The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has unveiled plans for the Great American Rail-Trail, an ambitious coast-to-coast trail network that will link roughly 4,000 miles of existing and newly developed rail-trails and multiuse pathways between Washington State and Washington, D.C. The announcement follows nearly two years of research, route analysis and collaboration with local partners, land managers and state agencies to determine the strongest and most achievable alignment.
RTC plans to release the complete proposed route later this year, but has already identified 12 confirmed gateway trails that will form core segments of the route. These gateway trails represent a diverse cross-section of the country’s best long-distance rail-trails and multiuse corridors, spanning urban, suburban and rural landscapes and offering a mix of paved and crushed-surface sections suitable for walking, biking and other nonmotorized uses.
Confirmed gateway trails announced so far include:
- Capital Crescent Trail — a key connection between Washington, D.C., and Maryland, providing an urban and commuter-friendly trail segment.
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park — a roughly 185-mile historic canal corridor that will provide a scenic, heritage-rich stretch of the route.
- Panhandle Trail — a 29-mile corridor traversing parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, connecting communities and regional trail networks.
- Ohio to Erie Trail — an extended 270-mile route across Ohio that links the Lake Erie and Ohio River regions.
- Cardinal Greenway and Hennepin Canal Parkway — two important Indiana corridors that will serve as primary east–west links within that state.
- Cedar Valley Nature Trail — a 52-mile Iowa trail that offers rural landscapes and recreational access across multiple counties.
- Cowboy Trail (Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail) — one of the nation’s longest continuous rail-trails at approximately 219 miles in Nebraska, providing long-distance rural riding opportunities.
- Casper Rail Trail — a Wyoming corridor that will help connect the Mountain West segment of the overall alignment.
- Headwaters Trail System — a Montana collection of trails and connectors that supports regional access to public lands and recreation.
- Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes — an Idaho segment known for scenic views and strong local trail stewardship.
- Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail — a major Washington State corridor traversing dramatic landscapes, rail trestles and long-distance trail sections.
“At RTC, we’ve seen the potential of a coast-to-coast rail-trail for decades,” said Keith Laughlin, president of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. “Before committing to this vision, we needed to be confident it was realistic and achievable. Our analysis shows that more than half of the potential route already exists as open trail, and strong enthusiasm from local communities and state partners gives us the confidence that the Great American Rail-Trail can be completed.”
Laughlin emphasized RTC’s role moving forward: “RTC is ready to lead the effort to knit these pieces together across communities, counties and state lines to create a continuous, off-road bicycling and walking route across the country. This is about creating safe, accessible outdoor transportation and recreation that connects people to places and to one another.”
He also noted the scale of the undertaking and the benefits it can deliver: “The Great American Rail-Trail is a bold, long-term project that will take years to finish. The investments of time and resources required will be repaid many times over through increased outdoor access, tourism, economic activity and health benefits. This project has the potential to become one of the nation’s great public assets — a legacy of unity, ambition and shared access to the outdoors.”
The RTC’s announcement frames the Great American Rail-Trail as both a practical infrastructure initiative and a cultural undertaking. By combining existing high-quality trail corridors with targeted new connections, the project aims to minimize environmental impact, leverage public and private funding opportunities, and create continuous off-road travel options for family recreation, commuting and long-distance touring.
As the organization advances planning, RTC will continue working with municipalities, state departments of transportation, park agencies, land trusts and local trail groups to identify priorities for trail completion, surface improvements, wayfinding and amenities. Community engagement and stewardship are expected to play a central role in determining final alignments and implementing improvements in a way that respects local needs and landscapes.
RTC expects to publish the complete proposed route and an implementation strategy later this year. That route will provide a clearer picture of the remaining gaps and the types of investments needed to deliver a continuous cross-country trail. In the meantime, the announcement of these gateway trails highlights significant existing assets that will form the backbone of a coast-to-coast recreational and transportation corridor.
With strong support from partners and a majority of the route already in place, the Great American Rail-Trail initiative represents a coordinated effort to expand outdoor access, strengthen regional economies and create one of the country’s most ambitious long-distance trail experiences.