Just curious if all of you had a favorite Rails to Trails project. I’ve been fortunate to do several trails in several states and have enjoyed them quite a bit.
Of all the trails I’ve done, though, none compares to the Elroy-Sparta Trail in Wisconsin (especially in the fall). The tunnels are great, and the trail just has a real nice rural feel to it. Of course, it (and pretty much every Rail/Trail) leaves me wishing I had seen the line in service. Oh well…I’ll just have to let the imagination run with it.
So how about it? Do you have a favorite Rail to Trail project?
Chris. I can’t ride a bicycle so we have only walked the Elroy-Sparta trail in selected locations where it crossed roads. It is very popular. A bed n breakfast couple told us that it brings in considerable business.
Our favorite is the Mickleson Trail near Keystone SD.
…I’ll have to put the good word in for our Cardinal Greenway Trail. It is smoothly paved and is about 27 -30 miles continous in length at this point in time. Muncie roughly in the center…a bit more mileage to the south east.
We here in Muncie have the Trail Head…The totally renovated {$800,000}, the ex C&O depot…It is a real beaut. Try to get a chance to see it at night if one happens to be in the area.
More mileage continues to be added so in the future it will be roughly 60 miles in length. There are more paved parts of it in Marion and Richmond area but not yet connected with our mileage. It is widely used…A very popular asset.
Of course I would perfer it still be a C&O {CSX}, railroad…but at least the ROW is still in place.
I’ve been on several rail-trails across the Midwest, and have to nominate two of them, for different reasons.
My very favorite is the Hart-Montague Trail, which runs approximately between its two namesake cities in western Michigan over a right-of-way that was once a C&O line. It’s paved, and about 24-25 miles long (including a more recent expansion to and through Whitehall on the south). The southern end of the trail stays fairly close to principal roads, but in the eight miles north of Shelby the trail takes off and goes through country where no roads follow, and has some fantastic views from stabilized sand dunes. Very rural in nature, through forests, orchards, and open fields (and a good blackberry patch). I hate to tell Mookie what the most famous cash crop is around here.
My other favorite is the one that gets the most use from me–the Illinois Prairie Path and the trails that directly connect with it. I use it east from here to get to work, west from here to go railfanning. The IPP is the former roadbed of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railway, but some of its connections were built on rights-of-way of the Chicago Great Western and the Aurora, Elgin, & Fox River Electric. Close to this network (but not quite connected) is the Great Western Trail, through the countryside from St. Charles to Sycamore, just north of DeKalb. I’ve been over most of the territory twice or more (up to Crystal Lake only once), but have yet to check out the recent extension east across the Des Plaines River into Forest Park.
I’m with you in a way, Jim, but the way you said this, it’s like they’re saying, “We need a new bike path here–let’s get rid of the railroad.” I’d be 100 percent behind you if that were the case, but it’s usually not–and I don’t mind going along these places to see what’s left of a line. Sometimes it’s sad (there’s one trail in Michigan that I’ve traveled both by bike and by freight train, for example), but it’s always interesting!
Exactly my feelings, Carl. I would much rather have trains running on them, but if that’s not realistically possible, I’m perfectly happy (and thankful!) that I still have the ability to pedal the trail. The Elroy-Sparta Trail is a perfect example of that. What fun would it have been railfanning that line! As that’s not possible, I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve spent biking it, and doing my best to imagine what it was like. There’s still a lot of character to it, and a lot of clues that one is traveling on a former railroad.
my favorite would be former Michigan Air Line (GTW) mostly pulled up before 1980 …ran from Pontiac Mi to Jackson Mi…and except for 7 miles still in use by COE Rail in Walled Lake Mi it is almost all trail…well maintained i might add with some mileage paved…this is an old codeline pole still standing in Stockbridge Mi
as opposed to the 100’s of miles of track\roadbed that well…a picture is worth…
this is all i could find at Homer Mi (Homer Jct) this summer…in its heyday around the turn of the last century Homer Jct hosted 2 lines of the Michigan Central thru town as well as a Lake Shore & Michigan Southern line thru town and i guess during WW1 close to 70 trains a day went thru town…this was truely the only signs of RR’s i could see and i spent 2 hours at Google Earth and close to an hour driving\walking around the nice little village…sadly there was no appearent proud display of the towns RR heritage
[2c]
even if its a hiking trail its a way of not forgetting one of the greatest things in the growth and development of this Country [soapbox]
I have to agree with Carl (CShaverRR) about the Illinois Prairie Path. It’s a nice trail to ride on. I grew up not to far from where it “begins” in Berekely, so when I was a kid, we used to ride it all the time. the best part is crossing over the UP main in Wheaton on the old C&AE bridge that’s there. Great spot for fanning too.
Out here in Crest Hill/Joliet, the ex EJE/Rock Island connection has been turned into a trail. I have yet to walk or ride that one yet, but, south of Theodore Ave, it has been paved, and looks nice.
Here in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Valley trail keeps getting longer- the first segment established was a 56-mile chunk between Hiawatha and Evansdale, just outside of Waterloo. Recently the trail was extended and paved all the way through CR along the old RI line down to US 30, and plans are to keep on going all the way to Iowa City, IIRC. The newer section also includes a great pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the UP trans-con just west of the Cedar River- a nice vantage point for pictures.
The Trans Canada Trail uses a lot of abandoned railway lines. When completed, it will go from the west coast to the east. Most if not all of the Newfoundland section is done, utilizing the old CN narrow gauge rail bed. A very large undertaking but doable.
The Virginia Creeper Trail in VA. It runs from Whitetop Mtn. through Damascus to Abbington VA. It’s an old N&W branch complete with several high trestles. It run through a Nat’l Forest along a creek for a good portion, then through some farm country.
The best part is the first 17 miles from Whitetop to Damascus. It’s all down hill. You rent a bike and they shuttle you to the top, then you coast down back to the bike shop. There are even a few good lunch stops along the way. You also go past the Green Cove station made famous by Link in his photo “Old Maude”.
An N&W 4-8-0 is on display at the Abbington trailhead.
Although it has not been officially dubbed a “rails to trails” project, my all time fave is the old Colorado Midland ROW through Ute Pass. It is just up the road from me, and has several tunnels. Although it is relatively short compared with some trails, it is a nice little hike that can be completed in a couple of hours. The only thing that takes away from the experience is the noise from highway 24. Just make sure you take a flashlight!!
Edit: If anybody is in the Colorado Springs area, and wants to check it out, give me a shout. I am always up for a hike!!
Next Spring, the wife and I are planning to do some exploring along the KATY Trail in Missouri, some years back she and some friends rode bicycles west from the St Charles area toward Jefferson City, a trip we want to replicate next spring…
Has anyone had any personal expriences with this trail?
Can your offer any advice for this trail?
Here is a link to the Missouri Parks site which has info for the KATY trail:
CS Smith…Now that looks like some wild territory. How long ago has that RR line been abandoned…? Wonder if it was narrow gauge…?
Those old timbers {in the tunnel}, sure look to be in good shape yet…Must not be much water in there to deteriorate them. Very interesting.
The design of the structure of timbers looks very similar to the Quemahoning Tunnel over in the east…Near Somerset Pennsylvania and used by the PW&S RR in it’s route from Ligonier to Somerset. Tunnel was originally part of the non completed South Penn RR {but not finished}…It can still be seen right along side the Penn Turnpike a few miles west of Somerset. Just off {and a little lower},to the right.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike followed {very roughly}, the route that was to be the South Penn RR. Building on it stopped in 1885.
I note you can’t see through the old tunnel in your photo…Is it caved or possibly has a high point in the middle and hence, one can’t see from portal to portal…?
I would have to look in some books when I get home, but I believe the rail was pulled up in the late '30s or early '40s. It was standard gauge. It is really a neat hike because there are still some interesting little things still around, such as the footings for a tell-tale.
None of the tunnels are collapsed. The longer ones are curved, so you can’t see the other side. Two of them require that you have a flashlight because they are longer.
The timbers are in unbelievably good shape considering their age. There is lots of names and what not carved into them. I haven’t read any of them, so I don’t know how far back they date.
My 7yo son and myself go up there about once a month with trash bags to clean up. It is amazing how filthy and disrespec
…Yes, it’s amazing how some folks “enjoy” damaging and or destroying parts of history. If they are there in the first place, they must have some kind of interest, so what incourages them to disfigure these old sites…Confusing. Same thing with littering with the trash.
