Earlier this month, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and REI hosted an unveiling of the route for the Great American Rail Trail at the Capitol. There's was also a ride a few days earlier.
The combined rail trail will be 3744 miles long when completed and cross 12 states and DC (or maybe just 13 states when it's finished).
In the DC area, the trail will start at the Capitol Reflecting Pool. It will then use the Mall trails, Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway trail, Water Street and the Capital Crescent Trail to access the C&O Canal Towpath at Fletcher's Boat House. It will then take the towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage all the way Pittsburgh. On the west side of Pittsburgh is the first gap in the trail going west meaning there's no work needed in DC or Maryland, the only jurisdictions that are 100% done. It's cool that it ends in DC - even though it could have easily been extended to Annapolis.
Larger gaps exist out west.
In Wyoming, the route is only 1.6% complete, with 500 miles that need to be built. In Montana, there are 344 unbuilt miles.
The DC area will eventually host several long-distance trails. In addition to the Great American Rail Trail there's the American Discovery Trail, the East Coast Greenway and the 9/11 Memorial Trail.
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