters, more than 22,000 miles of open rail-trail across the country, and more than 8,000 miles of potential trails waiting to be built—with a goal of ensuring a better future for America made possible by trails and the connections they inspire.

New York

New York PDF

Author: Tom Sexton

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780762704507

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A comprehensive guide to walking, jogging, skating, and biking New York's rail-trail system.