From Rails to Trails: 10 Great Bicycle Routes in the West

• Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail (Park City, UT): 28.2 miles (56.4 miles round trip) through Utah’s silver-mining heritage and high-valley landscapes.
• Peavine National Recreation Trail (Prescott, AZ): 5.8 miles (11.6 miles round trip) of trail tracing the former Santa Fe Railway line through stunning dells, lakes, and desert foothills.
• Milwaukee Trail (Missoula, MT): 5.9 miles (11.8 miles round trip) of paved trail on the old Milwaukee Road railbed through downtown, connecting the University of Montana and Clark Fork River corridor.
• Casper Rail Trail (Casper, WY): 6 miles (12 miles round trip) of urban rail-to-trail conversion through the Old West charm of downtown Casper along the former Chicago & North Western rail line.
• Cherry Creek Trail (Denver, CO): 42 miles (84 miles round trip) of smooth trail from downtown Denver to the open plains with city energy, creekside calm, and Front Range views.

1. Stay in Seattle, WA, and ride the Burke-Gilman Trail

Once part of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway (later acquired by Northern Pacific), the Burke-Gilman Trail stretches 27 miles from Ballard to Bothell, linking Seattle’s neighborhoods, parks, and waterfronts along a gentle rail grade. Opened as one of the first rail-to-trail conversions in the country in the 1970s, it set the standard for urban cycling paths nationwide. You'll move from bustling city streets to quiet green corridors, passing Lake Union, the University of Washington, and Lake Washington’s serene shoreline. Stop for coffee and see the murals and trail art near Fremont, or watch for bald eagles perched above the Arboretum wetlands.

Your Seattle cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Gas Works Park Café – Grab coffee, snacks, or a light lunch just steps from the trail, with picnic tables and skyline views of Lake Union.
• Outdoor Highlight: Gas Works Park – Iconic waterfront park built on a historic gas plant, offering panoramic city views and direct trail access.
• Indoor Highlight: Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) – An engaging, bike-accessible museum at the trail’s southern end exploring Seattle’s innovation and maritime heritage.

2. Stay near Portland, OR, and ride the Banks-Veronia State Trail

Located about 40 minutes northwest of downtown Portland, the Banks–Vernonia State Trail offers 21 miles of paved forest path along a former 1920s logging railroad between the towns of Banks and Vernonia. Once part of the Oregon-American Lumber Company’s line, the corridor now winds through lush fir forests, quiet farms, and the foothills of the Coast Range. You'll cross 13 restored trestles (including the 700-foot span of the Buxton Trestle over Mendenhall Creek) and see interpretive signs telling the story of Oregon’s timber heritage. Easily reached via US-26 from the Portland area, this trail's gentle rail grade and shaded scenery make it a favorite for families and leisure cyclists alike.

Your Portland-area cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Blue House Café – A cyclist favorite in Vernonia serving Mediterranean-style dishes and coffee with outdoor seating.
• Outdoor Highlight: L.L. Stub Stewart State Park – Just a short ride from the trail, enjoy forest viewpoints, hiking loops, and a mountain-biking singletrack.
• Indoor Highlight: Oregon Historical Society Museum – Located in downtown Portland, this landmark museum connects rail-trail travelers to Oregon’s broader history.

3. Stay near Oakland, CA, and ride the Iron Horse Regional Trail

Just east of Oakland, CA, the Iron Horse Regional Trail transforms a former Southern Pacific Railroad corridor into a 32-mile paved greenway linking the East Bay communities of Concord, Walnut Creek, Danville, and Pleasanton. Following the gentle grade of the old rail line, you'll cross restored trestles and pass interpretive signs that trace the area’s 19th-century railroad heritage. Access is easy via BART, with stations at both ends of the trail, and plenty of cafés and rest stops along the way. Whether you start in Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, or somewhere in between, you'll find this popular Bay Area trail is easily one of California’s most enjoyable urban rides.

Your East Bay-area cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Sideboard Neighborhood Kitchen – Beloved Danville café serving farm-fresh breakfast and lunch with shaded outdoor seating and bike racks.
• Outdoor Highlight: Mount Diablo State Park – Located just east of the trail, you can ride (or drive) to the summit for sweeping Bay Area views.
• Indoor Highlight: Blackhawk Museum – Explore a stunning collection of classic cars with cultural and natural history exhibits near the southern section of the trail.

4. Stay near Coeur d'Alene, ID, and ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

The majestic 73.2-mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes threads through the once a booming silver-lead-zinc mining region of Silver Valley in northern Idaho. Much of the former rail bed was built on mine waste rock and tailings, and its transformation into a smooth, family-friendly greenway became one of the nation’s most celebrated environmental restoration projects. The trail’s western end in Plummer is just 25 miles from downtown Coeur d’Alene, making it an easy day trip. Simply follow US-95 South to reach the Plummer Trailhead, which features ample parking, restrooms, and direct access to the lake at Heyburn State Park—Idaho’s first state park, and the oldest in the entire Pacific Northwest.

Your Northern Idaho cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: The Cycle Haus Bikes & Brews – Harrison’s cyclist hub for espresso, sandwiches, and craft beer right on the trail.
• Outdoor Highlight: Tubbs Hill – 165-acre forested peninsula on the downtown Coeur d’Alene waterfront offering a scenic 2.2-mile interpretive loop trail with lovely lake and city skyline views.
• Indoor Highlight: Museum of North Idaho – This Coeur d’Alene museum features exhibits on the region’s railroads, logging, mining, and Native American heritage.

5. Stay near Boulder City, NV, and ride the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail

Experience the big blue beauty of Lake Mead and marvel at the engineering legacy of the Hoover Dam along the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail near Boulder City, NV, (an easy day trip from Vegas). This 3.7-mile path traces the rail line built to haul supplies to the dam’s construction site. Cyclists pass through five massive tunnels carved into red-rock cliffs, with spectacular views of Lake Mead glimmering below. The grade may be gentle but the desert sun is fierce, so carry plenty of water and start early. For history buffs, interpretive panels along the way detail how the railroad transformed the Southwest during the 1930s dam project.

Your Boulder City cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Coffee Cup Café – Known as "The Cup," this Route 66-style spot in downtown Boulder City serves up hearty breakfast eats with bike-friendly patio seating.
• Outdoor Highlight: Lake Mead National Recreation Area – Experience scenic overlooks and desert trails in spring and fall, or enjoy kayaking and swimming along Boulder Beach in summer.
• Indoor Highlight: Hoover Dam Visitor Center – Explore this iconic dam’s construction story and enjoy the view from its observation decks just minutes from the trail’s endpoint.

6. Stay near Park City, UT, and ride the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail

Linked to the mining and railroad boom of the late 19th century, the 28-mile Union Pacific Rail Trail begins in Park City (just a short drive from nearby Salt Lake City) and winds northeast through Wanship and Coalville to Echo Reservoir. While this area was more noteable for its gold mining, this particular railbed once carried coal and silver ore, then later repurposed into the multi-use trail it is today. Riders will enjoy a gentle descent from about 6,500 feet into high-desert wetlands, spotting beaver dams and bald eagles, while interpretive plaques mark the mining-and-railroad history along the way. 

Your Park City cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Urban Sailor Coffee – Find this specialty coffee roaster and café near the trail, offering high-quality espresso and pastries, as well as outdoor seating and bike racks .
• Outdoor Highlight: Echo Sate Park – Located at the northern end of the trail, this scenic spot offers calm water views, lakeside picnic spots, and easy boating or fishing access.
• Indoor Highlight: Park City Museum – Located downtown, this family-friendly museum features Park City’s mining and railroad roots through interractive exhibits.

7. Stay near Prescott, AZ, and ride the Peavine National Recreation Trail

The Peavine National Recreation Trail follows the grade of the old Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railway for about 6 miles through one of the Southwest’s most dramatic landscapes. Starting just outside downtown Prescott, the crushed-granite path winds past towering boulders of the Granite Dells along the shores of Watson Lake. It connects seamlessly with the Iron King Trail (another rails to trails project) at the “Point of Rocks,” where you’ll experience a slightly more challenging 12.5-mile round-trip trek that crosses old trestles and sandstone cuts between Prescott Valley and the dells. Just be aware that both trails can get rocky in spots, so plan accordingly.

Your Prescott cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Soul Ride Bike Shop & Taproom – This women-owned bike shop features a back patio taproom serving beer, wine and snacks—an ideal post-ride hangout spot.
• Outdoor Highlight: Watson Lake Park – Directly off the trail, you'll enjoy views of the granite dells, shimmering blue water, and kayaking when the weather's right.
• Indoor Highlight: Sharlot Hall Museum – Experience Arizona history and heritage with gardens, interactive exhibits, historic buildings and more spread across 4 beautiful acres.

8. Stay in Missoula, MT, and ride the Milwaukee Trail

The Milwaukee Trail brings rail-to-trail history right into the heart of Missoula. Stretching nearly 6 miles one way, this paved greenway traces the original Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad route through the city, linking downtown with residential neighborhoods, parks, and the Clark Fork River Trail system. It’s one of Montana’s most popular urban trails, offering easy access to local cafés, public art, and scenic bridges that showcase Missoula’s lively outdoor culture. You can hop on the trail at Russell Street, Orange Street, or the Kim Williams Nature Trail junction near the University of Montana campus.

Your Missoula cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Dog & Bicycle Bakery Café – Local favorite for espresso and fresh pastries, with a dog and cyclist-friendly patio space right off the trail.
• Outdoor Highlight: Caras Park – Home of the historic Missoula Carousel, relgular events, and Brennan’s Wave—an engineered surf break where kayakers and surfers can ride the current.
• Indoor Highlight: Missoula Art Museum – Explore this completely free modern art museum housed in a 1903 Carnegie Library downtown.

9. Stay in Casper, WY, and ride the Casper Rail Trail

The Casper Rail Trail offers a welcoming blend of urban recreation with some Old West charm. This 5.5-mile paved corridor traces the path of the former Chicago & North Western Railroad through the heart of Casper, connecting downtown shops and cafés with green spaces and top kid-friendly stops like Crossroads Adventure Park. It’s the perfect fit for casual cyclists and families exploring on two wheels. You’ll find interpretive panels highlighting the city’s railroad roots and oil-boom history, as well as colorful murals and public art along the way. For more mileage, you can connect seamlessly with the Platte River Trails system—a longer, more scenic ride that follows the river westward toward the mountains.

Your Casper cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Metro Coffee Company – Friendly downtown space serving classic coffee, inventive drinks, and local pastries with plenty of outdoor seating.
• Outdoor Highlight: David Street Station – Join locals at this community hub in downtown Casper featuring a splash pad, open-air concerts, farmers markets, seasonal ice skating, and more.
• Indoor Highlight: National Historic Trails Interpretive Center – This engaging museum features family-friendly, hands-on exhibits about America’s westward expansion.

10. Stay in Denver, CO, and ride the Cherry Creek Trail

Starting from Confluence Park in downtown Denver, the Cherry Creek Trail follows the corridor of a historic Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad spur. Today, this 42-mile paved pathway transitions from an urban greenway into open prairie, resulting one of Colorado’s most dynamic rides. You'll roll over bridges and through shaded sections lined with colorful murals, public art, and plenty of green spaces under Denver’s skyline. Beyond the city center, the route meanders right past the shoreline of Cherry Creek Reservoir, where paddleboarders and picnickers gather in summer. The gentle rail-grade slope, smooth surface, and easy access to rest areas make this an exceptional ride for all skill levels.

Your Denver cycling adventure

• Bike-Friendly Stop: Stowaway Kitchen – A cyclist-favorite brunch and coffee spot in Denver’s RiNo District with outdoor seating, fresh local fare, and easy trail access via 29th Street.
• Outdoor Highlight: Cherry Creek State Park – The trail’s scenic centerpiece with beaches, wildlife viewing, paddleboard rentals, and open-space rides under cottonwoods.
• Indoor Highlight: Denver Museum of Nature & Science – Found on the trail in City Park, you'll enjoy interactive natural history exhibits and panoramic mountain views from the rooftop deck.