The Pacific Crest Trail made famous by the book and movie, Wild might have some competition. The East Coast Greenway is a 3,000-mile path from Maine to Florida, offering new inspiration for people looking for a challenge or a way to heal. The trail has been in the works since 1991 with the dedicated team of the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) at the helm. The route continues to grow with turn by turn signage scheduled for installation by the end of 2020. (1)

A Continuous Path

The goal of the ECGA was to piece together the 3,000-mile path connecting local trails along the Eastern coast. “It’s exciting to see the progress and see people experiencing the Greenway for themselves,” says ECGA Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano. “We continue this march to become the most popular park in the country.” (1)

The continuous path provides a protected route for cyclists, runners, cross-country skiers, horseback riders and wheelchair users. Spanning 15 states each mile costs in the area of $1 million. The federal government partnered with the states and cities along the route for funding. (2,1)

Relieving Gridlock

According to Markatos-Soriano the Greenway is worth the investment. “It’s not just building more connection,” he says. “It’ll relieve gridlock from busy roads, bring more enjoyment and health to people’s lives, enhance tourism and increase property values.” (1)

The 3,000-mile path travels between busy city life and peaceful trails helping the ECGA meet their goals. “We’re trying to go to the doorsteps of where people live and from there provide great access to the outdoors,” says Markatos-Soriano. (1)

While the Greenway is designed to provide a safe route to local destinations and people of all ages, there are some challenges. Many sections of the 3,000-mile path are quite busy with heavy traffic, which makes them less suitable for small children. However, families can enjoy the shorter sections that have been completed on the trail. (1)

Inspired Travel

Much like the Pacific Crest Trail, the Greenway has already attracted people with personal challenges to overcome including Florida cyclist Stefanie Boewe. Following a collapsed lung, she read about the Greenway and was inspired to visit the trail. “I thought, ‘If I ever recover from this, I’m going to tell these lungs that they can’t say what I can and cannot do,’” Boewe says. In 2017 she headed out with her dog Murf traveling the entire Greenway in 89 days. She is one of the first to complete the trail. (1)

After the loss of his sister, Brett Bramble decided to walk the Greenway in 2018. His sister died of a drug overdose in 2014 and he wanted to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic. He was joined by his dog Domino and close friend John Azerolo. As the first to complete the trail on foot, they walked about 20 miles a day over a six-month period. As a result, they raised $30,000 to build an addiction treatment center in Georgia. (1)

Bike & Build

Nora Jane Montgomery, of North Carolina also took to the Greenway in the name of charity. She traveled with a team of 15 volunteers, for nonprofit organization Bike & Build. Traveling about 60 miles a day, they stopped in 15 cities to build affordable housing along the way.  “We usually ride East Coast to West Coast,” Montgomery says. “This was our first year on the Greenway, and we’re super excited about it.” (1)

The East Coast Greenway is offering sustainable transportation for 450 communities along the east coast. Hopefully, it will also help create a tourist opportunity where people can view new destinations and experience both natural and urban attractions. (2, 1)