2016_Spring-Summer

Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (Virginia)  The W&OD, one of the best- loved trails in the Washington, D.C., region, spans 45 paved miles from Arlington, just outside the capital, into rolling Virginia countryside, where grazing horses and cows dot the landscape. Much of the trail is heavily wooded, yet restaurants and shops are never far as the trail winds through Vienna and later Herndon; an old caboose and train depot can also be explored in both towns. Ashburn offers the chance to see a working quarry, and historical Leesburg, which has a Colonial feel, has a charming downtown that’s worth a linger. At trail’s end in Purcellville, travelers will find Victorian-era buildings and a cheerful yellow depot dating back to 1904.

ALegacy That Connects Us All

By designating a portion of his IRA to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, John Ellicot is ensuring that his grandchildren and others will enjoy a healthier, safer future on America’s trails.

Learn how you can include RTC in your legacy plans. railstotrails.org/heritagecircle

MATTHEW CULBERTSON

Little Miami Scenic Trail (Ohio)  At 73 miles and fully paved, the Little Miami Scenic Trail is a jewel in the 330-mile network of trails in Ohio’s Miami Valley. Beginning just outside Cincinnati and heading northeast, the trail con- nects dozens of friendly towns on a picturesque path through parks and nature preserves, tranquil countryside and lush forests. Trail users can visit the restored railroad depots in Morrow, Xenia and Yellow Springs; cross a stunning iron trestle in Corwin; and visit the archaeological site at the Fort Ancient State Memorial.

COEUR D’ALENE OLD MISSION STATE PARK

Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and Route of the Hiawatha (Idaho) 

While not connected, combining the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and Route of the Hiawatha in Idaho’s Panhandle into a multi-day biking adventure will provide more than 80 miles of some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in the country. Highlights of the experience include crossing Lake Coeur d’Alene on the Chatcolet Bridge; views of the Palouse Prairie; mountain vistas from several sky-high trestles; and passage through 10 tunnels, among them the 1.6-mile-long Taft Tunnel. Along the way, travelers may even spot a moose, coyote, bird of prey or black bear in this rugged, remote region.

STORES NATIONWIDE - PERFORMANCEBIKE.COM

JAMES WELTER

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rails to trails u spring/summer.16

rails to trails u spring/summer.16