Organizers of the Great American Rail-Trail are working to connect more than 150 existing rail-trails, greenways and other paths into a continuous route that would span more than 3,700 miles across the United States. The project, which aims to create a coast-to-coast cycling and walking corridor, is being tracked by NPR's Joel Rose, who reported on the effort's progress in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
The initiative seeks to link a patchwork of local trails into a single, long-distance route. While the full trail is not yet complete, organizers are focusing on closing gaps in states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, where existing rail-trails already provide significant mileage. The Great American Rail-Trail is envisioned as a continuous off-road path that would allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel across the country without sharing roads with motor vehicles.
For local communities along the proposed route, the trail could bring economic benefits from increased tourism and outdoor recreation. Rail-trails are typically built on former railroad corridors, converting unused infrastructure into public spaces. The Great American Rail-Trail project builds on decades of local trail development, with organizers hoping to replicate the success of shorter routes on a national scale.
NPR's Joel Rose examined the progress in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, where segments of the trail are already in use or under development. The full route, once completed, would connect more than 150 individual trails and greenways, creating a continuous path of more than 3,700 miles. Organizers continue to work on linking the remaining gaps, though a timeline for full completion has not been announced.
