While every trail offers its own unique experience, there are some that are so extraordinary that they truly rise to the top.

In the spring, when the corn shoots up from the ground and the trees are full of life again, the Nickel Plate Trail really becomes a thing of beauty.

We thought it was a great time to present five simple tips for long-distance trail rides, specifically for first time riders.

The Brays Bayou Greenway Trail, which spans more than 30 miles, connecting several parks and running just a couple blocks north of NRG Stadium, where this year’s Super Bowl is taking place.

It’s hard to pick a favorite season to experience the Hop River State Park Trail, set amidst the dense forests of Eastern Connecticut. Sections of the 20-mile rail-trail dive through steep rock cuts that seep moisture.

Here are 10 winter Rail-Trails so you can enjoy trails in different ways such as fat tire biking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

Just in time for the holidays, a stunning new rail-trail has arrived in Missouri. Opening Dec. 10, the 47.5-mile Rock Island Trail State Park is notable for its length.

Missouri’s Katy Trail supports small businesses across the state and serves as a model for other rail-trail projects nationwide.

About 35 miles north of Flint, the 7-mile Saginaw County to Bay County Connector joins the 17.5-mile Bay County Riverwalk to Saginaw County, where it will link up to the 2-mile Zilwaukee Pathway

Northeast Washington’s Ferry County Rail Trail winds through a forested valley carved by the pristine Kettle River, passes through an otherworldly rock tunnel and crosses a 770-foot trestle that skims over a vast lake.