Trail Moments > Trail Moments Story Gallery

Trail Moments Story Gallery

Kara (@YourNorthWestieBestie) on the Spruce Railroad Trail | Photo courtesy Kara Patajo

A Collection of Inspiring Trail Stories

Through our Trail Moments campaign, more than 2,000 people have shared the importance of trails in their lives and what motivates them to get outdoors. To encourage more people to explore trails and be active outdoors, we’re highlighting a few of those inspirational tales in our story gallery about biking, walking, running and hiking, family time, accessibility, engaging diverse trail users and enjoying nature. We hope you enjoy reading them and that you’ll continue to share your #TrailMoments!

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View stories by topic:

Biking | Walking, Running and Hiking | Family Time

Accessibility | Engaging More Trail Users | Nature

Biking Stories

Featured

Trail Moments | My New Trail Self-Care Routine as a New Dad

I’m still passionate about trails, and I continue to travel by bicycle on shorter trips—particularly on trails.

Kara Patajo’s Trail Moments: Discover Nature Where You Are

When coming up with a plan for my Trail Moments this summer, my intention was to show how to connect with nature both inside and outside of the city of Seattle. First, we visited the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Sam Westby’s Trail Moments: Sharing the Trail Near and Far

Trails were mostly relaxing for me and my dad. There were no cars. Navigating was easy. People were friendly. It was common for someone to come up and start talking to us while we were taking a break on a bench.

Trail Moments | How a Rail-Trail Helped Save My Life and Redirect My Focus

As I’ve watched outdoor recreation interest explode, it’s made me reflect on how a simple bike ride on a rail-trail saved my life.

Teacher Shares Bike Commuting Lessons
by Chris Hill

Cycling for Life
by Kathleen Richardson

BRB—I’m Enjoying the B2B (Border to Boston Trail)!
by Chris Roop

Enjoying the Trike Life
by Lew Roscoe

#TrailMoments with Albert Ting (@pootie_ting)
by Albert Ting

Couple Celebrates Half a Century of Healthy, Happy Biking
featuring John and Janine Brobst

Swapping a Car for a Bike? Here’s What I Learned.
by Victoria Yuen

Advice From a Mom: How to Get Kids to Love Biking
by Laura Stark

A Path Forward for Better Biking in Roswell, New Mexico
by Daniel Cederberg

Safe Trails Save Lives
by Stephen Dunn

A Student of Biking: Learning to Love Trails
by Ugesh Egala

Finding Love Feet First
featuring Arias and Stephen Flory

Letting the Good (and Bad) Times Roll: New York Bike Shop Opens in the Midst of a Covid World
featuring Hal Simon

Finding Health, Healing and Hope on the Trail
featuring MaShanta Ashmon

The Great Bike Shortage? For Me, It Was the Great Bike Summer!
by Silvia Ascarelli

From Burnout to Biking: Rediscovering My Love for the Outdoors on Ohio’s Trails
by Amy Collins-Warfield

Stealing Moments of “Me Time” on the Trail as a Mom During COVID
by Brandi Horton

From Father to Son—A Beautiful Life on a Bike Seat
by Jorge Brito

Long-Distance Biking

Our Quest to Visit All of America’s Hall of Fame Rail-Trails
by Carol Alexander

How To Long-Distance Bike Tour With (Six!) Young Kids
by Dale Majors

A Tale of a Tour: Traveling by Trail in Wisconsin
by Rachel and Patrick Hugens

Walking, Running and Hiking Stories

Featured

More Trail Moments with Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada: A Way to Make Strides for the Planet

Did you know that communities of color are three times more likely to live in nature-deprived areas with limited or no access to trails, paths or green spaces?

Trail Moments | She Moved Cross-Country During COVID: How One Runner Is Connecting to Her New Community on Trails

Running on trails was one of the best and most enjoyable ways to see the country safely.

Native Women Running Founder Verna Volker Gets a Running Start on Social Change
featuring Verna Volker

Trail Moments with Latinx Hikers Co-Founder, Adriana Garcia
featuring Verna Volker

Running for Good Health and a Good Cause
by Guy Monteleone

Morgantown Man Gets a Running Start to a Healthier Life on Trails
featuring Vincent Viars

Family Time Stories

Featured

Trail Moments With Ajoa Abrokwa: Sharing Experiences and Creating Memories

To this day, I have had numerous visits to this trail, with my family, friends and other community members alongside me, biking, walking and hiking.

Miranda’s #TrailMoments from Along the Great American Rail-Trail

We love that Miranda inspires people to feel more connected to the outdoors… and the Great American Rail-Trail.

Trail Moments | Tips for Outdoor Outings With Your Kids

As someone who has hiked, biked, skied, climbed and simply enjoyed being outside in nature and beyond with her family, Chelsea Murphy had a lot of wisdom to share.

Advice From a Mom: How to Get Kids to Love Biking
by Laura Stark

Couple Celebrates Half a Century of Healthy, Happy Biking
featuring John and Janine Brobst

Adapting Trail Trips for a Hiker With a Disability: A Family’s Advice
by Dan Brownstein

Connecting to Nature, Connecting as a Family, on America’s Trails
by Darlene Maxfield

How To Long-Distance Bike Tour With (Six!) Young Kids
by Dale Majors

Older, Wiser and Faster: A Friendly Competition Among Family
by Thresa Giles and Albert Grant

A Journey Along the Anacostia River Trail
by James Heilig

Accessibility Stories

Featured

Five Trail Moments With Ian Mackay, Founder of Ian’s Ride

Here are 5 #TrailMoments that were particularly special for Ian Mackay during the 2020 year.

#TrailMoments with Noodle (@NoodsterScootster)

RTC was drooling over the chance to collaborate with Noodle, rescue dog and star of @NoodsterScootser, and her family, who have helped her adapt to the outdoors after being found with a spinal cord injury.

Adapting to the Pandemic: Finding Safe Outdoor Spaces in a Changed World
by Marjorie Turner Hollman

Adventure for All: Advocating for Accessible Outdoor Spaces
by Laura Stark

Adapting Trail Trips for a Hiker With a Disability: A Family’s Advice
by Dan Brownstein

Connecting to Nature, Connecting as a Family, on America’s Trails
by Darlene Maxfield

Stories About Engaging More Trail Users

Featured

Ron Griswell of HBCUs Outside Is Bridging Gaps to the Outdoors

I (Ron Griswell) show up in the world as an explorer on a journey to caring more about myself, my community and the environment.

Trail Moments with Latinx Hikers Co-Founder, Adriana Garcia

We love learning about individuals who inspire people to get outdoors, which is why our team was excited to meet with Adriana Garcia, the co-founder of Latinx Hikers.

#TrailMoments With Black Women In Nature (@BlkWomenInNature)

Meet Ivory Levert and Angela Mitchell, the power pair beyond Black Women In Nature, and learn how they’re inspiring more people to get outside on the trail!

Trail Moments with Jeff Jenkins of Chubby Diaries
by Jeff Jenkins

Trail Moments with Latino Outdoors Outings Leader Valerie Pasión
featuring Valerie Pasión, Latino Outdoors

A Conversation With Chelsea Murphy of She Colors Nature
by Chelsea Murphy

Native Women Running Founder Verna Volker Gets a Running Start on Social Change
featuring Verna Volker

Nature Stories

Featured

Trail Moments | By Sight & Sound: Tips for Birding Beginners

Tips for Birding Beginners by Keith Russell. Birding can help us become better listeners and observers, as well as more careful and detailed thinkers.

#TrailMoments with Vanessa @vanessa_chav

@vanessa_chav: It is paramount to reject exclusionary narratives and advocate for access to the outdoors for all. It is a basic human right.”

Equestrian Finds Emotional Freedom on the Trail
by Megan Gray

Tips for Outdoor Outings With Your Kids
by Chelsea Murphy

Philly Birder Takes Fledgling Bird Enthusiasts Under His Wing
featuring Keith Russell

From Burnout to Biking: Rediscovering My Love for the Outdoors on Ohio’s Trails
by Amy Collins-Warfield

How Trails and Outdoor Access Provide Important Mental Health Benefits
by Cory Matteson

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