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| Rails-to-trails Former rail lines provide haven for hikers, cyclists |
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In the last two decades, hundreds of miles of abandoned and overgrown rail lines across the country have become popular trails for hikers, walkers and bicyclists. Every state has at least one rails-to-trails project, and some have more than 1,000 miles of such pathways. According to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, more than 1,180 rail-trails stretch 12,500 miles across the nation. Plus, another 1,159 trails are in various stages of development. The Conservancy is working to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines. While dozens of such routes can be found in the region, this sampling offers just a taste. To satisfy your appetite for exercise and scenery, take a bite out of these and many others. Unrivaled route At 225 miles in length, the Katy Trail State Park in Missouri is the nation’s longest developed rail-trail. Built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, the trail generally follows the Missouri River and allows users to travel through some of the most scenic areas of the state. The trail runs from St. Charles to Clinton through a variety of landscapes, including dense forests, limestone bluffs, wetlands, deep valleys, prairies, open pastureland and gently rolling farm fields. During fall, much of the route is painted with the rich reds and oranges of sugar maple, sumac and bittersweet. Some of the most scenic stretches include the Rocheport to Jefferson City and Augusta to St. Charles portions. The trail weaves through dozens of small towns that once thrived along the railroad corridor, offering visitors a slice of rural history. These small communities are now welcome stopping points for bicyclists. Antique shops, cafés, craft shops and bed-and-breakfast inns invite travelers to stop off the trail for a while. For a real treat, travelers can follow the Katy Trail as it weaves through Missouri’s wine country, from Marthasville to St. Charles. Sample wines at about a dozen wineries clustered along the Missouri River, some offering outstanding views of the river valley. Trailheads in several of the towns, including Augusta, St. Charles and Rocheport, offer bike rentals, restaurants and accommodations. For details about the trail, operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, call 1-800-334-6946, or visit www.mostateparks.com. A general’s trail A champion of trails in the St. Louis area, Trailnet is dedicated to creating and conserving multi-use recreational trails and greenways. One of its early projects was Grant’s Trail, which was once part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Line. Abandoned in 1990, the corridor was purchased by Trailnet the next year. Located in south St. Louis County, the six-mile paved trail runs from Orlando Gardens banquet hall near Interstate 55 and Hoffmeister, past Grant’s Farm and White Haven Historic Site, the former home of Ulysses S. Grant. The trail connects parks, residential areas and schools. Like many rails-to-trails projects, it was a community effort with volunteers performing most of the early physical work. When the trail was completed in 1997, Trailnet leased it to the St. Louis County Parks Department, which operates and maintains the trail. For details, call (314) 615-7275. Another one of Trailnet’s projects is the West Alton Trail, also a former railroad bed. The two-mile trail extends from St. Charles Street in West Alton, Ill., to the Lincoln-Shields Recreation Area at the approach of the William Clark Bridge. The Clark Bridge, a beautiful suspension bridge, intersects the Mississippi River between its confluence with the Illinois and Missouri rivers. The bridge has 10-foot-wide shoulders in both directions that are marked for bicycles and pedestrians. For details, call (314) 416-9930, or visit www.trailnet.org online. Exploring Illinois Recognized as one of the first 500 rails-to-trail conversions in the United States, the Glen Carbon Heritage Trail follows the abandoned Illinois Central Railroad right-of-way from Old Town Glen Carbon to the eastern edge of the village. Located about 20 miles northeast of St. Louis, Glen Carbon has succeeded in preserving the path as natural as possible. On its 6.7-mile route, the trail passes through a natural passage in the bluffs, through active farmland and along restored prairies. In addition, it crosses a number of timber trestle bridges over Judy Creek and through two tunnels, one of which is 150 feet long. In addition, a 1.25-mile extension to the eastern edge of the trail is being developed. This heavily wooded portion of the trail will cross Silver Creek on a 340-foot bridge about 70 feet above the creek. Also along the trail are benches and historical markers that highlight the history of Glen Carbon. Call (618) 288-1200 for details, or visit the Web site www.glen-carbon.il.us. The Heritage Trail ties into a network of more than 75 miles of rail-trails operated by Madison County Transit, which is dedicated to providing mass transportation in Madison County, Ill. With names like the Bluff Trail, Nature Trail and Watershed Trail, the routes are quite scenic. For more details, call (618) 874-7433, or visit the Web site www.mcttrails.org. Further south in Illinois, outdoor enthusiasts can find another lovely route, the Tunnel Hill State Trail. Located in southernmost Illinois, the 45-mile path goes from Harrisburg to Karnak. Once a Norfolk-Southern Railroad line, the rail company gave the trail right-of-way to the state in 1991. Operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the first segment opened in 1998, with further sections opening in 2000 and 2001. Bicyclists and hikers find ever-changing vistas along the route. For about half its length, the trail cuts through the beautiful Shawnee National Forest. It also passes near bluffs, through a wetland and across flat farm country. Wildflowers, prairie grasses and hardwood trees decorate the landscape, which is gorgeous during fall. The trail’s midway point, Tunnel Hill, is the highest section of the route, though riders follow a gradual grade to get there. Also along the route are 23 picturesque trestles, which range in length from 34 to 531 feet. The longest is the Breeden Trestle, which rises 90 feet above the valley floor. For more details, call (618) 658-2168, or visit the Web site www.dnr.state.il.us. Kansas prairie The first major rails-to-trails project in Kansas, the Prairie Spirit Rail-Trail runs from Ottawa to Welda in east-central Kansas. The 33-mile route–once used by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company–is operated under the management of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Along the relatively flat route, users pass through golden prairies, quiet woodlands, lakeside scenery and residential areas. Several bridges overlook ponds, creeks and the Marais Des Cygnes River. Inside the communities of Garnett and Ottawa, the trail is asphalt, but outside the towns it’s a hard-packed rocky surface. Trailheads offer restrooms and picnic sites. For hours, fees and more details, call (785) 448-6767, or visit the Web site www.prairiespirittrail.org. As temperatures begin dropping in the fall, get out and enjoy the changing scenery. Grab a helmet, hop on your bike and hit the trail. Where trains trekked, walkers and bicyclists now rule the routes. |
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