Since I stopped running, biking has become my most significant activity. I’ve always dreamed of long, casual rides without time limits, where I can enjoy life and the beauty around me.
I researched trains, and Larry Lee, who retired about 7 years ago, shared some great trails he’s found. Here are a few that intrigue me:
Multiple Day Trails
The Great Allegheny Passage, commencing in Cumberland, Maryland, and concluding in Downtown Pittsburgh, presents a remarkable 150-mile nonmotorized trail. This scenic route traverses valleys, meanders through mountains, and skirts the banks of several rivers on a nearly level, crushed-limestone surface. By following ancient footpaths and railroad corridors through the wilderness, hikers gain insights into the nation’s westward expansion and industrial prowess. When combined with the connecting C&O Canal Towpath, the Great Allegheny Passage facilitates extended trail travel between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.
Silver Comet Trail and Chief Ladiga Trail: The Silver Comet Trail, stretching 62 miles from Smyrna, Georgia, to the Alabama state line, offers a captivating adventure. It seamlessly connects to the Chief Ladiga Trail, traversing 33 miles of picturesque Alabama countryside. Together, these trails create a nearly 100-mile trail that promises an unforgettable experience.
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 remarkable 73-mile asphalt trail that traverses the Idaho panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. Its creation was the result of a unique partnership between the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the United States 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 for picnics or brief 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 — This 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 because it is 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, the inaugural “rails-to-trails” trail in Oregon, traverses an abandoned railroad bed spanning 21 miles between Banks and Vernonia. The trail boasts notable features such as 13 bridges and panoramic vistas from the 733-foot-long, 80-foot-high Buxton Trestle, accessible to hikers and cyclists alike. A ground-level equestrian bypass gracefully crosses Mendenhall Creek. The trail’s southern terminus commences in Banks, a town of 1,900 nestled amidst agricultural operations. As it progresses northward, the trail meanders through farming lands and riparian areas before reaching the densely forested foothills of the Coast Range. The trail concludes 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?
Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.
Anonymous - 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.
The Great Allegheny Passage, commencing in Cumberland, Maryland, and concluding in Downtown Pittsburgh, presents a remarkable 150-mile nonmotorized trail. This scenic route traverses valleys, meanders through mountains, and skirts the banks of several rivers on a nearly level, crushed-limestone surface. By following ancient footpaths and railroad corridors through the wilderness, hikers gain insights into the nation’s westward expansion and industrial prowess. When combined with the connecting C&O Canal Towpath, the Great Allegheny Passage facilitates extended trail travel between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.
Silver Comet Trail and Chief Ladiga Trail: The Silver Comet Trail, stretching 62 miles from Smyrna, Georgia, to the Alabama state line, offers a captivating adventure. It seamlessly connects to the Chief Ladiga Trail, traversing 33 miles of picturesque Alabama countryside. Together, these trails create a nearly 100-mile trail that promises an unforgettable experience.
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 remarkable 73-mile asphalt trail that traverses the Idaho panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. Its creation was the result of a unique partnership between the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the United States 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 for picnics or brief 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 — This 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, being 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, the inaugural “rails-to-trails” trail in Oregon, traverses an abandoned railroad bed spanning 21 miles between Banks and Vernonia. The trail boasts notable features such as 13 bridges and panoramic vistas from the 733-foot-long, 80-foot-high Buxton Trestle, accessible to hikers and cyclists alike. A ground-level equestrian bypass gracefully crosses Mendenhall Creek. The trail’s southern terminus commences in Banks, a town of 1,900 nestled amidst agricultural operations. As it progresses northward, the trail meanders through farming lands and riparian areas before reaching the densely forested foothills of the Coast Range. The trail concludes 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?
All you quiet dreamers, carry on!
Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.
Anonymous - 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. Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 12:48:27 PM CST
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 12:48:27 PM CST
My financial advisor predicts that at the age of 92, I would be financially destitute if I adhered to my planned retirement lifestyle. This includes spending 35% more than my current expenses, accounting for inflation. Being financially destitute at the age of 92 is preferable to being financially affluent and dead at the age of 70. Consequently, I submitted my six-month notice in July, announcing my retirement on February 2, 2024, at the age of 61 1/2. I selected this date because I had previously expressed my desire for February 4, 2024 (2424), but that date fell on a Sunday. Therefore, I opted for Friday, February 2, which coincidentally coincides with Groundhog Day.
Jordan and Kira, who live in Cary, North Carolina, with their adorable Australian Shepherd, LuLu, are doing well! Kira’s holding a neighbor’s kid in the photo—not hers! They thought I needed a granddog, so I felt like I had a reason to visit. Plus, I love taking care of LuLu. They both had to travel for work. Kira’s on the road at least once every two months, but Jordan’s been traveling more since COVID-19 stopped travel. Now, it’s all international, mainly Germany, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
