Trail Tips and Resources

Photo courtesy Getty Images

Prepare for your next trail visit by checking out these helpful tips and resources organized by activity.

Enjoying Nature - Disfrutar la naturaleza graphic by RTC
Walking and Running - Caminar y correr graphic by RTC
Biking - Ciclismo graphic by RTC
Trail Commuting graphic by RTC
Cold-weather Trail Use - Uso de senderos en climas fríos graphic by RTC
Volunteering - Voluntariado graphic by RTC
Accessibility graphic by RTC
Share The Trail and Recreate Responsibility graphic by RTC

Find A Trail Near You

Did you know that there are more than 40,000 miles of multiuse trails across the county? To find a trail close to you and to access operating information and more, you can use our free trail-guide website and app, TrailLink. 

Find your next trail on TrailLink

or Browse Trails Near You

Or explore some of the top trails in each state on the TrailBlog!

Top 10 Trails By State

View blog features for all 50 US States, DC and Puerto Rico.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail | Photo by Healthy Ride, Pittsburgh Bike Share

View Top 10 Blogs

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Enjoying Nature / Disfrutar la naturaleza

Dungeness River Bridge Area | Photo by John Gussman
Using Trails
Where the Wild Things Go: Exploring Wildlife Corridors Along America’s Trails
July 08, 2024
 Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail | Courtesy of Chelsea Murphy
Using Trails
Trail Moments | Tips for Outdoor Outings With Your Kids
August 04, 2022
 Keith Russell leading a bird walk at Philadelphia's Discovery Center | Photo by Gregory Walker
Using Trails
Trail Moments | By Sight & Sound: Tips for Birding Beginners
May 30, 2022
 Group picnic and flying kites - Photo by Scott Jungling
Using Trails
How to Pull Off the Ultimate Trail Picnic
November 09, 2014
 W&OD Trail | Photo by Scott Stark
Using Trails
ID the Tree!
March 18, 2022
 Photo courtesy Groundspeak Inc. (dba Geocaching)
Using Trails
Geocaching: Find the Fun!
March 30, 2022

More Resources

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Walking and Running / Caminar y correr

Missouri's St. Louis Riverfront Trail | Photo courtesy Great Rivers Greenway
Using Trails
Top 15 Unique Trails for Runners
June 11, 2024
 Trail runners in Baltimore, MD | Photo by Allison Abruscato
Using Trails
Rail-Trail Running for Beginners
April 04, 2024
 On the Appalachian Trail in 2021 | Photo courtesy Retha Charette
Using Trails
Hiking Hacks: Long-Distance Prep Tips and Tricks for Rail-Trails 101
February 14, 2023
 Fun Run 5k on the W&OD Trail in Northern Virginia | Photo courtesy RTC
America’s Trails
How to Train for a 5K or 10K Using Rail-Trails
April 05, 2021
 Photo courtesy Darren Larson | CC by 2.0
Health and Wellness
11 Tips to Make Walking a Natural, Enjoyable Part of Your Day
September 16, 2015
 Photo courtesy iStock by Getty Images
America’s Trails
Step to It: Seven Ways to Spice Up Your Walks
March 13, 2019
 Photo by Laura Pedrick, AP Images Photo by Laura Pedrick, AP Images
America’s Trails
10 Great Rail-Trails for Dog Walking
April 10, 2017

More Resources

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Biking / Ciclismo

2 people taking selfie with cargo bikes | Photo courtesy of Burley
Using Trails
Exploring Trails with Bike Trailers: Tips for a Family-Friendly Adventure
May 06, 2024
 Child on Strider bike - Photo courtesy of Strider Bikes
Using Trails
Seven Ways to Keep Kids Entertained on the Trails
March 13, 2024
 Photo by Stephen Matera
Using Trails
Exploring America’s E-Bike Evolution
May 04, 2023
 Colorado's Farmers High Line Canal Trail | Photo by Scott Stark
Using Trails
Trail Moments | Advice From a Mom: How to Get Kids to Love Biking
May 06, 2022
 Female young technician looking at the camera in her bicycle repair shop | Photo courtesy RTC
Using Trails
How to Be Equipment-Ready for Your First Long-Distance Trail Ride
March 13, 2018
 2017 Opening Day for Trails on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Photo by Amy Kapp
America’s Trails
Useful Biking Gear for Trails—Plus a Few MacGyver Tips!
March 30, 2018
 Photo by Mark Wilkinson
Using Trails
Seven Things That Can Go Wrong on a Bike—And How to Fix ‘Em!
May 11, 2015
 Photo courtesy Richard Masoner | CC by 2.0
Health and Wellness
15 Essentials Every Bicyclist Should Have
August 24, 2015
 Cedar Lake Trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota | Photo by Tony Hull, Toole Design Group
Using Trails
How to Prepare for Your First Long-Distance Trail Ride
February 14, 2017
 Photo courtesy Bicycle House Tallahassee
Using Trails
How to Get Back on a Bike—Years Later (8 Simple Tips)
July 09, 2015
 Photo by Jamie McCaffrey
Using Trails
How to Ride in the Rain
November 10, 2014
 Photos courtesy Dale Majors and TrailLink user protoolned, graphic by RTC
America’s Trails
Trail Moments | How To Long-Distance Bike Tour With (Six!) Young Kids
September 03, 2021
 Courtesy Catrike
Using Trails
Five Quick Tips to Keep Your Trike (or Recumbent) Tip-Top
March 14, 2022
 Ohio's Camp Chase Trail | Photo by Associated Press
Using Trails
Considering a Recumbent Bike? Here Are Some Tips to Keep in Mind.
February 15, 2022
 Photo courtesy IZIP
Using Trails
Slow Down and Enjoy the Trail With These E-bike Tales and Tips from IZIP
April 14, 2022

More Resources

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Trail Commuting

Along the Great Rivers Greenway trail network in St. Louis, Missouri | Photo courtesy Great Rivers Greenway
Using Trails
Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks
August 31, 2022
 Biking in D.C.'s Rock Creek Park | Photo by Hayden Duncan, courtesy Victoria Yuen
Using Trails
Trail Moments | Swapping a Car for a Bike? Here’s What I Learned.
July 07, 2022
 Bike 1.5 Prototype | Photo by Courtney Aubrecht
Using Trails
You and Your Bike Are Welcome Aboard Metra
March 12, 2024
 Participants on an Urban AdvenTours ride reach Boston's TD Garden | Photo courtesy Urban AdvenTours
Using Trails
You Can Get to These Eco-Friendly Stadiums by Trail
April 08, 2024
 Photo courtesy Chris Hill
Using Trails
Trail Moments | Teacher Shares Bike Commuting Lessons
August 04, 2023
 Photo courtesy Richard Masoner | CC by 2.0
Health and Wellness
15 Essentials Every Bicyclist Should Have
August 24, 2015
 Photo by Jamie McCaffrey
Using Trails
How to Ride in the Rain
November 10, 2014

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Cold-weather Trail Use / Uso de senderos en climas fríos

Wisconsin's Oak Leaf Trail | Photo by Ken Mattison
America’s Trails
Seven Hot Tips for Cold-Weather Biking
January 14, 2021
RTC hopes these tips for cold-weather biking will help you embrace and enjoy winter riding, but, if you’re new to it, just take it slow.
 New Hampshire's Northern Rail Trail | Courtesy New Hampshire State Parks
America’s Trails
Rail-Trail Tips for Cross-Country Skiing (A 101 Guide)
February 03, 2021
Why not add cross-country or Nordic skiing to your list? Here are a few quick tips to help you give it a try!
 The author, Willie Karidis, out on a snowshoeing expedition | Courtesy Willie Karidis
America’s Trails
The Magical World of Snowshoeing: A How-To Guide for Trails
February 04, 2021
Snowshoeing might seem a little intimidating at first, but once you give it a try, you might just find a new-found freedom to hit the trails.
 Alaska's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail | Photo by Jody O. Photos
Using Trails
Wintertime Trail Fun
February 01, 2024
A wintertime trail brings a whole new way to explore such as cross-country ski, snowshoe, fat-tire bike or take a walk through the snow.
 Pennsylvania's Trout Island Trail | Photo by TrailLink user vicki1960
America’s Trails
Winter “Share the Trail” Etiquette and Safety Tips
February 01, 2021
Find out how we can “Share the Trail” together safely with winter etiquette—while still gleaning the best that winter has to offer on trails.
New York's Highline | Photo by Adrian Cabrero
America’s Trails
How to Adapt Trail Activities and Gear for Cold and Winter Conditions
November 23, 2020
Common outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, running and cycling can be done safely in the fall and winter. Here are few tips from the experts.
 Snow biking and skiing on the Rio Grande Trail near Basalt, Colorado | Photo courtesy Pitkin County Open Space and Trails
America’s Trails
10 Rail-Trail Winter Wonderlands
December 20, 2016
Here are 10 winter Rail-Trails so you can enjoy trails in different ways such as fat tire biking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

More Resources

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Volunteering / Voluntariado

Resources

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Accessibility

Ian’s ride on the Great American Rail-Trail began with a ceremony on the National Mall. | Photo by Anthony Le, courtesy RTC
America’s Trails
World Record Holder Sets Out on 475-Mile Wheelchair Trek on the Great American Rail-Trail
September 23, 2022
 Dan, Michaela and Saul Brownstein, with their dog Rufus, on the Elephant Swamp Trail in New Jersey | Photo courtesy Dan Brownsteins
Using Trails
Trail Moments | Adapting Trail Trips for a Hiker With a Disability: A Family’s Advice
April 15, 2021
 Patrick Sweeney on adaptive trike | Photo courtesy Patrick Sweeney
Using Trails
Finding Freedom on Your Bike as an Adaptive Cyclist
March 27, 2023
 Biking with Margot on the Schuylkill River Trail in Pennsylvania | Photo courtesy Dr. Peter Doehring
Using Trails
Accessible Trail Adventures for People of All Abilities
May 15, 2017
 Photo from Special Olympics Kansas’ Trails and Treats Day in the fall of 2020, part of the statewide Parks & Trails Tour | Photo courtesy Special Olympics Kansas
Using Trails
Special Olympics Promotes Exploration, Fitness and Discovery on Kansas Trails
January 31, 2021
 Photo courtesy of Bree Corbin
Using Trails
#TrailMoments with Noodle (@NoodsterScootster)
September 01, 2022
 Ian Mackay on Olympic Discovery Trail | Photo by Jesse Major
America’s Trails
Five Trail Moments With Ian Mackay, Founder of Ian’s Ride
April 13, 2021
 The Three of Us | Courtesy Darlene Maxfield
America’s Trails
Trail Moments | Connecting to Nature, Connecting as a Family, on America’s Trails
January 14, 2021
 Photo by Vasu Sojitra | Triple Tree, Drinking Horse and the M trails, on the land of Apsáalooke, Salish-Kootenai, Northern Cheyenne, Niitsitapi, Shoshone-Bannock and many other Nations
America’s Trails
Tips, #TrailMoments and Talk with Vasu Sojitra
December 07, 2020
 Ian Mackay, founder of Ian's Ride (second from left), at the foot of Mount Rainier with friends Jesse Collens, Kenny Salvini and Todd Stabelfeldt | Photo by Teena Woodward
America’s Trails
A Serious Injury Changed Cyclist Ian Mackay’s Life. Trails Helped Him Rebuild It.
August 27, 2019

More Resources

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Recreate Responsibly + Share the Trail

Photo courtesy RTC
Using Trails
Golden Rules: Six Things You Need to Know for Trail Season
June 13, 2017
 Arkansas' Razorback Regional Greenway | Photo courtesy Experience Fayetteville
Using Trails
6 Tips to Share the Trail and Recreate Responsibly
August 29, 2023
 Photo courtesy John Gresham | CC by 2.0
Using Trails
Five Common Types of Trail Use Rules (Everyone Should Know)
September 13, 2019

More Resources

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How-To Blogs

View More How-To Blogs
On the Appalachian Trail in 2021 | Photo courtesy Retha Charette
Using Trails
Hiking Hacks: Long-Distance Prep Tips and Tricks for Rail-Trails 101
February 14, 2023
 Along the Great Rivers Greenway trail network in St. Louis, Missouri | Photo courtesy Great Rivers Greenway
Using Trails
Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks
August 31, 2022
 The author, Willie Karidis, out on a snowshoeing expedition | Courtesy Willie Karidis
America’s Trails
The Magical World of Snowshoeing: A How-To Guide for Trails
February 04, 2021
 View More How-To Blogs