Items14The creator’s order
  1. 1Great Allegheny PassageGreat Allegheny PassageThe benchmark for a long, easy ride: 150 miles from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, on compacted crushed limestone with an average grade under 1 percent. Trail towns such as Connellsville, Ohiopyle, Confluence and Meyersdale break it into manageable day rides with lunch at each end, and luggage…0
  2. 2Katy Trail State ParkKaty Trail State ParkThe longest developed rail trail in the country runs 240 miles across Missouri between Clinton and Machens, on hard crushed limestone along the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas line. The grade is relatively flat end to end, and most of it closely follows the Missouri River. What makes it easy for a…0
  3. 3Virginia Creeper TrailVirginia Creeper TrailThis 34-mile trail through the mountains of southwest Virginia is famous for its long, mostly downhill ride from Whitetop Station back into Damascus, which the town's bike rental and shuttle outfitters have turned into an easy family outing. Check the calendar before you go. Hurricane Helene…0
  4. 4Route of the HiawathaRoute of the HiawathaThe most thrilling easy ride on this list is a short one: about 15 miles on the old Milwaukee Road line from East Portal to Pearson, almost all of it on a gentle 1.6 to 2 percent downhill. You pass through 10 tunnels, including the 1.66-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel, and cross 7 sky-high trestles with…0
  5. 5Elroy-Sparta State TrailElroy-Sparta State TrailOften called the first rail trail in the United States, this 32.5-mile crushed limestone route in western Wisconsin is a natural adventure for kids: three rock tunnels, the longest more than 3,800 feet, where riders walk their bikes through the dark by flashlight or headlamp. Five small towns,…0
  6. 6Trail of the Coeur d'AlenesTrail of the Coeur d'AlenesSeventy-three paved miles across the Idaho Panhandle between Mullan and Plummer, with 20 trailheads and 20 scenic waysides with picnic tables. That spacing makes it one of the easiest long trails to break into short family rides, and the asphalt suits any bike, trailer or stroller. Near the west…0
  7. 7Pine Creek Rail TrailPine Creek Rail TrailSixty-two miles along the floor of Pine Creek Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, from Wellsboro Junction to Jersey Shore. The crushed stone surface and gentle grade let relaxed riders spend their attention on the cliffs and the creek rather than the pedals. Outfitters rent bikes and run…0
  8. 8Little Miami Scenic TrailLittle Miami Scenic TrailAbout 78 paved miles from Anderson Township, on the edge of Cincinnati, north to Springfield. It is the easiest choice here for a town-to-town ride: Milford, Loveland, Morrow, Corwin, Xenia and Yellow Springs all sit on the trail, with small-town eateries and canoe liveries along the southern…0
  9. 9Paul Bunyan State TrailPaul Bunyan State TrailIf you want pavement that simply keeps going, this is the one: about 115 paved miles through Minnesota's lake country between the Brainerd and Baxter area and Bemidji, often described as the longest continuously paved rail trail in the country. For an easy day, stay on the southern half, where the…0
  10. 10Root River State TrailRoot River State TrailForty-two paved miles alongside the Root River from Fountain to Houston, through the bluff country of southeast Minnesota. Lanesboro, near the middle, is the natural base: the depot trail center has restrooms during the day, and there is a large parking lot by the Bass Ponds. Most of the trail is…0