Rails to Trails Family Hiking and Biking in Redding, California

Reclaimed spaces transformed into hiking trails are perfect for family adventures. Many are multiuse, meaning walkers, hikers and bicyclists are all welcome to make use of managed systems that provide an assortment of opportunities to explore a region or specific locale.

In Redding, California, the Sacramento River Rail Trail and Sacramento River Trail have earned inclusion in the Rails-to-Trails (RTC) Conservancy Hall of Fame. Together, these trails — a former Central Pacific Railroad corridor — offer 21 miles along the stunning river, positioned beneath the Cascade and Trinity mountains.

“Across the country, connected trail systems are proving their significance as essential community assets — creating safe space for people to be active outside, connecting neighbors and neighborhoods, and creating more transportation and mobility options for entire regions,” said Ryan Chao, president, RTC. “This year’s Hall of Fame nominees were examples of exceptional trails that are fundamental to our vision of a future where trails connect everyone, everywhere. The Sacramento River Rail Trail and Trail stand out by illustrating the impact of connecting trails in ways that provide opportunities for recreation, transportation and intimate connections to the history and nature steeped in place.”

The newly lauded trails also span the Sundial Bridge, a 700-foot-long, cable-stayed, glass and steel working sundial linking the two sides of the Upper Sacramento River. The paths are also near the City of Redding, with access to the Shasta Lake Recreation Area and the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.