Distinctly Montana Magazine

DISTINCTLY MONTANA MAGAZINE • WINTER 2022-23 16 A bandoned railroads are a whole mood: romantic, mysterious, and terrifying, they have inspired no shortage of movies, novels, and waiting room artwork. But it turns out artistic inspiration is not a defunct rail line's only use. Abandoned lines have been having a bit of a renaissance—not as thoroughfares for trains, but as multi-use trails for pedestrians, cyclists, eques- trians, and cross-country skiers. Per the Montana Department of Transportation, 14 railroad companies have gone defunct over the course of the state's his- tory. The exact mileage of unused or abandoned line appears unclear, but given that Montana retains about 3,300 miles of active rail line, it can be surmised that at least several hundred miles have fallen into disuse over the decades. Many local governments have been able to acquire easement rights to unused rail lines with the help of the D.C.-based non- profit Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC). RTC sees unused rail corridors as a source of untapped potential for communities. Why spend money on carving out a new bike path when a perfectly serviceable thoroughfare is already there? A rail-trail encourages outdoor recreation for residents and visitors of all abilities, show- cases local history, and stimulates the local economy. By investing in the development and maintenance of old rail- road corridors, communities across Montana are investing in the community-building potential of these unsung historic re- sources. What's more, their investment is your gain. There are dozens of beautiful rail-trails across the state for you to enjoy year-round. They tend to be flat, wide, and incredibly scenic pretty much by default. Many stay plowed in the winter, so you can enjoy the trails no matter the season. RIVER'S EDGE TRAIL GREAT FALLS, MONTANA LENGTH: 55 miles ADA ACCESSIBLE? Yes, in paved areas (3 miles concrete; 20 miles asphalt) HIGHLIGHTS: Vivendi Site, Boston and Montana Barn, Tenth Street Bridge Hugging both sides of the Missouri River, the River's Edge Trail in Great Falls was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2018 for good reason. River's Edge Trail offers unparalleled views of ABANDONED RAIL LINES HAVE BEEN HAVING A RENAISSANCE AS MULTI-USE TRAILS FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, EQUESTRIANS, AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIERS.

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