Touring - Long Distance Trail Systems

Does anyone know of long distance trail systems such as the Colorado Trail, in other states?

The Katy trail in Missouri, another trail in Wisconsin, the C&O trail in Maryland, another rail trail in Pennsylvania, and the NY Barge Canal system.

Tunnel Hill State Trail in southern IL. 34 miles long. When it's finished it will be 45 miles.

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/tunnel.htm


here is the web page for tunnel hill state trail.

Check it out:)

Has anyone ever used a road bike on any of these trails?
It says that the surface is fine crushed limestone and packs almost as hard and smooth as pavement.

Found the Katy Trail web site too.

http://katytrail.showmestate.com/frames.asp?map=yes

My experience with the NYS Canal trail is to use a touring bike, or something with even wider tyres. While the packed dirt/crushed gravel sections aren't TOO bad, they leave a lot to be desired. A ride on 21mm tubulars was interesting, to say the least. with skinny tyres, you will actually sink in a little, slowing you considerably.

I'm discovering that Central/Eastern Ontario is chock full of rail trails. Definitely fat tire material though - mostly original railbed.

If I may be allowed some self promotion, I've actually been working on a (non-commercial) website documenting these trails. To see what I've got so far go to:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/bwride/cycling/

So far I've focussed on the bit of trail closest to my home but I'm slowly expanding it. There are also some links. Input and additional info is always welcome.

The Tunnel Hill trail looks interesting. Is it a rail to trail project? It looks like a good one to do with the spouse, cause it looks easy.

Yes it is a rail to trail path. It has 23 testles and a 540ft long tunnel.

I've never been on it. I'd like to but all I have is a road bike.

The C&O Canal trail (Washington DC to Cumberland MY) is mostly loose dirt and requires the wider MTB type tires. 27x1 1/4 or 700X 32 sink in.

I am really looking for trails that are not the Rail to Trail type. The Rail to Trail type looks to flat and boring for me. I am looking for the more interesting singletrack type trails. Next week I will be riding the Womble Trail. This will be a 2 day out and back 75 miles. It is located in Arkansas in Ouachita Mountains. I am packing everything that I need on my back. Should be fun.

This is not a trail, but one great, very tuff ride that'll require about a week to do.
Start - Lake Tenaya, Yosemite National Park, head east dropping down Tioga Pass to 395. Head north to these waypoints, the ghost town of Bodie, back roads to Bridgeport. Bridgeport to Highway 108 (Sonorra Pass), drop down 108 to 52.
Drop down 52 to Breadsly Dam, cross dam, stay left and continue 52 now climbing. At top, take fire road 4N07 and crank up to and pass the Pendola Scout Reservation (water). Continue 4N07 to intersection with 2 lefts and 1 right, take the lower left (Ghrol Meadow route) to Holman's Crossing at Skull Creek (water and campgrounds). At Holman turn left, small korall on right is your landmark, 6 percent climb next 5 miles. Next land mark, large korall on right, at the intersection turn right and head up hill for about a mile to 4N13Y. Take this route to a lock gate (Gate 7, Big Trees State Park - Park allows jumping the gate). Short distance ahead another intersection, go left (several sections with pumice, the worst at Gate 9 being a hard dogleg to the right). Water at the bottom (creek near the South Grove trail, park the bike, take a hike to see some big trees). Continue fire road to intersection take the left and drop down to Beaver Creek then a short climb out to the South Grove Parking lot. Follow the asphalt to the North Grove (one way in, one way out), first, 3 miles of twisty screaming downhill, with one very wicked S curve followed by another 3 up, then 2 miles of downhill which will take you to the kiosk. Sign in and camp at Hike and Bike A and B. Take a hot shower (25 cents per 3 minutes), cold water is free.. Going east from the latrine at Hike and Bike A and B for about 50 yards lies the Rivertrail trailhead and Gate 28. Go around the gate, cycle uphill and make a right at the intersection, head downhill to Moran Rd. Turn right on Moran, very short ride to Highway 4, take a left and head into the little town of Aronald where you can call it quits......

Besure you've got maps and a partner, this is one very very remote ride. Make sure that you get any extra supplies that you may need in Bridgeport, because there won't be another until you reach the end of this ride. Also, Pickle Meadow (Sonora Pass can be downright frigid, be prepared)........

Dan the man Do you need any permits to do this trail in late spring and early summer

Two things ...

1) Isn't there a trail system somewhere around Coeur d'Alene, Idaho? I don't have Idaho on my list of states I've cycled in, despite the fact that it is as close as it is, and it might be nice to do a short tour there before I leave NA.

2) France has a great trail system - the tow paths along the canals in the Alsace-Lorraine area. Those were beautiful!! :)

Idaho has several "scenic byways (http://www.idahobyways.gov/)."

This website covers trails near Coeur d'Alene (http://friendsofcdatrails.org/).

This website covers the canals in France (http://home.versatel.nl/mouringh.marga/index_eng.htm), though not the paths.

Ray

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/tunnel.htm


here is the web page for tunnel hill state trail.

Check it out:)

I did this one twice last year and if you start at Harrisburg, IL and then take the small spur from Karnak over to the Wetlands Nature Preserve center, you will have closer to 50 miles. It sustained a lot of damage this past spring with all the rains and am not sure if it has been completely repaired.

Using the Hennepin Canal trail, the I & M canal trail and then the Old Plank trail, you can darn near cross the entire state of Illinois at around 225 miles.

Using the Hennepin Canal trail, the I & M canal trail and then the Old Plank trail, you can darn near cross the entire state of Illinois at around 225 miles.

This is also part of the Grand Illinois Trail, which makes a 500 mile loop from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi and back.

http://www.openlands.org/git/index.asp

This is also part of the Grand Illinois Trail, which makes a 500 mile loop from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi and back.

http://www.openlands.org/git/index.asp

This is true but most of the Grand Illinois Trail is not really a trail, rather you're riding on county and state highways.

Since this seven year old thread has emerged from the archives, let me mention the C & O Canal/Great Allegheny Passage/Steel Valley Trail/Montour Trail/Panhandle Trail network. The C & O runs 184 miles from DC to Cumberland. It connects to the GAP at Cumberland, and runs 135 miles or so to McKeesport, south of Pittsburgh. You can follow the Steel Valley Trail, a road route, a few miles to Clairton, and pick up the Montour Trail, off-road aside from some unfinished parts. The Montour and the Panhandle Trails intersect, and you can either ride to Coreapolis, PA, or Weirton, WV.

Idaho has several "scenic byways (http://www.idahobyways.gov/)."

This website covers trails near Coeur d'Alene (http://friendsofcdatrails.org/).

This website covers the canals in France (http://home.versatel.nl/mouringh.marga/index_eng.htm), though not the paths.

Ray

Thanks raybo ... I think this is the trail I heard about ... it looks really pretty:
http://friendsofcdatrails.org/CdA_Trail/index.html


And these are examples of the paths along the canals in France. That's Rowan in the distance. :)

http://www.machka.net/pbp2007/images/PlanIncline_Campground3_small.JPG

http://www.machka.net/pbp2007/images/CanalPath1_edited.JPG

And one of the many maps along the canals ... and Rowan, of course.

http://www.machka.net/pbp2007/images/CanalRouteMap_small.JPG

Thanks raybo ... I think this is the trail I heard about ... it looks really pretty:
http://friendsofcdatrails.org/CdA_Trail/index.html



The current issue of Adventure Cyclist has an article on these trails.

I am really looking for trails that are not the Rail to Trail type. The Rail to Trail type looks to flat and boring for me. I am looking for the more interesting singletrack type trails. Next week I will be riding the Womble Trail. This will be a 2 day out and back 75 miles. It is located in Arkansas in Ouachita Mountains. I am packing everything that I need on my back. Should be fun.


One thing's for sure: The Womble Trail couldn't be more opposite of a Rail Trail. Hang on tight when you do that one!......Seriously, it's great. Awesome singletrack. I've done it several times, but never with more than a Camelbak with water, snacks, and flat/repair supplies on my back. Good luck and have fun-

+1 Hennepin to I & M to Old Plank Trail gets you most of the way across Illinois. Unfortunately, the Hennepin and I & M do not directly connect.

The maintenance on the Hennepin is just about non-existent. Governor of IL pulled the funds apparently. He now has bigger issues than pulling trail funding.

And like much of Illinois, the trail is pretty flat.

Lots of urban trails around Chicago, but mostly rail to trail.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2989552178_52d7d2d898.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2989549890_4b91633ca8.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3125247237_ba40c4de4b.jpg

Since this seven year old thread has emerged from the archives.....


Heh, heh. I missed that-

The 2200 km TransAndalus is a fantastic off-road circuit in Andalucia, Spain. We just came back from four weeks of adventurous cycling on it. All the info you need is on the web at www.transandalus.org.
Elaine

Along the line of trails, I was just reading about the EuroVelo:
http://www.ecf.com/14_1

It's not exactly a trail, but rather a network of bicycle routes across Europe. "EuroVelo is made up of 12 routes, totalling over 66,000 km, of which about 45,000 km is already in place. The EuroVelo routes are made up of existing and planned cycle routes at regional and national level, selected according to published criteria." (and you can see the published criteria on that website)

The one Rowan and I would like to ride in the next few years is the North Sea Route:

"The North Sea Cycle Route: 6000 kilometres of fascinating adventure await you. Explore a wealth of cities and villages, beaches and farms, lowlands and uplands, cliff paths and byways - all without fear of getting lost - just keep on for long enough and you'll return to your starting point.

The world's longest signed international cycle route encircles the North Sea, passing through no fewer than 7 countries. Read more on website www.northsea-cycle.com "


And La Route verte, a 4000+km network of bicycle paths, designated roadway, paved shoulders all over Quebec.
http://www.routeverte.com/rv/

(Here's the English version, if you need it: http://www.routeverte.com/rv/index_e.php )

This is true but most of the Grand Illinois Trail is not really a trail, rather you're riding on county and state highways.

I would disagree with the emphasis on most.

My wife and I rode the Grand Illinois trail in 2006. Our 585 mile route was almost exactly 50% trail/ 50% roads or city streets.

The southern part of the GIT is over 80% trail. Roughly 175 miles from Chicago Heights to Moline was on the Old Plank Road Rail Trail, the I&M Canal tow path and Hennepin Canal tow path. Only for 25 miles of the 175 was on roads - 5 miles thru Joliet neighborhoods from the end of the OPRT to the I&M Canal, 15 miles between the I&M Canal in LaSalle-Peru and the Hennepin Canal Bureau Junction., and 5 miles from the end of the Hennepin to the Mississippi River Trail.

And these are examples of the paths along the canals in France. That's Rowan in the distance. :)

http://www.machka.net/pbp2007/images/PlanIncline_Campground3_small.JPG



Looks to be very pretty along this canal. Yikes just don't lose concentration and wind up in the canal! Reminds me of the path along the canal leading from the Milan Malpensa airport to Pavia. Except the water moves a lot faster and you are even closer to the canal with no guard rail like above. There is a section of the trail where the roots of trees are lifting up on the asphalt, making the ride very bumpy and uncomfortable. The path closer to the canal is much smoother. My buddy insisted on riding the edge of the path next to the canal. I kept thinking that at any moment he was going into the canal and I would be chasing him as he got swept down the canal. :)

We have the Wilard Munger trail here. Seventy miles from Hinckley to Duluth, and from there you may continue on up the North shore.

Mesabi trail here is Complete. That's 120 miles or so.

Paul Bunyan trail is 100 miles.

Luce Line is 70 miles.

Lake Wobegon/Central Lakes trail is also 100+ miles.

Some of it is a little ugly though, right along roadways with nothing to see but the rear end of an automobile whizzing by at 65mph.

Looks to be very pretty along this canal. Yikes just don't lose concentration and wind up in the canal! Reminds me of the path along the canal leading from the Milan Malpensa airport to Pavia. Except the water moves a lot faster and you are even closer to the canal with no guard rail like above. There is a section of the trail where the roots of trees are lifting up on the asphalt, making the ride very bumpy and uncomfortable. The path closer to the canal is much smoother. My buddy insisted on riding the edge of the path next to the canal. I kept thinking that at any moment he was going into the canal and I would be chasing him as he got swept down the canal. :)


This wasn't that bad. Bridges, and riding or walking too close to the edge of deep water, usually makes me quite nervous, but I was all right with the French tow paths/canals. The path was beautifully maintained and smooth, and was wide enough for me to feel comfortable. Plus there was something comforting about that little bit of grass between the path and the canal.

It was very pretty, through the Vosges range. :)

Looks to be very pretty along this canal. Yikes just don't lose concentration and wind up in the canal! Reminds me of the path along the canal leading from the Milan Malpensa airport to Pavia. Except the water moves a lot faster and you are even closer to the canal with no guard rail like above. There is a section of the trail where the roots of trees are lifting up on the asphalt, making the ride very bumpy and uncomfortable. The path closer to the canal is much smoother. My buddy insisted on riding the edge of the path next to the canal. I kept thinking that at any moment he was going into the canal and I would be chasing him as he got swept down the canal. :)

If you are worried about being close to the water, you should reconsider the GAP/C & O trip:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2801377311_90f9840227.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2802222654_156825727e.jpg

Just a refreshing dip into this canal. The one in Italy would have been a wild ride to the next control point, assuming you where still in one piece then you got there. :)

http://i35.tinypic.com/f803l.jpg

Just a refreshing dip into this canal. The one in Italy would have been a wild ride to the next control point, assuming you where still in one piece then you got there. :)



I'd just ride over on the wall side of the path.

The most interesting part of riding along the canals for me was the locks. I have examples of two of the types of locks we saw. One is called The Plan Incliné and is about halfway down the page I've linked to, with 3 photos in sequence showing how it works. And the other is a traditional lock ... scroll down a little bit, and there are 6 photos in sequence showing it in action.
http://www.machka.net/pbp2007/2007_Post-PBP_2.htm

I loved watching the canal boats too. In one place the person driving the boat raised a wine glass to us ... and we raised our water bottles to him. :D And everyone waved and smiled at us ... just a very pleasant atmosphere.

I would disagree with the emphasis on most.

My wife and I rode the Grand Illinois trail in 2006. Our 585 mile route was almost exactly 50% trail/ 50% roads or city streets.

When we rode it, we found it to be 51% road, 49% trail, hence I used the word "most". Of course this is a falsehood since we didn't ride the entire 585 mile trail and we deviated from the route at a couple of points. What I wanted to communicate is the fact is that this is not an entirely specific bike trail as one might think by its title. Just as the Illinois Mississippi River Bike Trail is not really a bike specific trail (far less "bike specific trail" than the Grand Illinois Trail)

When we rode it, we found it to be 51% road, 49% trail, hence I used the word "most". Of course this is a falsehood since we didn't ride the entire 585 mile trail and we deviated from the route at a couple of points. What I wanted to communicate is the fact is that this is not an entirely specific bike trail as one might think by its title. Just as the Illinois Mississippi River Bike Trail is not really a bike specific trail (far less "bike specific trail" than the Grand Illinois Trail)

I understand ... didn't mean to sound so argumentative. I tend to get defensive about the GIT. It's the trip that got my wife hooked on credit card touring, and is ultimately the reason why we're planning 4 month trip this year :)

Yes. It is certainly true that the GIT is not all bike specific trail. And the northern section has a lot more on road than on trail. That photo on my avitar is from the GIT about half way between Galena and Freeport.

When did you ride it, and which sections did you make?

Did anyone mention the Delaware and Raritan Canal (http://www.dandrcanal.com/), which is a NJ State park? The feeder canal goes 30 miles up the Delaware River, and the main canal goes 33 miles from Trenton to New Brunswick.

I rode the GIT last winter. Well, april. As a part of a larger trip.

It was not a cakewalk. 35 mph headwinds, rain and snow, trail closings. these were some parts of the trail left open. I went through one of the closed sections and literaly could not get the camera out to document it, I was to muddy, and cold. It was pretty fun, just for the suffering factor. If your into that.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/3113187053_ec753fb166.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3113187145_00797563cb.jpg?v=0http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3113187213_8c11b503c3.jpg?v=0
The mixture of desolate rural/urban blight made it seem like a surreal trip through some post apocolyptic america sometimes. In Quincy I was harrassed by a bunch of motorcycle riders and that night was offered crack or a hooker when I went looking for a hamburger.
In another small town of three hundred souls I camped at, teenagers found me and drank all night at my campsite. They said that there was nothing else to do. I have been on that road myself once, but I really believed them.
I had to continue to tell myself that you find what you bring, and to force a positive, upbeat attitude. I started in Chicago on the Lakefront, very pretty. Later, in the middle of the state, a woman working at a gas station asked where I had come from. I said chicago and she asked where that was. I said, "Sort of, north westish?" She threw my candy bars into a bag and said, "Well, I aint that geological of a person". The candy bars were expired.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/3114041678_2bb1527eae_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crawdadslim/3114041678/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/3113211337_e013f49987_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crawdadslim/3113211337/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3114041862_cdc4d91966.jpg?v=0
Tuesday morning in another small town. The only store open was a Caseys.

Later I hooked up with the MRT down to the KATY and things picked up a bit.

I really want to do this ride again, in the hope that things seem more positive. But the GIT, fun as the ride was, and there were some great moments, people and times mixed in with these images, was one of the most depressing rides I have ever taken. I guess that they can't all be great.
PS reading this, it sounds pretty negative. Not knocking the GIT, just the time I had on it. I can deal with a few days of bad luck, mean drivers, whatnot. but the five days I spent on that trail really got me down. My avatar is a picture of my bike on that ride in front of a donut shop. They had no donuts.

delver, thanks for sharing the photos, I recognize a few. I'm just wondering what the condtion of the Illinois trails will be in 2009 without proper funding. Oh, and if you think that area is depressed, travel with me into southern Illinois and western Kentucky this coming summer. Wonderful people, salt of the earth, and much nicer scenery but it's ghost town after ghost town and has been now for 25 years.

Did anyone mention the Delaware and Raritan Canal (http://www.dandrcanal.com/), which is a NJ State park? The feeder canal goes 30 miles up the Delaware River, and the main canal goes 33 miles from Trenton to New Brunswick.

The feeder canal is a wonderful trail. The main trail from Trenton to New Brunswick was in pretty bad repair last season, has anyone been there recently?

You might also want to look at The East Coast Greenway (http://www.greenway.org). It's not a single trail, but is planned to sew together existing trails, and new trails, into a continuous N-S corridor along the East Coast of the US.

Robow
Yeah I heard that funding was cut. thats a real shame. I still may try it again next april. I feel that I can have a better time now that I am prepared/familiar. I feel that the depression it sparked in me was some of my own attitude. Besides, there were a few sections that rocked. Whats the one called, thunder hills, big thunder, or something, it is like a detour over some pretty hills and the like. I pulled 105 miles that day, really nice weather. I have those pics somewhere.

I live in Arkansas and get to see some interesting things here. the only thing is that most of the desolate towns around me were in fact built that way from the begining.

I am really looking for trails that are not the Rail to Trail type. The Rail to Trail type looks to flat and boring for me. I am looking for the more interesting singletrack type trails. Next week I will be riding the Womble Trail. This will be a 2 day out and back 75 miles. It is located in Arkansas in Ouachita Mountains. I am packing everything that I need on my back. Should be fun.
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