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The United States has many trails that stretch for well in excess of a thousand miles - and the list is growing. Furthermore, with the retirement of so many rail trails all around the country, the opportunities for more rail trails continue to go (and many are under development now). One of the great rail trails currently under construction is the aptly named Great American Rail Trail.

It will be the longest bike trail in the world when complete - being even longer than the 3,000-mile-long Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (from Canada to Mexico). It will be some time before the Great American Rail Trail is complete, but there are many other smaller rail trails that have been completed. In Pennsylvania, visitors should explore the Ghost Town Trail and discover many abandoned coal towns lost to the forests after the coal mines and railroad were abandoned.

UPDATE: 2023/09/20 14:25 EST BY AARON SPRAY

More Information About The Great American Rail Trail

The Great American Rail Trail remains a work in progress. Much of it is now open, but full completion remains a long-term goal. This article was updated and expanded with more information about the Great American Rail Trail and what to expect walking and cycling along it. When it is complete, the Great American Rail Trail will be the ultimate trail worthy of an epic bike ride.

Length & Route Of The Great American Rail Trail

The US Capitol In The Fall In Washington, United States
Photo by Henry A on Unsplash
The US Capitol In The Fall In Washington, United States

When the Great American Rail Trail is complete, it will run some 3,700 miles or 6,000 kilometers from Washington D.C. to Washington State (a sort of Washington to Washington trail). The trail will run through 12 states plus the District of Columbia. It is a very ambitious and long-term project.

  • Length: Eventually, 3,700 miles or 6,000 kilometers

When the trail is completed, it is to preliminarily be over 80% off-road and separated from vehicle traffic. However, the ultimate plan is to have the whole trail away from the roads.

The states (and districts) it will run through are Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington State.

Related: Here's What New York's Catskill Mountains Are Famous For

How Much Is Complete & When The Rail Trail Will Be Finished

Smoky mountains in Mt Washington Auto Rd, Jackson, NH, US
Photo by Michael & Diane Weidner on Unsplash
Photo of the smoky mountains in Mt Washington Auto Rd, Jackson, NH, US

It was first launched in May 2019, and so far, around 2,000 miles, or a little over half of the trail, has been completed. When it is completed, around 50 million Americans will be living within around 50 miles of the trail. It is made up of over 150 existing multiuse trails (although 90 gaps remain to be filled between the sections).

  • Status: Half Complete / Under Construction
  • Completion Date: In The Next Few Decades

The work on the Great American Rail Trail is being facilitated by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

It will be a long time before one will be able to cycle the full route. It is not expected to be completed any time soon - it is likely to take a few decades to finish. That being said, segments of the trail will be completed with regularity as the gaps are closed, and the Great American Rail Trail takes form.

It is estimated that the Great American Rail Trail will cost around $1 billion to complete. While that is a lot for a trail, it is believed that the cost will be entirely offset within five years on account of visitor spending along the route.

It is the signature project of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (which is the nation’s largest trails organization). The organization is a grassroots community with over a million strong. It is dedicated to developing a network of nationwide public trails (with many of these trails coming from abandoned rail lines).

Related: This National Scenic Trail Is Longer Than The Appalachian Trail

Existing Trails To Be Part Of The Great American Rail-Trail

The route seeks to use existing trails as much as possible (around 2,026 miles of the trails are pre-existing). This pretty much means the route was borne around 50% complete, with the existing trails only needing some further development.

Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA
Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA

Some of the existing trails that are being incorporated into the trail are:

  • Olympic Discovery Trail (Washington)
  • Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (Washington)
  • Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes (Idaho)
  • Olympian Trail (Montana)
  • Headwaters Trail System (Montana)
  • Casper Rail Trail (Wyoming)
  • Cowboy Trail (Nebraska)
  • Cedar Valley Trail (Iowa)
  • Nickel Plate Trail (Indiana)
  • Cardinal Greenway (Indiana)
  • Little Miami Scenic Trail (Ohio)
  • Ohio to Erie Trail (Ohio)
  • Panhandle Trail (West Virginia)

When the Great American Rail Trail is complete, it will offer the chance to cycle most of the way across the nation. Visitors will be able to explore some of the most stunning landscapes of the American outdoors away from the danger, noise, and hustle of the roads.

Learn more about the remarkable experience that the rail trail will offer (and already does offer) on the official Great American Rail Trail website.

What Else To Know Of The Great American Rail Trail

Hillside Covered in Wildflowers
Photo by Angelica Reyn on Pexels
Hillside Covered in Wildflowers

The surface of the Great American Rail Trail will vary. As it is made up of over 145 existing trails, each of these has its own surface type. To know what the surface type of a particular section of the Great American Rail Trail, refer to TrailLink.com.

The entire route of the Great American Rail Trail will be walkable and bikeable between Washington D.C. and Washington State end; eventually, it will be fully separated from motorized traffic.

At the start, it may be difficult to find enough lodging, food, and other services along the Great American Rail Trail, but that is expected to change over time. It is envisioned that the trail will prove the catalyst for community economic development over its length. There are now lodging options - including campgrounds and B&Bs - along some of its segments.

When the Great American Rail Trail is eventually completed, it will be the first cross-nation entirely bikeable trail to be fully separated from vehicle traffic. Hopefully, when it is completed and developed, it will be $1 billion well spent.

Scenic Trail
Image by Amber Stevens from Pixabay
Hiking Trail With Scenic Views

The Great Trend Of Rails To Trails

All around the world, old and disused rails are being converted to trails. While the Great American Rail Trail may be the greatest of the projects currently in the works, there are plenty more rail trails completed or in the works around the nation and abroad.

In Northern California, the Great Shasta Rail Trail is now partially open and is becoming one of the great attractions to discover while visiting Mount Shasta. The trail is planned to be 80 miles long when it is completed. As of early 2023, around 40 miles of it have been completed and are open to the public.

Great Shasta Rail Trail:

  • Length: 40 Miles Finished / Total 80 Miles Planned
  • Status: Partially Open

Over on the other side of the world is the Otago Central Rail Trail in the stunning island nation of New Zealand. The Otago Central Rail Trail follows an old railroad that was built for the Otago Gold Rush. The Otago Gold Rush mirrored the gold rushes of the USA and Canada of the later 1800s and attracted many prospectors from California. Today it is a surreal experience cycling along the historic route through some of New Zealand's most spectacular scenery.

Poolburn Viaduct at Otago Central rail trail, South Island, New Zealand
Shutterstock
Poolburn Viaduct at Otago Central rail trail, South Island, New Zealand

Otago Central Rail Trail:

  • Length: 93 Miles
  • Status: Open

The conversion of rails to trails has created all the more great domestic and international destinations for cyclists to go biking.