Best Recreational Trail (2021)

The Chuck Huckelberry Loop in Tucson comprises 130 miles of paved paths and bike lanes (with more on the way). The path is open to cyclists, walkers, runners, horseback riders or skaters and connects parks and trailheads throughout the city.
Photo courtesy of Pima County

Extended for 34.3 miles, the Virginia Creeper Trail follows the path of the historic steam engine that once wound into the Iron Mountains. The rail-to-trail path winds through two counties – a favorite among hikers and bikers.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

This 10-mile hike-and-bike trail meanders along the banks of Lady Bird Lake in the middle of Austin. The trail sees some 4.4 million visits a year, a mix of travelers who come to take in the views and locals who love the space as a place to recreate in the fresh air.
Photo courtesy of The Trail Foundation

This trail in South Carolina is named after a railroad that was named after a type of rabbit, and now that the railroad no longer runs, this trail follows its path, along the Reedy River. The Swamp Rabbit Trail snakes nearly 19 miles across Greenville, from picnic areas and parks to schools and businesses. It’s a popular geocaching hotspot, too. 
Photo courtesy of Firewater Photography/Kris Decker

This paved trail along Kauai’s Royal Coconut Coast covers 8 miles in two segments. It’s possible to rent bicycles in Kapaa Town, through visitors can also navigate the trail on foot. The name translates to “The Path that Goes by the Coast.”
Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Heather Goodman / @hbgoodie

The multilevel trails of Buffalo Bayou Park follow Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive from Sabine Street in downtown to Shepherd Drive. This recreational path links several smaller parks and attractions. Walkers, joggers and cyclists enjoy a series of public art installations, as well as an innovative “musical scavenger hunt” using QR codes posted along the trails.
Photo courtesy of Visit Houston

The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail (a.k.a. the American River Bike Trail) is a popular, paved trail in Sacramento for outdoor recreation and also commuting around town. In fact, many residents use this 32-mile trail as their main path for transportation. It’s recognized as one of the nation’s longest, paved bike-specific paths in the nation. The trail will bring you all the way from downtown Sacramento (the Sacramento River) to the city of Folsom (specifically, Folsom Lake).
Photo courtesy of Sacramento County

The C&O Canal Towpath runs for 184.5 miles along the historic C&O Canal, once used by canal mules to tow boats along the waterway. This dirt and stone path makes it possible to walk, run or bike between Georgetown and Cumberland, Maryland.
Photo courtesy of NPS photo

The gorgeous Great Allegheny Passage provides more than 150 miles of almost flat hiking and biking trail connecting Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Maryland. It was the first trail to earn a spot in the National Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.
Photo courtesy of Allegheny Trail Alliance

Katy Trail State Park represents the longest rails-to-trails conversion project in the nation. The largely flat 240-mile trail passes through the Missouri countryside – a popular option for runners, walkers and cyclists. The path has 26 trailheads and four fully-restored railroad depots along the way.
Photo courtesy of Lokibaho / iStock