Trail Tips and Resources
Photo courtesy Getty Images
Prepare for your next trail visit by checking out these helpful tips, ideas and resources.
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.
Or explore some of the top trails in each state on the TrailBlog!
Enjoying Nature / Disfrutar la naturaleza
- Where the Wild Things Go: Exploring Wildlife Corridors Along America’s Trails
- Trail Moments | Tips for Outdoor Outings With Your Kids
- Trail Moments | By Sight & Sound: Tips for Birding Beginners
- Take a Forest Bath #OnTheCircuit / Sumérjase en el bosque #EnElCircuito (#OnTheCircuit)
- Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Scavenger Hunt / My Circuit Trails Scavenger Hunt
- How to Pull Off the Ultimate Trail Picnic / Cómo lograr el mejor pícnic en un sendero
- Entryway to Birding Blog Series | Madison Audubon
- Ecological Park Restoration (A Retired Backyard Birders Production) | Shayndel Shofar (video)
- Monticello Ecological Park Restoration Part Two. (RBB) | Shayndel Shofar (video)
- Monticello Ecological Park Restoration Project Phase 3 Retired Backyard Birders. | Shayndel Shofar (video)
- Parks & Trails Tour
- ID the Tree!
- Geocaching: Find the Fun!
- Camping on the Circuit: Three Trails for Overnight Adventures / Campamento en el circuito: Tres senderos para aventuras nocturnas
Walking and Running / Caminar y correr
- Top 15 Unique Trails for Runners
- Rail-Trail Running for Beginners
- Hiking Hacks: Long-Distance Prep Tips and Tricks for Rail-Trails 101
- How to Train for a 5K or 10K Using Rail-Trails / Cómo entrenar para una carrera de 5K o 10K usando un sendero ferroviario
- 11 Tips to Make Walking a Natural, Enjoyable Part of Your Day / 11 consejos para hacer que caminar sea una parte natural y placentera de su día
- Step to it: Seven Ways to Spice Up Your Walks / Mejorar el paso: siete maneras de darles vida a las caminatas
- 10 Great Rail-Trails for Dog Walking
- Trail Walking with Your Four-Legged Friend | TrailLink
- Breathe In, Breathe Out & Walk | Walk Arlington
Biking / Ciclismo
- Exploring Trails with Bike Trailers: Tips for a Family-Friendly Adventure
- Seven Ways to Keep Kids Entertained on the Trails
- Exploring America’s E-Bike Evolution
- Trail Moments | Advice From a Mom: How to Get Kids to Love Biking
- Brush Up on Biking Basics | The Circuit Trails / Repasar los conceptos básicos de ciclismo
- Easy Preventative Maintenance for Rail-Trail-Riders | TrailLink / Fácil mantenimiento preventivo para los usuarios de senderos ferroviarios
- How to Be Equipment-Ready for Your First Long-Distance Trail Ride / Cómo tener el equipo listo para su primer viaje de larga distancia por senderos
- Useful Biking Gear for Trails—Plus A Few MacGyver Tips! / Equipamiento de ciclismo útil para senderos, ¡y algunos consejos de MacGyver!
- Seven Things That Can Go Wrong on a Bike—And How to Fix ‘Em! / Siete cosas que pueden salir mal en recorrido en bicicleta, ¡y cómo solucionarlas!
- 15 Essentials Every Bicyclist Should Have / 15 elementos esenciales que todo ciclista debe tener
- Seven Hot Tips for Cold-Weather Biking / Siete buenos consejos para andar en bicicleta en climas fríos
- How to Prepare for Your First Long-Distance Trail Ride / Cómo prepararse para su primer viaje de larga distancia por senderos
- How to Get Back on a Bike—Years Later (8 Simple Tips) / Cómo volver a montar en bicicleta después de años (8 consejos simples)
- How to Ride in the Rain / Cómo manejar bajo la lluvia
- Before You Go: Biking | 815 Outside (video)
- I just bought a new bicycle. Now what? | Century Cycles
- 8 Tip for COVID-19 Biking Etiquette | Courtesy Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- How To Long-Distance Bike Tour With (Six!) Young Kids
- Five Quick Tips to Keep Your Trike (or Recumbent) Tip-Top
- Considering a Recumbent Bike? Here Are Some Tips to Keep in Mind. / ¿Está considerando el uso de una bicicleta reclinada? Aquí hay algunos consejos para que tenga en cuenta.
- Slow Down and Enjoy the Trail With These E-bike Tales and Tips from IZIP
Cold-weather Trail Use / Uso de senderos en climas fríos
- Wintertime Trail Fun
- How to Adapt Trail Activities and Gear for Cold and Winter Conditions
- Winter “Share the Trail” Etiquette and Safety Tips
- Seven Hot Tips for Cold-Weather Biking / Siete buenos consejos para andar en bicicleta en climas fríos
- Rail-Trail Tips for Cross-Country Skiing (A 101 Guide) / Consejos para senderos ferroviarios para esquí de fondo (una guía 101)
- The Magical World of Snowshoeing: A How-To Guide for Trails) / El mágico mundo de las raquetas de nieve: una guía práctica para senderos
Volunteering / Voluntariado
- How to Plan a Cleanup (earthday.org)
- Helpful Tips for Organizing a Trail Volunteer Event
- Promoting Equity in Trail Use and Programming
- Trail Stewardship | Washington State Department of Natural Resources (video)
Accessibility
- Finding Freedom on Your Bike as an Adaptive Cyclist
- Trail Moments | Adapting Trail Trips for a Hiker With a Disability: A Family’s Advice
- Accessible Trail Adventures for People of All Abilities
- Special Olympics Promotes Exploration, Fitness and Discovery on Kansas Trails
- WEBINAR: Accessible Opportunities to Be Active Outside
- WEBINAR: Accessibility on Rail-Trails and other Shared Use Paths
Trail Commuting
- Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks
- Trail Moments | Swapping a Car for a Bike? Here’s What I Learned.
- You and Your Bike Are Welcome Aboard Metra
Recreate Responsibly + Share the Trail
- Golden Rules: Six Things You Need to Know for Trail Season
- #RecreateResponsibly guidelines
- 6 Tips to Share the Trail and Recreate Responsibly
- Five Common Types of Trail Use Rules (Everyone Should Know)
- #ShareTheTrail tips
View How-To Blogs
View More Blogs
Using Trails
Hiking Hacks: Long-Distance Prep Tips and Tricks for Rail-Trails 101
February 14, 2023
Using Trails
Swap Out a Car Trip for a Trail Trip With These Tips and Tricks
August 31, 2022
America’s Trails
The Magical World of Snowshoeing: A How-To Guide for Trails
February 04, 2021
View More Blogs