Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

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Trail of the Month

A Community Connector

MCT Goshen Trail | Courtesy Metro East Park Recreation District

MCT Goshen Trail | Photo courtesy Metro East Park Recreation District

With its close proximity to the Mississippi River, Madison County, Illinois, was once a hub of railroad activity. As the rail industry waned, those old corridors laid the groundwork for the extensive system of rail-trails that exists there today. The MCT Goshen Trail alone connects to five other trails in the vast network, which is providing regional connections to neighboring communities, regional transit and diverse recreation opportunities.

Visit the MCT Goshen Trail, January's Trail of the Month.

Trailside with Ryan Chao

Connecting America Like Never Before

Ryan Chao reflects on the people he's met and places he's visited across the country during his first year as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's president—and the power of trails to connect us from place to place, to our natural surroundings and to each other.

Read Trailside with Ryan Chao.

Trailside with Ryan Chao is a monthly feature from RTC's president with perspectives on trails and the communities they connect.

Great American Rail-Trail

Great American Momentum

Since the Great American Rail-Trail's launch in May 2019, interest and progress has been moving steadily ahead. Forbes recently highlighted the Great American and the nearly $13 million that has been secured for the trail’s development since its launch.

Read the Forbes article.

More from the Great American Rail-Trail

Explore our interactive map.
Be a part of the movement: Sign the Great American Rail-Trail Pledge.

Sign the Pledge

Features A Decade of Impact As a new decade dawns, take a look at the power, impact and evolution of the trails movement over the last decade—thanks to RTC supporters like you!

From One Great Lake to Another

Michigan's Great Lake-to-Lake Trails initiative includes plans for five developing routes connecting dozens of trails across the state. We take a look at a few of the many rail-trails to be explored in Route #1, which spans 275 miles across the entire Lower Peninsula from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron.

And as a nod to winter, we thought we’d showcase some of the snowy wonderlands to be found there this season!

Visit the rail-trails of Michigan's Great Lake-to-Lake Trails.

We Have a Winner! Thanks to more than 10,000 votes from RTC supporters like you, we've got a brand-new design for our 2020 Member T-shirts! See which design won the vote, then pre-order one for your very own!

Big Step Forward for the Rock Island Trail In a historic step toward the creation of the Rock Island Trail, the state of Missouri and Ameren have announced an agreement getting us closer to preserving the 144-mile Rock Island Line corridor—setting the stage for an incredible rail-trail that will span almost the entire state. Learn more about how the Rock Island Trail will be a game-changer.

Greet These New Rail-Trails As we say goodbye to 2019, we take a look back at just a few of the rail-trails that opened at the close of the decade. Say hello to these rail-trails that opened in 2019.

Trails Transform

Transforming America

Across America, demand for trails, walking and biking continues to grow. Trail and active transportation networks are emerging, and communities are seeking to maximize the benefits that this type of connectivity can bring.

RTC’s newest research proves that this work is changing our communities—urban, suburban and rural—for the better. As the connectivity of trail networks improves, so does the health of people and places.

See how Trails Transform America.

Bold Steps for Our Transportation Future

As Congress begins to address our transportation future, we can take bold steps to transform America with safe, connected trail and active transportation networks.

We have an incredible opportunity to transform America by connecting trail and active transportation networks to shape our transportation future.

Take action now: Tell Congress to make wise investments in trails, walking and biking in the next transportation bill.

Act Now

Best of TrailLink.com

Top Trail Picks From TrailLink Users

We have some inspiring rail-trails to keep you motivated throughout 2020! These bucket-list destinations come from some of the top submitters of trail photos on TrailLink.com, which currently lists more than 4,000 multiuse trails across America.

See seven top trail picks from trail lovers like you on TrailLink!

Find a trail near you at TrailLink.com!

Download the TrailLink app.