29 / 32
AARON SCHMIDT
Destination:
America’s Next Top Rail-Trail
BY LAURA STARK
I
n recognition of this year’s 30th anniversary of Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy, we are conducting a public vote for the 30th
addition to our Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Inductees into this
prestigious trail group are selected on the basis of such merits as scenic
value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance,
excellence in management and facility maintenance, and community
connections, as well as geographic distribution. Here’s a list of our
nominees, highlighting what makes each a great trail to visit.
Vote for your favorite in June!
Look for the voting announcement
on our website,
railstotrails.org/30th.
Rio Grande Trail
(Colorado)
The Rio Grande Trail is quintessential
Colorado, featuring a sparkling river,
rustling aspens and scented pines against
a backdrop of towering mountains. Even
better, this bounty of beauty is easily acces-
sible, with several communities dotting the
route and a relatively gentle slope (no more
than 4 percent) running downhill from
the famed ski town of Aspen to Glenwood
Springs. At 42 miles, nearly all paved, it’s
COURTESY RFTA
the longest rail-trail in the state and, if it
wins the competition, would take a proud
place as the first trail from Colorado to
enter the Hall of Fame.
For much of its length, the trail closely
parallels the Roaring Fork River, and ani-
mals can often be spotted along the river-
bank. It’s common to see deer, elk, heron
and bald eagles; you may even spot a black
bear or mountain lion. In winter, the river
valley provides a critical range for deer and
elk, so a small trail section between Basalt
and Carbondale is closed from November
to April; during those months this section
is rerouted to the road.
For a bite to eat, a not-to-miss stop
along the trail is the quirky and lively
Woody Creek Tavern (
woodycreek
tavern.com ), located in the town made
famous for being the residence of the late
American writer Hunter S. Thompson.
History buffs will want to visit the
Glenwood Railroad Museum (
glenwood
railroadmuseum.org ), which showcases
railroad artifacts, old photographs and a
large-scale model railroad. Just a half-mile
from the trail’s western end, the museum
is housed in the Glenwood Springs sta-
tion, built in 1904 and still serving Amtrak
trains.
GETTINGTHERE:
Fly in to Aspen/Pitkin
County Airport (ASE) (Sardy Field), roughly
3 miles fromdowntown Aspen and the
eastern end of the trail. You can also get
there by train; Amtrak makes regular
stops at the Glenwood Springs station
(413 Seventh St.).The Rio Grande Trail can
be accessed from several places along its
route; the Roaring Fork Transportation
Authority (RFTA) website features a
detailedmap with parking locations.
RFTA also provides bus service to several
key communities along the trail: Aspen,
Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale
and Glenwood Springs.Many of these
stops are within a half-mile of the trail.
The buses are equipped with bike racks,
and there’s a surcharge of $2 to take bikes
aboard.
MORE INFO:
rfta.com/trail-informationTo access an extended version of
this article with bike rental info, go
to
railstotrails.org/trailblog.
View from the Walkway Over the Hudson
in New York
rails
to
trails
u
spring/summer.16
27
destination