There’s a reason cyclists are obsessed with old railway lines. Long after the whistles fade and the tracks are pulled up, these corridors retain everything riders love: gentle grades, sweeping curves, epic tunnels, and a sense of motion through landscape rather than over it. Rail-trails don’t fight geography—they cooperate with it. And across the world, some of the best cycling routes now follow paths originally engineered for steam and steel.
Here are some of the standout rail trails around the world for a glimpse of how incredible they are, each offering a different flavor of cycling history and place.
Le P’tit Train du Nord (Québec, Canada)
Québec’s flagship rail-trail runs roughly 240 km through the Laurentians, north of Montréal. Once a railway serving logging towns and resorts, the corridor is now a four-season cycling route linking villages, lakes, and forests.
The name—“The Little Train of the North”—feels apt. The trail has a relaxed, human scale, with cafés, bike shops, and accommodations built into the rhythm of the ride. The gentle gradients and superb surface make it ideal for everyone from casual day-trippers to long-distance tourers. It’s long enough for a proper tour but welcoming enough to tempt riders who prefer a shorter, scenic day out.
P’tit Train du Nord in Quebec
Kettle Valley Rail Trail (British Columbia, Canada)
Few rail-trails deliver drama quite like British Columbia’s Kettle Valley Rail Trail. Originally built to serve mining and logging operations, the line snakes through the southern interior, crossing deep canyons on wooden trestles and boredom through rugged rock.
The section between Kelowna and Penticton is especially popular, combining vineyard views, desert-like terrain, and vertiginous bridges. Iconic structures such as the Myra Canyon trestles offer spectacular views that look almost cinematic from the saddle. While some parts of the trail are gravel or rougher surface, they’re well worth the adventure for riders prepared for a slightly more challenging experience. It’s a Canadian classic that blends wilderness and culture in one unforgettable ride.
Cycling the Myra Canyon section of the Kettle Valley Railway near Kelowna (photo: Destination BC/Grant Harder)
Alpe Adria Radweg (Italy–Austria)
If there’s a poster child for rail-trail perfection, this might be it. The Alpe Adria Cycle Route follows large sections of the former Pontebbana railway, running from the Austrian Alps down into northern Italy. Between Tarvisio and Venzone, cyclists glide through tunnels and over lofty bridges, surrounded by jagged peaks and dense forest.
The appeal is simple: it’s stunning, and it’s fast. Riders regularly comment on the steady downhill gradient, the smooth surface, and the almost meditative ease of covering distance. This is alpine riding without alpine suffering—a dream route that rewards scenery over sweat.
Alpe Adria Radweg rail trail
Katy Trail (Missouri, USA)
The Katy Trail holds the title of the longest rail-trail in the U.S., running about 400 km across Missouri. Following the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad, it parallels the Missouri River for long stretches, delivering limestone bluffs, wide skies, and constant water views.
Much of the trail is packed limestone rather than pavement, but it’s well-maintained and forgiving. Riders rave about the wildlife, the riverside towns, and the ease of multi-day touring—especially with campgrounds and services spaced conveniently along the way.
Bridge on Missouri’s Katy Trail (photo: Christopher Hammond)
Bristol to Bath Cycle Path & Two Tunnels Greenway (England)
One of the UK’s most beloved rail-trails, the Bristol to Bath path threads 21 km between the two cities on a former railway corridor. The highlight comes just beyond Bath, where the route continues through the Two Tunnels Greenway—two long, illuminated railway tunnels repurposed for cyclists and walkers.
The experience is quietly theatrical: motion-sensor lights, cool air, and the echo of tires where locomotives once thundered. It’s urban, historic, and surprisingly serene, offering a car-free artery deep into city centers.
Bristol to Bath cycling route
Waterford Greenway (Ireland)
Ireland’s Waterford Greenway is often cited as a benchmark for modern rail-trail development. Stretching 46 km from Waterford City to Dungarvan, it follows a former railway line through farmland, along rivers, across towering viaducts, and finally out toward the coast.
The surface is smooth and family-friendly, but the scale is cinematic. Highlights include the Ballyvoile Viaduct and a long tunnel near Dungarvan, both remnants of the original rail infrastructure. It’s a ride that works equally well as a day trip or a leisurely multi-day wander.
Rallarvegen (Norway)
High above the tree line, Norway’s Rallarvegen is a gravel rail-trail built alongside the Bergen Line railway. Originally used by construction workers (“rallare”) during the railway’s construction, it’s now one of Scandinavia’s most iconic cycling routes.
The setting is stark and spectacular: snowfields lingering into summer, mountain lakes, and long, remote stretches where the railway still hums nearby. It’s less polished than some European rail-trails, but that’s part of its appeal.
Otago Central Rail Trail (New Zealand)
New Zealand embraced rail-trail conversions early, and the Otago Central Rail Trail remains its most famous example. Running 150 km through Central Otago, the route links small towns, wide valleys, and historic stone bridges.
It’s a textbook example of how rail-trails can revive rural regions. Former stations now host cafés and lodges, and the steady gradient makes it ideal for riders of all abilities.