Exploring Urban and Wild Trails Across North America

 

A trail and greenspace in Idaho Falls, ID

Post by Eric

While Corrine biked across the Lower 48 in the Bike Nonstop US bikepack race, I explored my interest in urban and wild trails, especially planning for urban greenspace and trails. What I found left me hopeful. 

We are an incredibly car-centric culture, but I was pleased with how many places I found – inside and outside of cities – to go biking, walking, and running. And many cities have infrastructure that makes it relatively easy to commute by bike or foot. We need more infrastructure, but we have good places to start. If we can get more people out using nonmotorized transportation, more infrastructure will follow. Commuting by bike or foot is much more relaxing than by automobile. Plus, it’s a great way to get exercise. 

I wasn’t allowed to help Corrine (it’s a self-supported race), but I more or less followed along. I tried to stay within a day of Corrine so I could pick her up quickly if she had to bail (which fortunately never happened). Meanwhile, I kept up on my volunteer duties, including with trails and the Fairbanks Cycle Club, and did some exploring. While I found wonderful trails in public lands (especially out west), I also found some vibrant greenways and trail networks amid urban areas.

Some Useful Apps

Google Maps (with Biking Layer)

While I occasionally used maps at trailheads, I mostly used the apps I have found generally reliable: Trail Forks, AllTrails, and Google Maps (using the Biking Layer). No single app had all the information. Google Maps is useful in urban areas, but the Biking Layer information is better in some cities than others. At times I could use one or both of the other apps to complement Google Maps but not always. Sometimes, I just had to be flexible and figure out connections on my own. Google Maps isn’t useful outside of urban areas, but Trail Forks and AllTrails are. Generally, Trail Forks is better for mountain biking, and AllTrails is better for hiking, but both are trying to appeal to more users and are getting better. In the past I’ve also used the REI Adventure apps (Hiking Project, TrailRun Project, and MTB Project), but I didn’t feel a need to use them on this trip. 

Corrine used another method for finding urban trails. She would Google “biking” and the city’s name. She often found that cities or local groups would put together helpful maps or cycling routes. Some of these were not on the apps I was using. 

Urban Greenways and Trails

The GAP and C&O trails meet in Cumberland, MD

Since I don’t like driving (and had to do a lot of it), I looked for opportunities to plop down at a hotel and stay for two or three days without having to use our truck. Being at a hotel gave me the space and internet connection to keep up my volunteer work. Being close to trail systems in greenways gave me a place to exercise and explore on foot or by bike. And usually, I was able to get groceries or go out to eat without using the truck. That really made me appreciate well-planned urban areas.

At the start of the trip, I visited Mike and Annie in Walla Walla, Washington. They live within easy walking distances of downtown and many stores, so we mostly walked. On the way back from dinner we got caught up in a fun contradance! That never would have happened in a car. Mike also took me out biking twice – once on quiet roads and once to a nearby trail system. Both times we biked from their house and the car traffic was reasonable. So convenient!

Out walking with Annie and Mike in Walla Walla

Contradance! (Photo by Mike)

Omaha, Nebraska, surprised me. My hotel was right off an interstate and next to an industrial area, which sucked for non-motorized transportation – minimal nonmotorized infrastructure, many lanes of pavement to cross, etc. But within a mile, I was in a relaxing greenway surrounding a lake. On another day I spent a couple of hours biking around another greenspace-lined lake and through several other greenways, almost solely on trails. On the last day, I explored bike/ped paths along the downtown waterfront. They even have a bike/ped bridge over the Missouri River connecting Nebraska and Iowa. Casper, Wyoming, also had nice greenways and trails along the North Platte River, which runs through town.

Zorinsky Lake Park in Omaha

Bob the Bridge (a bike/ped structure) spans the Missouri River between Nebraska and Iowa.

Two of the places I most enjoyed staying at were Idaho Falls, ID, and Dayton, OH. The Snake River runs through Idaho Falls, which has some nice greenspaces along both sides of the river. The greenspaces aren’t that wide, but even a little grass and some trees can make things more relaxing. And the trees offer shade when it’s hot. The greenspaces also had areas to get off the main trails to relax or play. I stayed at a hotel close to the river and within walking distance of a grocery stores and restaurants. I didn’t have to use the truck for three days. I biked, ran, and walked almost solely on trails. 

The Friendship Garden sits in the Snake River greenway just off the trail system in Idaho Falls.

Idaho Falls did have a couple of negatives. A low-speed road paralleled a portion of their greenway. It connected to the road system on either end, creating a loop. People in loud vehicles (unmuffled motorcycles or cars, or with loud sound systems) used it as a place to cruise. That really detracted from the otherwise peaceful area. Sound really needs to be considered during urban planning. The other negative was the plethora of Lyft/Bird electric scooters available. A lot of young people were horsing around on them, often going way too fast. One scooter almost hit me. Those things need to be controlled. 

Too many of these things in Idaho Falls and they can go too fast.

I also stayed in Dayton for about three days. I was just outside of the main city but right off a couple of trails that connected to more trails. Because of the distances, I used my bike rather than walked or ran. Staying almost solely on trails, I was able to bike to downtown, to a grocery store, to restaurants, along the Mad and Miami rivers, and to a mountain biking area. Connected trails make nonmotorized commuting so much more pleasant. 

Two major US bike routes meet in Dayton

Overall, I was impressed with the communities for making such nice places in the middle of their cities. And many people were out using them in a variety of ways: walking, running, cycling, relaxing, playing. Greenspaces and trails add so much to quality of life. The experience also made me appreciate the efforts people have made in Fairbanks to improve our nonmotorized infrastructure and preserve greenspace along the Chena River. I hope that continues.

A trail along the Mad River in Dayton led to this interesting sign.

Biking

Overlook Trail System in Dubois, WY

I used Trail Forks to find places to mountain bike. I found places near my hotels or along my driving route so I could take a break from the road. I explored trails outside of Boise, in a couple of Nebraska state parks, and outside of Dubois, Wyoming (and the MTB system in Dayton). The Trail Forks rating system (green/easy, blue/intermediate, black/difficult, red/expert) is useful. While the relative difficulty varies depending on regions, it gives helpful guidance. I never tried any black trails, as the blue trails almost always gave me sufficient challenge for my skill level.

Metro Parks MTB Area - Dayton, OH

Sometimes, my rides were mostly on paved paths through greenspaces. I enjoyed every place I went and could have gone farther each time if I had had more time. I biked along two famous rail trails – the Katy Trail in Missouri and the Great Allegheny Passage in Maryland. In some ways those were kind of boring – being wide and with almost no elevation change – but they cover many miles and were so much nicer than biking on a road shoulder. I could see doing a multi-day trip on them with a group of other people.  

While the Katy Trail in Missouri didn't have challenges I often like, it had it's own charm

Overall, I found a lot of opportunities to bike on trails, paved paths, quiet roads, or roads with good cycling infrastructure. That made my trip so much more pleasant.

Hiking

North Head Lighthouse

I did a few hikes when the opportunity arose, starting with Cape Disappointment in Washington. Corrine’s race started in Astoria, Oregon, so I found a nearby hike that gave me a couple of views of the Pacific Ocean, including to the North Head Lighthouse. The Columbia River Gorge has some wonderful hikes, but it is busy in summer, even in mid-week. I couldn’t do my first choice (parking lot was full), so I pulled over at the next trailhead with a space and hiked/ran to Horsetail and Triple falls. I got some views of the river gorge and saw some nice waterfalls (including being able to hike beneath Horsetail Falls). Mount Glory in Wyoming (just across the Idaho border) was a steep sucker but it offered a quick peak to bag with some great views on top. 

Atop Mount Glory

Trail Running

Horsetail Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

I didn’t run as much as I thought I might, but circumstances and heat mostly kept me on my bike. It was hot much of the time, and I find biking in the heat easier than running. With biking you often get a nice breeze, especially downhill or on relatively flat paved paths. Still, I got in runs in Oregon (Horsetail and Triple falls), Idaho Falls (on the river greenspaces), and in Nebraska (Black Hills Overlook and Dead Horse Canyon trails in Chadron State Park, and Chalco Hills Recreation Area in Omaha). 

Black Hills Overlook Trail near Chadron NE

Before Corrine’s Race

View from a trail/road outside MacBride, B.C.

On the drive down to Oregon, we explored in several communities. Sometimes, we hiked together but usually biked separately since Corrine had her gravel bike and I had my mountain bike and prefer mountain biking. We explored trails or backroads in several communities in British Columbia (Stewart, Smithers, and McBride) and on Whidbey Island, Washington. We also went for a road bike ride with Bob Wilkinson in Bend. Usually, we were able to bike from where we were staying. So much better than having to drive.

From Kettles Trail System in Fort Ebey State Park, Whidbey Island, WA

Reducing Reliance on Cars

Moving away from being such a car-centric culture has so many benefits. I can’t ever imagine a time when we won’t have cars, but we could rely on them much less with good urban and transportation planning. Nonmotorized transportation is better for our mental and physical health. It requires much less space. It’s better for our planet. Overall, it just makes for a much better quality of life. While I am glad for what I found on our trip, I know we can do much more. I didn’t go looking for areas that had lousy nonmotorized infrastructure. I know they are out there, and I found them occasionally. But I’m glad we’re not starting from ground zero. 

Mike Mathers and another biker enjoy a quiet road outside of Walla Walla, WA

If you want to help efforts to improve nonmotorized transportation, one good group to support is the League of American Bicyclists. There are many others. If you have a preferred group or groups, please add them in the comments.