All of a sudden, rail biking is the cool way to explore the great outdoors. It’s the soft adventure trend that most anyone can get in on, too. All you do is pedal a custom-made rail cart—also known as a rail explorers—along an abandoned or heritage railway, which is track set aside for scenic or historic train rides. It’s a fun, human-powered adventure that rewards rail bike riders with breathtaking views across sparkling lakes, rolling meadows, sandy coastlines, and lush forests.
  
In summer, guests pedal a two-person railbike with Revolution Rail Co. in Kennebunkport, Maine. Photo courtesy of Revolution Rail Co.
    

While it may seem like rail biking is just gaining steam (pun intended), rail carts have been around since at least the mid-1800s. They were once used by railroad workers for track maintenance. The primary difference, however, is that yesterday’s rail carts required standing up and using a push-down, pull-up handle.
  

Today’s rail bikes have a sit-down, side-by-side recumbent design with foot pedals, and in some cases, electric, pedal-assist capabilities. Like the original rail carts, rail bikes have hydraulic disc brakes and four wheels, though on some rail explorers, the steel wheels have been replaced with durable polyurethane wheels.
   
 In fall, guests pedal across a 90-foot-tall trestle bridge with Revolution Rail Co. near Lake George, New York. Photo courtesy of Revolution Rail Co.

  
Rail biking is a low-impact exercise for children and adults, as well as those of varying fitness levels. With rail biking, you don’t need to worry about balancing or steering. All you do is pedal, so your hands are free to take photos of the scenery as you roll along the rail trail.
 

Rail bike rides can be any distance, but the average route is between 3 – 10 miles. Some rail trails are longer—up to 25 miles—and may even tack on extra activities, like paddling or pumpkin picking. Most rail bike adventures set off by day, but a few begin at night, so you can savor a full moon or a sky alight with stars.

Ready to ride a rail bike or give rail explorers a try? Here are a five places where you can experience the thrill of rail biking.
   
Guests pedal on a four-person railbike in fall along the Hudson River on a tour with Revolution Rail Co. in New York. Photo courtesy of Revolution Rail Co.
   

1. TRACKS AND YAKS (FROSTBURG & BERLIN, MD)

In 2021, Maryland’s Tracks and Yaks was the first to offer rail bike tours, and today they sell out more than a half dozen excursions that run from 6 – 15 miles with departures from Frostburg and Berlin. In Frostburg, the tracks parallel the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile rail trail that connects Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD, offering scenic views across the Allegheny Mountains. Several rail bike tours tack on kayaking on the Potomac River. In Berlin, rail riders enjoy pedaling across farmland and forest.
  

2. REVOLUTION RAIL CO. (VARIOUS LOCATIONS)

Revolution Rail Co. offers guided rail bike tours across the Northeast, booking scenic excursions in New York, New Jersey, and Maine. They also book rail bike adventures in South Fork, CO. Tours range from 3.5 – 14 miles and feature trestle bridges, scenic foliage, and mountain views. Some tours pair rail biking with river tubing. During the fall season, tours combine a rail bike ride with pumpkin picking.
 
In fall, guests pedal on a four-person railbike on a tour with Revolution Rail Co. near Lake George, New York. Photo courtesy of Revolution Rail Co.
   

3. PENNSYLVANIA RAIL BIKE (HAWLEY, PA)

Pennsylvania Rail Bike boasts a fleet of custom-made rail explorers that allow participants to delight in 10- and 20-mile guided excursions in the scenic Pocono Mountains. The signature ride is the "Feel the Power Tour" that takes guests on rail bikes along the Lackawaxen River to the Brookfield Hydroelectric Power Plant. Seasonal tours feature ice cream and sunset happy hours.
  
Guests pedal railbikes on a moonlight tour with Revolution Rail Co. in South Fork, Colorado. Photo courtesy of Revolution Rail Co.
  

4. RAIL EXPLORERS USA (VARIOUS LOCATIONS)

Rail Explorers USA offers tours on 2- and 4-person pedal-assist rail bikes in six locations, including Milford, NY, and Versailles, KY. Tours range from 4 – 12 miles, and of course, the scenery depends on the location. In Kentucky, a 10-mile tour boasts views of thoroughbred horse farms, while the 6-mile Rhode Island tour wows rail riders with stunning views across Narragansett Bay.
 

5. RAIL BIKE ADVENTURES (LACONIA, NH)

In New Hampshire, Rail Bike Adventures books 5-mile rail bike tours on a rail trail that dates to 1848 and boasts views across Lake Winnisquam as rail riders pedal between Laconia and Belmont. The company offers daytime rail bike tours, as well as sunset pedals in summer on custom-made rail bikes made for two or four riders.