Winter 2026 Issue Out Now
Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail | Photo by Mark Chandler
Rails to Trails Magazine
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Rails to Trails magazine is dedicated to exploring America’s remarkable rail-trails and trail networks, with a focus on the impact they have in communities nationwide. Published quarterly—three times per year in print plus one all-multimedia edition—the magazine is a benefit of membership to Rails to Trails Conservancy. Subscribe now to get great trail content while supporting RTC and the trails movement.
Subscribe to the Magazine
Rails to Trails magazine is a benefit of membership to Rails to Trails Conservancy, which is $18 a year, $4 of which supports the magazine. In addition to the magazine, members receive discounts on RTC gifts and publications.
Preview Latest Issue
In This Issue:
In this issue, we:
Hear personal stories from some of RTC’s original staffers about pivotal people and events that helped define the national rail-trail movement.
Examine the impact of two of the South’s earliest rail-trails—the Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet trails—which served as inspiration for the region and today comprise one of the longest paved rail-trail routes in America.
Learn how Ohio’s 78-mile Little Miami Scenic Trail—which met fierce opposition in the 1980s—is now redefining the Miami Valley’s region’s outdoor identity.
Take a look at influential Hall-of-Fame trails and some of the impactful but perhaps lesser-known rail-trails that have made a mark on their communities and American life.
Chat with 2025 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion Kay Ehas on her ongoing leadership to develop the groundbreaking Emerald Trail in Jacksonville, Florida—and what others can learn about pushing forward big visions against all odds.
Get to know five really cool Amtrak stations that—for rail-trail aficionados—can help make your journey by bike part of the vacation!
And much more!
Read More Magazine Stories
View More Blogs
Reflections at 40: Moments That Moved the Dial for America’s Rail-Trails
The Joyful Transformation of the American Landscape
Best Of: Game-Changing Rail-Trails You May Not Know About
Southern Trailblazers: The Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet Trails
Ohio’s Little Miami Scenic Trail: February 2026 Trail of the Month
Uncommon Accommodations: The Cutest, Quaintest and Quirkiest Stays Along the Great Allegheny Passage
Remembering Heart Mountain
Pathways to Purpose
A Nebraska Legacy: Examining the Cowboy Trail’s Impact Across Three Decades
Digital Feature Videos
In the all-multimedia Green Issue, Rails to Trails magazine takes a closer look at the leadership, public investment and community collaboration that is fueling efforts to create and connect trails—and bring this essential infrastructure to communities that have long been disinvested and under-resourced.
A Bold Vision: Prioritizing a Safer, Connected America
As the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress threaten to claw back billions of dollars in federal funds for trails, walking and bicycling in 2025, communities across America remain at risk of being negatively impacted. Here, we take a look at several transformative trail network projects that are being developed in Alabama, Missouri, Washington, South Carolina, Alaska and Pennsylvania with federal funds—understanding what’s at stake for people, communities and regions throughout the United States.
Featuring: Brandi Horton, Rails to Trails Conservancy; Rusha Smith, Freshwater Land Trust; Dr. David Hicks, Jefferson County Department of Health; Bruce Sassman, Missouri House of Representatives; Shannon Grus, Mayor of Rosebud; Davíd Urbina, Leafline Trails Coalition; Leslie Schneider, Councilperson, City of Bainbridge Island; Katherine Hollis, Eastrail Partners; Dick Traini, Anchorage Municipal Assembly; Knox White, Mayor of Greenville; Sarah Clark Stuart, City of Philadelphia
Special thanks to DS Simon Media | Produced by Rails to Trails magazine
Favorites and Icons: Trailside Eats Across America
One of the many reasons we love trails here at Rails to Trails magazine is because they connect us to so many wonderful places to converge with friends and family members—and eat great food! What better way to enjoy our favorite neighborhood bites or those “gotta have one” classic eats? In this video, some of our fellow awesome staff at #TeamRTC highlight some of their favorite foods and a few iconic classics you’ll find out on the trail! It’s trail tourism and economic impact at its best!
Don’t miss the article that inspired these trailside food adventures, “A Taste of the Great American Rail-Trail.”
Featuring: RTC’s Eric Oberg, Iman Sylvain, Kayla Walker, Jacque Lavelle, Cas Marburger, Danielle Casavant, Jorge Brito, Quinton Batts, Anthony Le and Ken Bryan, as well as family members, friends, and business managers and owners across the country!
Highlights: Peanut Farm/Campbell Creek Trail (Alaska); Headlands Brewing/Ohlone Greenway (California); Keeper Coffee/Trolley Trail (Oregon); Porkchop John’s/Blacktail Creek Trail (Montana); Schoop’s/Pennsy Greenway (Indiana); Country Dairy/Hart-Montague Trail (Michigan); Shank’s/Delaware River Trail (Pennsylvania); Nick’s Fish House/Gwynns Falls Trail (Maryland); Sarah’s Handmade/Capital Crescent Trail (D.C./Maryland); Ferg’s Sports Bar/Pinellas Trail (Florida)
Produced by Rails to Trails magazine
Energizing a Region: Missouri’s Rock Island Trail State Park
The people of Missouri are leading the charge for the Rock Island Trail State Park, anticipating the incredible impact the trail, when realized, could have along the 144-mile corridor. This video shines a light on how the communities are making it happen, with a goal to revitalize towns, spur new business and commerce, create safe off-road routes to destinations in dozens of towns along the route, and establish a new statewide tourism identity.
Read more about the Rock Island Trail State Park project in our online feature.
Featuring:
Rep. Bruce Sassmann, Missouri House of Representatives, 62nd District; Mayor Shannon Grus, City of Rosebud; Kim Henderson, Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park; Cary Parker, Gerald City Council/Bistro at the Mill; Jimmy Zumwalt, Mid-State Pipeline Maintenance/City of Belle
Produced by Rails to Trails magazine and DS Simon Media
Photo Essays
View More Blogs
Great American Rail-Trail Guidebook Sneak Peek
Destination: Utah’s Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park
A View From … Pacific Northwest Guidebook Sneak Peek
Destination: Washington State’s Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail
Destination: Utah’s Moab Canyon Pathway and Arches National Park
A View From: Kansas City’s Riverfront Heritage Trail
Subscribe to the Magazine
Rails to Trails magazine is a benefit of membership to Rails to Trails Conservancy, which is $18 a year, $4 of which supports the magazine. In addition to the magazine, members receive discounts on RTC gifts and publications.
Past Magazine Issues
View digital versions of past issues below or contact us for back issues.
We Want to Hear From You!
Our members always have plenty to say (and write) about Rails to Trails—and we’re always eager to hear it! If you enjoyed or have comments on a recent issue of the magazine, please submit a short letter to our editor. If we can—we’ll print it in the next edition! You can also contact us for former issues and articles of Rails to Trails not listed in the archive. Don’t forget to check out our TrailBlog for more stories.