6 Rail Trails for Bicycling and Bird Watching

Planes and cars were not always the prime modes of transportation in this country. In the late 19th century, it was the train, with a web of working railroad lines strung across vast expanses. Most of these corridors were eventually abandoned. Thankfully, some are now multi-use paths (aka rail-trails) for human-powered activities, including bicycling. Whether the brilliant wildflowers dazzle you, or you’re awed by the dramatically hued plumage of winged creatures, cycling a rail-trail is a great way to celebrate spring. These six picturesque routes will not disappoint.

Little Miami Scenic Trail, Ohio

Running for 78 miles from Newtown to Springfield, this rail-trail is named for the railroad line that built this route. Interestingly, the trail has a bit of a split personality, with the southern section rolling beside the river and the northern portion (north of Spring Valley) navigating past farmland, nature preserves, state parks, and even a replica train station (in Xenia). The river corridor and the pockets of verdancy make for ideal bird watching environments. In fact, more than 200 bird species may pass through this area where, in the spring, colorful wildflowers speckle the riverbanks. As you cycle, make sure to survey the river, looking for the iridescent green heads of male mallards or wood ducks. In the quiet wooded areas, you may even hear the piercing song of a Carolina wren. A burst of brilliant yellow in the trees may indicate an American goldfinch or a yellow-throated warbler hopping on the branches.

Rio Grande Trail, Colorado

Colorado’s longest rail-trail navigates through such a varied landscape that cyclists can tick off just about every iconic view in the state, from lofty peaks to dense conifer woods to ranch and scrubland. Along the 42 miles stretching from Aspen to Glenwood Springs are activities to suit a range of interests: picnicking (Rock Bottom Ranch), viewing avant-garde art (Carbondale), exploring small towns (Basalt), and bird watching, especially if you hit the trail early in the morning. The broad-tailed hummingbird is common. (You’ll hear a loud trilling sound made by the wind rushing through their feathers as they fly.) Belted kingfishers — recognized by a bushy tuft of feathers on their heads — fly up and down the river valley and also like to perch in streamside cottonwoods. Violet-green swallows — yes, they have this coloration — can be found swooping over the river as they grab flying insects.

Fox River Trail, Illinois

Coursing some 45 miles from Oswego to Algonquin, just outside of Chicago, this sylvan rail-trail parallels the Fox River, providing scenic views of myriad islets and bridges traversing it. Formed from the abandoned stretches of three railroad corridors, this bucolic route passes numerous serene green spaces such as Les Arends Forest Preserve. When you get off your bike in a leafy spot, you might see any of two dozen different varieties of colorful warblers hunting for insects among tree branches — listen for their loud chirps and whistles. With the trail’s proximity to the river, bird watching is certainly a delight, whether you spy a common nighthawk darting across the sky or a great blue heron perching on the riverbank. A bald eagle or an osprey may even soar overhead.

Nashua River Rail Trail, Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Spanning 12 miles, mostly through Massachusetts (starting in downtown Ayer) and taking in just a bit of southern New Hampshire (ending in Nashua), this path is shaded by birch, beech, oak, and maple trees. Following one branch of the former Boston and Maine Railroad, this route retains some reminders of its rail past, including concrete whistle stops. Though you won’t see much of the river as you pedal along, you will encounter a variety of habitats, including wetlands, woodlands, and meadows, all offering great opportunities for bird spotting. The ponds and wetlands along the way often attract a variety of herons, as well as red-winged blackbirds, mallards, and kingfishers. Cycling north through forestlands, you may hear the flute-like song of hermit thrushes and observe tree trunks bearing evidence of red-bellied woodpeckers.

Withlacoochee State Trail, Florida

Named for a word in the Muscogee (Creek) language that means “little big water” or, alternatively, “crooked river,” this 47-mile rail-trail follows the right-of-way of the old Atlantic Coast Line that eventually became CSX Transportation. Cruising from Citrus Springs to Dade City, cyclists parallel the curvy Withlacoochee River in the southern section that radiates the most serenity. It also provides the best birding as it wends through the Croom Wildlife Management Area in Withlacoochee State Forest. Dense tracts of longleaf pines and bald cypress trees harken to a time when Florida was once covered with these old growth specimens. As you pedal along, look for a flash of crimson indicating the distinct color of a red-bellied woodpecker’s crown, or a streak of powder blue from an Eastern bluebird. On the ground, a light brownish-grey mourning dove might be foraging for seeds.

Island Line Rail Trail, Vermont

With stunning views of both Vermont’s Green Mountains and the Adirondacks in New York, long sections of this 13-mile path hug the shores of Lake Champlain and wander across the slim Colchester Causeway where cyclists may feel like they’re floating above the waters. The Rutland-Canadian Railroad once ran this corridor that was transformed into a rail-trail connecting Burlington to South Hero. (The latter is only accessible by a summer-only ferry that bridges the 200-foot-wide gap in the causeway.) Noticing birds along the lake is a highlight of this journey, even for casual birdwatchers. Whether you’re bicycling through white cedar-laden Oakledge Park, beside a series of sandy beaches, or across the thin causeway strip, be sure to scan the lake, looking for gulls, waterfowl, and wading birds. Great egrets like to hunt for frogs or fish in the shallows. Floating on the calm waters, ducks such as buffleheads or common mergansers may dive for snails or crayfish.