List of rail trails

Cyclists on the Otago Central Rail Trail, in Otago, New Zealand

Rail trails are former railway lines that have been converted to paths designed for pedestrian, bicycle, equestrian and/or light motorised traffic. Most are shared-use paths, offering at least pedestrians and cyclists recreational access and right-of-way to the routes.[1]

Rail trails around the world longer than 0.1 miles (161 m) include the following:

Asia

Burma

Israel

  • The Jerusalem Railway Park.

Japan

  • Kōchi Aki Bicycle Path 高知安芸自転車道 on the former "Tosa Electric Railway Aki Line".[2]
  • Maple Yaba Cycling Road メイプル耶馬サイクリングロード from Nakatsu to the Morizane Hot Springs in Yamakuni.[3]

Malaysia/Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

Europe

Austria

A more complete reference can be found at www.bahntrassenradeln.de.[8]

Belgium

Croatia

Czechia

Denmark

Finland

France

France had rail trails with a total length of 7,044 km (4,377 mi) as at November 2025. More projects are being planned or under construction; these are some already in place:

Germany

There were 613 rail trails with a total length of 4,400 km (2,734 mi) in September 2013; eighty more projects are being planned or under construction. These are some of the longest rail trails:

  • Bahnradweg Hessen with a total length of 250 km (155 mi) following old tracks of the Vogelsbergbahn, Vogelsberger Südbahn, Biebertalbahn and Ulstertalbahn.
  • Bockl-Radweg in Bavaria with a total length of 45 km (28 mi) on the old track, from Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab to Eslarn
  • Freital East–Possendorf railway line was a standard-gauge branch line near Dresden, in Saxony
  • Maare-Mosel-Radweg with 39 km (24 mi) on the old trackbed
  • Nordbahntrasse trail crosses the city of Wuppertal 23 km (14 mi)[13]
  • Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg, with 44 km (27 mi) on the former trackbed
  • Schinderhannes-Radweg, with 36 km (22 mi) on the former trackbed of the Hunsrück Railway
  • Vennbahn[14] trail is a cross-border trail between Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, which follows the route of the former Vennbahn railway line for approximately 130 km (81 mi) from the city of Aachen through the High Fens – Eifel Nature Park and the Ardennes to Troisvierges.

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Norway

Poland

Portugal

  • Ecopista do Rio Minho
  • Ecovia do Rio Lima
  • Ecopista do Tâmega
  • Ecopista do Dão.

Slovenia

Spain

  • Senda del oso, Asturias
  • Vía Verde de la Sierra (mountain's rail track), Cádiz and Seville
  • Vía Verde de la Sierra de la Demanda, Burgos
  • Vía Verde de Ojos Negros, Valencia and Teruel
  • Girona - narrow gauge railway route 1: this 57 km (35 mi) route crosses three regions and twelve towns, following the valleys of the Fluvià, Brugent and Ter rivers. The trail descends smoothly from Olot (440 m (1,444 ft)) to Girona (70 m (230 ft))
  • Girona - narrow gauge railway route 2: The trail is 40 kilometres (25 mi) long. With a smooth incline from Girona to Sant Feliu de Guíxols (15 m (49 ft)), its highest point is at Cassà de la Selva (136 m (446 ft)). From Girona to Sant Feliu, it passes through the Gironès and the Baix Empordà; from the Ter River basin, it crosses the Selva depression and ends in the Ridaura valley.

Sweden

  • Banvallsleden[22] (c. 150 km (93 mi))
  • Sjuhäradsrundan Borås to Ulricehamn (45 km (28 mi))
  • Ätradalsleden Falköping to Ambjörnarp (93 km (58 mi)).

United Kingdom

England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Crown dependencies

North America

Bermuda

Canada

Mexico

United States

Oceania

Australia

Rails trails of significant length include:

NameStateLengthLocation Accessibility Ref
WalkingMountain bikingHorse ridingTouring hybrid cyclingFour wheel drivingWheelchair suitablePram suitableIn-line skating and scootersTwo wheel drive followingDogs on leash allowed
Munda Biddi TrailWestern Australia1,060 km (660 mi)20 km (12 mi) west of Perth (northern end point) ●● [72]
Great Victorian Rail TrailVictoria134 km (83 mi)110 km (68 mi) north of Melbourne ●●●●●● [73]
Brisbane Valley Rail TrailQueensland161 km (100 mi)70 km (43 mi) west of Brisbane ●●● [74]
Murray to the Mountains Rail TrailVictoria116 km (72 mi)250 km (160 mi) north-east of Melbourne ●●●●● [75]
East Gippsland Rail TrailVictoria94 km (58 mi)280 km (170 mi) east of Melbourne ●●●● [76]
Kilkivan - Kingaroy Rail TrailQueensland89 km (55 mi)225 km (140 mi) north-west of Brisbane ●●●●● [77][78]
Railway Reserves Heritage TrailWestern Australia82 km (51 mi)19 km (12 mi) east of Perth ●●● [79]
Great Southern Rail Trail and Tarra TrailVictoria74 km (46 mi)130 km (81 mi) east of Melbourne ●●●●●● [80]
High Country Rail TrailVictoria65 km (40 mi)300 km (190 mi) north-east of Melbourne ●●●●● [81]
Gippsland Plains Rail TrailVictoria63 km (39 mi)190 km (120 mi) east of Melbourne ●●●● [82]
Ballarat-Skipton Rail TrailVictoria57 km (35 mi)110 km (68 mi) north-west of Melbourne ●●● [83]
Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Rail TrailQueensland55 km (34 mi)190 km (120 mi) south-west of Cairns ●●● [84]
Denmark to Nornalup Rail TrailWestern Australia54.5 km (33.9 mi)415 km (258 mi) south of Perth ●●● [85]
The Reisling and Rattler TrailSouth Australia54 km (34 mi)130 km (81 mi) north of Adelaide ●●●●● [86]
O'Keefe Rail TrailVictoria50 km (31 mi)150 km (93 mi) north-east of Melbourne ●●● [87]
Old Beechy Rail TrailVictoria50 km (31 mi)152 km (94 mi) south-west of Melbourne ●● [88]

New Zealand

Notes

  1. ↑ See Italy subsection.
  2. ↑ Some of its route follows the trackbed of former railway lines, such as Lôn Las Menai, Lôn Eifion, the Mawddach Trail and the Taff Trail; in other places, the route is on public highways.

References

  1. ↑ (PDF) Final Draft July, 2006 The Indiana State Trails, Greenways and Bikeways Plan Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine at Indiana Trails Plan (DNR)
  2. ↑ Along the Pacific coast on the Shikoku island
  3. ↑ Cycling through the Yaba Valley, Kyushu.
  4. ↑ Rail trail on the old Jungang Line.
  5. ↑ Cycling on the DongFeng / HuoFeng Green Way
  6. ↑ Cycling from Tanzi to Daya in Taichung City
  7. ↑ Gentle Bike Ride in Taoyuan.
  8. ↑ "Bahntrassenradeln in Österreich". Bahntrassenradeln.de.
  9. ↑ "Ravel". Ravel.wallonie.be.
  10. ↑ "Ligne 160: Bruxelles - Tervuren" (in French and Dutch). Retrieved 2 March 2007.
  11. ↑ "Fodsporet". Fodsporet.dk (in Dk).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  12. ↑ "Horsens silkeborg kort" (PDF) (in Dk). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  13. ↑ "Nordbahntrasse". Wuppertalbewegung.de.
  14. ↑ Vennbahn
  15. ↑ "The Connemara Greenway project". Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Limerick Greenway: Walking, Cycling or Hiking". Southerntrail.net. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Great Western Greenway". Greenway.ie. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  18. ↑ "Old Rail Trail". Visit Westmeath. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Tralee to Fenit Greenway". Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Waterford Greenway". Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  21. ↑ http://www.riservavalrosandra-glinscica.it/en/living-reserve/itineraries/cycle-and-foot-path-ex-railway
  22. ↑ "Banvallsleden - på cykel" (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  23. ↑ "Alban Way". Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Bryce, Roger (23 February 2023). "(Walk) Godley to Apethorne Junction and Woodley". Rchs.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Blackwater Rail Trail". Friends-of-the-flitch-way.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Welcome to the Path". Bristol and Bath Railway Path. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Bure Valley Path". Norfolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  28. 1 2 "The Saddleworth Rail Trail". Visitmanchester.com. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Welcome to Drake's Trail". Drakestrail.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "Ebury Way". Chilterns Natural Landscape. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "What is the Fallowfield Loop?". Friends of the Fallowfield Loop. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  32. ↑ "The Flitch Way". Friends-of-the-flitch-way.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  33. ↑ "Okehampton to Lydford: The Granite Way". BBC Devon. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "Great Central Walk Rugby". Industrial Tour. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  35. ↑ Vince, Richard (20 January 2024). "Great Central Way, Leicester". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  36. ↑ Knights, David (22 September 2016). "Cullingworth councillors check out state of Great Northern RailwayTrail following nearby building work". Keighley News. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  37. ↑ Knights, David. "Harborne Walkway (Friends of)". Bosf.org.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  38. ↑ "Hayling Billy Trail". Havant Borough Council. Archived from the original on 16 April 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  39. ↑ "High Peak Trail". Peakdistrict.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "Honeybourne Line walking route" (PDF). RaceWeek2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  41. ↑ "Hull to Winestead Rail Trail". Eastridingcoastandcountryside.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  42. ↑ "The Isabel Trail". Geograph. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "Kenilworth Greenway". Visit Kenilworth. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "Keswick Railway Path". Lakedistrict.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  45. ↑ "Lakenham Way Greenway". Walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  46. ↑ "Longdendale Trail". Visitpeakdistrict.com. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  47. ↑ "Manifold Way". Peakdistrict.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  48. ↑ "About Marriott's Way". Norfolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "Middlewood Way". Cheshire East Council. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  50. ↑ "Millennium Greenway". Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "Monsal Trail". Peakdistrict.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  52. ↑ "Newham Trail". Truroloops.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  53. ↑ "Nickey Line - Introduction". Friends of the Nickey Line. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  54. ↑ "Nidderdale Greenway". Hedgehogcycling.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  55. ↑ "Welcome to the Parkland Walk". Friends of the Parkland Walk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  56. ↑ "Sett Valley Trail". Derbyshire County Council. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  57. ↑ "Sewell / Public Rights of Way". Houghton Regis Town Council. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  58. ↑ "Southwell Trail". Nottinghamshire County Council. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  59. ↑ "Spen Valley Greenway". Cyclebradford.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  60. ↑ "Stockley Trail". Derbyshire County Council. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  61. ↑ "Stroud Valleys Trail". Walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  62. ↑ "Tissington Trail". Peakdistrict.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  63. ↑ "Dunford Bridge to Wortley (TPT - via Penistone)". Visitpenistone.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  64. ↑ Owen, Sue. "Sandy-Bedford via the Disused Railway". Walks.walkingworld.com. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  65. ↑ "Water Rail Way". Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  66. 1 2 "Weavers' Way (Cromer to Great Yarmouth)". Norfolk County Council. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  67. ↑ "Wirral Way". Visit Cheshire. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  68. ↑ "Rail Trails (UK)". Cobr.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  69. ↑ "Walks and wildlife at Greenfield Valley". Greenfieldvalley.com. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  70. ↑ "Good news for Gowerton as new link opens up Gower to cyclists and walkersy". Swansea Council. 11 September 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  71. ↑ "Ciclovia" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 June 2014.
  72. ↑ "Munda Biddi Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  73. ↑ "Great Victorian Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  74. ↑ "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  75. ↑ "Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  76. ↑ "East Gippsland Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  77. ↑ "Kilkivan - Kingaroy Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  78. ↑ Mcgrath, Jessica (28 March 2018). "What's on: 20 things to do in the South Burnett this Easter". South Burnett Times. News Corp. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  79. ↑ "Railway Reserves Heritage Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  80. ↑ "Great Southern Rail Trail and Tarra Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  81. ↑ "High Country Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  82. ↑ "Gippsland Plains Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  83. ↑ "Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  84. ↑ "Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  85. ↑ "Denmark to Nornalup Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  86. ↑ "The Riesling and Rattler Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  87. ↑ "O'Keefe Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  88. ↑ "Old Beechy Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.