Rail-Trails: Mid-Atlantic
2nd Edition
Copyright © 2015 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Maps: Lohnes+Wright; Map data: Environmental Systems Research Institute
Cover design: Scott McGrew
Book design: Annie Long
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rail-trails mid-Atlantic : the definitive guide to multi-use trails in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. / by The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. — 2nd edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-89997-795-9 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-89997-795-2 (alk. paper)
1. Rail-trails—Delaware—Guidebooks. 2. Rail-trails—Maryland—Guidebooks. 3. Rail-trails—Virginia—Guidebooks. 4. Rail-trails—West Virginia—Guidebooks. 5. Rail-trails—Washington (D.C.)—Guidebooks. 6. Outdoor recreation—Delaware—Guidebooks. 7. Outdoor recreation—Maryland—Guidebooks. 8. Outdoor recreation—Virginia—Guidebooks. 9. Outdoor recreation—West Virginia—Guidebooks. 10. Outdoor recreation—Washington (D.C.)—Guidebooks. I. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, issuing body.
GV191.42.D32R35 2015
796.50975—dc23
2015009029
ISBN: 978-0-89997-795-9; eISBN: 978-0-89997-796-6
Manufactured in the United States of America
| Published by: | Wilderness Press | |
| Keen Communications | ||
| PO Box 43673 | ||
| Birmingham, AL 35243 | ||
| 800-443-7227; fax 205-326-1012 | ||
| [email protected] | ||
| wildernesspress.com |
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Distributed by Publishers Group West
Front cover: High Bridge Trail; courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; Back cover: Green Mountain Trail; © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.
SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety and health while in the wilderness. The fact that a trail is described in this book does not mean that it will be safe for you. Be aware that trail conditions can change from day to day. Always check local conditions, know your own limitations, and consult a map.
About Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.
Railways helped build America. Spanning from coast to coast, these ribbons of steel linked people, communities, and enterprises, spurring commerce and forging a single nation that bridges a continent. But in recent decades, many of these routes have fallen into disuse, severing communal ties that helped bind Americans together.
When RTC opened its doors in 1986, the rail-trail movement was in its infancy. While there were some 250 miles of open rail-trails in the United States, most projects focused on single, linear routes in rural areas, created for recreation and conservation. RTC sought broader protection for the unused corridors, incorporating rural, suburban, and urban routes.
Year after year, RTC’s efforts to protect and align public funding with trail building created an environment that allowed trail advocates in communities across the country to initiate trail projects. These ever-growing ranks of trail professionals, volunteers, and RTC supporters have built momentum for the national rail-trails movement. As the number of supporters multiplied, so did the rail-trails.
Americans now enjoy more than 22,000 miles of open rail-trails, and as they flock to the trails to connect with family members and friends, enjoy nature, and get to places in their local neighborhoods and beyond, their economic prosperity, health, and overall well-being continue to flourish.
A signature endeavor of RTC is TrailLink.com, America’s portal to these rail-trails as well as other multiuse trails. When RTC launched TrailLink.com in 2000, our organization was one of the first to compile such detailed trail information on a national scale. Today, the website continues to play a critical role in both encouraging and satisfying the country’s growing need for opportunities to ride, walk, skate, or run for recreation or transportation. This free trail-finder database—which includes detailed descriptions, interactive maps, photo galleries, and firsthand ratings and reviews—can be used as a companion resource to the trails in this guidebook.
The national voice for more than 160,000 members and supporters, RTC is committed to ensuring a better future for America made possible by trails and the connections they inspire. Learn more at railstotrails.org.
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