Experience Trails
Learn more about how to enjoy your trail experience below or visit TrailLink for trail-specific information.
Iowa's High Trestle Trail | Photo by Trailink user jguttormsson
Across the country, trails are part of the fabric of the American landscape. While trails are loved as places for people to enjoy the outdoors, connecting with friends and family, they also deliver countless benefits to the communities they serve. Since its founding in 1986, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has played a central role in the massive growth of the trails and active transportation movement—a movement that has grown thanks to trail advocates and trail users alike.
As the national voice of the trails movement, RTC shines a spotlight on the entire trails experience—encouraging people to make trail use part of their daily life, celebrating exemplary trails and the heroes who make them possible, providing resources for people to find and access trails, and inspiring movement.
RTC's flagship initiatives—the Great American Rail-Trail™, TrailNation™ and TrailLink.com—bring that strategy to life, connecting millions of people by trail.
Great American Rail-Trail
The Great American Rail-Trail is RTC's flagship initiative to create a multiuse trail that stretches more than 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C., and Washington State. View the preferred route map or take action to support the trail.
TrailLink by RTC
RTC's TrailLink website and mobile app is the premier trail-finder website in the nation, which to date has documented 40,000+ miles of multiuse trails around the country. Find a trail near your using the search below.
Trail Stories
Our Trail Blog shares trail stories about the transformative power of trails, encouraging their use and generating demand. View Trail of the Month features, Top 10 Trails by State features and more.
Our Trail Moments initiative lifts up the voices and experiences of diverse trail users across the country, centering on real people and their stories of how trails add value to their lives. Since its September 2020 launch, more than 2,000 people have shared their stories in English and in Spanish.
Rails to Trails magazine is published four times a year—three in print, one digital—by RTC. Subscribe now to get special features on remarkable rail-trails and trail-networks while also supporting RTC's work.
Hosted on the third Saturday of April, Celebrate Trails Day is an annual spring celebration of America’s trails. Started by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in 2013, the celebration encourages people all across the country to get outside and enjoy the nation’s exceptional trails and trail systems. Save the date for April 27, 2024.
The Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champions Award honors supporters who have made significant contributions to the rail-trail movement through their work, volunteerism or support.
Since 2007, RTC has recognized rail-trails around the country through the Hall of Fame, honoring scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, excellence in management and community connections.
Trail of the Month Blog Features
Share the Trail
Be nice. Trails are for everyone.
Remember, every amazing trail experience begins with you! Watch our award-winning video series to learn the six Golden Rules of trail use—you can help make every trip safe and fun for everyone.
Benefits of Trails
Learn about the benefits of trails including provide health and wellness, economic revitalization, environmental, transportation options and improved quality of life, and heritage preservation and community identity benefits.
Our 19 sojourns in six states and Washington, D.C., infused the regions they toured with a total of approximately $2 million—helping to fuel trailside businesses and powering the local economies.
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