Old West New West Magazine – Your Travel & History Guide for Western Adventures. Enjoy Travel Tips, Discounts, Specials, Restaurant Reviews, National Park Information and Much More… http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/travel/trails/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:29:14 +0000 Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management en-us http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20110925560/travel/trails/key-section-added-to-santa-monica-mountains-backbone-trail.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20110925560/travel/trails/key-section-added-to-santa-monica-mountains-backbone-trail.html One of three critical remaining pieces of land necessary to complete the 65-mile Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has been acquired by the National Park Service.

The five-acre property, acquired in September 2011, is along the Etz Meloy Motorway, and is close to a popular lookout that offers a 360-degree view of the ocean, mountains and inland valleys accessible from the Encinal Canyon Trailhead.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:26:22 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20100529391/travel/trails/11-trails-in-the-west-added-to-national-recreation-trails-system.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20100529391/travel/trails/11-trails-in-the-west-added-to-national-recreation-trails-system.html To help mark 2010's National Trails Day on June 5, eight states in the West have had a total of 11 trails designated as National Recreation Trails by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

The new National Recreation Trails in the West, along with 20 additional National Recreation Trails announced on May 25 by Salazar, add more than 716 miles of trails to the National Trails System.

The eight Western states are Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Texas and Washington.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Sat, 29 May 2010 10:00:00 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20100501375/travel/trails/trails-center-marks-10th-anniversary-of-national-landscape-conservation-system-with-exhibit-showcasing-some-of-the-wests-natural-wonders.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20100501375/travel/trails/trails-center-marks-10th-anniversary-of-national-landscape-conservation-system-with-exhibit-showcasing-some-of-the-wests-natural-wonders.html Helping to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), a new exhibit showcasing some of the West's most spectacular landscapes is now on display at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming.

Captured by noted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) photographer Robert Wick, the images feature NLCS sites in Wyoming as well as locations in California, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Sat, 01 May 2010 09:00:00 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20091103298/travel/trails/15-routes-in-the-west-added-to-americas-scenic-highways-program.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20091103298/travel/trails/15-routes-in-the-west-added-to-americas-scenic-highways-program.html Special scenic highway designations have been announced for 15 routes in the West, reflecting either their historic setting or picturesque qualities that travelers should include in their vacation or holiday itineraries.

The new scenic designations in the West, announced by U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, are among 42 new designations to the America's Byways collection, including five All-American Roads (AAR) and 37 National Scenic Byways (NSB) in 26 states. This increases the number of America's Byways to 151.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:14:01 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090901257/travel/trails/new-trail-section-opens-at-whiskeytown-national-recreation-area.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090901257/travel/trails/new-trail-section-opens-at-whiskeytown-national-recreation-area.html A five-mile section of trail through the heart of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in northern California linking Brandy Creek Falls Trail with Boulder Creek Falls Trail is now open, thanks to the hard work of volunteer groups and Student Conservation Association (SCA) summer interns.

The new trail has been under construction since the summer of 2007. A 16-person SCA crew of summer interns worked for nine weeks to construct 2.5 miles of the new trail through the rugged Papoose Pass. A celebration of the completion of the new section was held Aug. 15, 2009.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:50:52 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090704235/travel/trails/battle-of-glorieta-pass-trail-opens-to-the-public.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090704235/travel/trails/battle-of-glorieta-pass-trail-opens-to-the-public.html Some call it the "Gettysburg of the West" while many others don't even know it exists, but the Battle of Glorieta Pass is one of the few American Civil War battle sites found in the West, and now visitors can enjoy its history from the vantage point of a new public trail.

Part of Pecos National Historical Park (www.nps.gov/peco/) located about 25 miles outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Battle of Glorieta Pass Trail opened to the public June 13, 2009 and is the first public trail within the Glorieta Pass Civil War Battlefield Unit of the park.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:44:43 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090617232/travel/trails/love-mountain-biking-give-arkansas-a-try.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090617232/travel/trails/love-mountain-biking-give-arkansas-a-try.html Arkansas is quickly gaining a foothold as one of nation's premier spots for mountain biking.

"I think people don't realize quite yet the sheer amount of riding in Arkansas," said Matt McFee, director and lead guide of Hermosa Tours, based in Durango, Colorado. "Most people think 20- to 30-mile ‘epic' days are a thing only to be found further out West, but in fact, they exist in abundance in Arkansas."
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:40:01 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090531225/travel/trails/4-western-states-have-trails-added-to-national-register.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20090531225/travel/trails/4-western-states-have-trails-added-to-national-register.html The federal government has designated 22 trails in 13 states - including trails in California, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas - as newly recognized National Recreation Trails, adding more than 525 miles of trails to the National Trails System.

"From coast to coast, the National Trails System helps connect American families with the wonders of the outdoors," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. "These new National Recreation Trails, built through partnerships with local communities and stakeholders, will create new opportunities for fitness and stewardship, while creating a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren."
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Sun, 31 May 2009 22:10:23 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20081129160/travel/trails/california-trail-receives-national-recognition.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20081129160/travel/trails/california-trail-receives-national-recognition.html Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has named the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail as the eighth inductee to the group's Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.

The California trail is featured in Rails to Trails magazine and on RTC's Web site, complete with photos and a detailed ride-along description of its scenic views and important community connections.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:27:24 +0000 http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20081020134/travel/trails/island-trail-at-walnut-canyon-national-monument-reopens.html http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/20081020134/travel/trails/island-trail-at-walnut-canyon-national-monument-reopens.html One of the most popular trails in the West, Island Trail at Walnut Canyon National Monument just outside Flagstaff, Arizona, has reopened after being closed since December 2007 due to rock slides.

Two separate rock falls occurred at Walnut Canyon National Monument, depositing a 49-ton boulder, several other large rocks, and 100 additional tons of debris on the primary trail, causing extensive damage. The rock falls completely blocked and damaged the trail, stairs, handrails, and a bench.
]]> Mikeharris@oldwestnewwest.com (Mike Harris) Trails Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:27:38 +0000