In last week’s blog I wrote about the increasing popularity of hiking all across the United States. In researching that topic, I came across some innovative programs that support and promote hiking in urban areas by encouraging the use of public transportation to reach trails. For those who don’t own a car or for visitors from out of town, public transit provides access to the great outdoors, and for those who do have a personal vehicle, a bus or light rail ride frees up the parking at crowded, popular trailheads.

Just last summer in Seattle, a pilot program, sponsored by King County Parks and the region’s Metro Transit, provided shuttles on weekends and holidays to trailheads. King County encompasses over 2,000 square miles, stretching from Puget Sound east nearly to the Cascade Mountain crest and many miles north and south of Seattle, and includes forests, lakes, mountains and wetlands as well as densely populated urban zones. Popular trailhead parking lots often fill quickly, and hikers park alongside roadways, making for dangerous situations.

The Trailhead Direct program, as it is known, alleviates that issue while expanding access to trails. Last year it served about 900 people (an average of 40/day on weekends from August to October), charging the standard fare for a Metro ride of $2.50 for adults and operating from a couple of Park and Ride lots on a couple of different routes to popular trails. The program, coming in under budget, proved highly popular, and this year starts next weekend and will again run through October. Pick-up locations will be expanding and more trailheads will be served, with the price increasing only to $2.75 in July during the peak hiking season and shuttles running every 30 minutes.

But similar “Hike by Bus” programs are available across the country. Check local public transit websites for special programs or search with key words such as “trails” and “hiking.” City and regional travel/tourism websites may also provide links and information on accessing the outdoors via public transit. Below are some websites and/or apps which provide similar information all across the country. Most provide basic details for free; access to detailed maps of trails and more may require a membership fee for some.

alltrails.com  Type in a city name, and a map with identified trails pops up. You can sort by difficulty, length, elevation gain, route type (loop, point to point), suitability (kid- or dog-friendly, wheelchair accessible), ratings and more.

TOTAGO (Turn Off the App — Go Outside) This app and website covers major cities from San Diego to New York City. Choose a hike from the pushpins on the map and get a summary of the hike (distance, difficulty, duration) as well as the nearest bus stop and transit time to get there. It offers links for additional information and planning your trip via public transportation or private vehicle.

trails.com  Searching by city brings up a “Best of” list with key info about each trail: length, duration, trail surface and notable features. Click on individual trails for more in-depth information.

Transit & Trails  Both a website and iPhone or Android app, it locates trailheads near you and provides directions on how to get there on public transportation or by foot, bike or car. You can also share your experiences on the app or social media.

And here’s one more, a specific trail option in my hometown of Portland, Ore., which weaves three different modes of public transportation with foot trails through the West Hills of the city: the 4T Trail. Start at the Oregon Zoo, hoof it uphill on forested Trails to Council Crest (highest point in the city at 1,073 feet), descend to the Oregon Health and Science University and ride the Portland Aerial Tram down to the South Waterfront neighborhood, hop the Trolley (the Portland Streetcar) back to the center of town, and then take the MAX light rail Train back up to your starting point (or do it all in reverse). It combines vigorous exercise with lovely views of the city and exposes you to its street art, food carts and other popular sites along the way.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor