When picturing a trail, many things may come to mind. It may be a narrow path through an old growth forest or a paved bikeway along a railroad corridor. To some, a trail may mean a groomed path in the snow for snowmobiles or skis. To others, a trail may be a river or stream for canoes and kayaks. One thing common to each of these descriptions is that a trail is a corridor, on land or in water, with public access for recreation or transportation, and is protected from inappropriate development.
Trails come in many shapes and sizes, depending upon what uses they are designed to accommodate.
Trails can have soft surfaces, such as soil, woodchips, or water. Trails may have hard surfaces, such as stone, asphalt, or concrete. A trail can be as narrow as twelve inches or as wide as fifteen feet. Lengths of trails can range from one-half mile, or even shorter, to over two thousand miles. Trails may be loops, horseshoe-shaped, straight lines, or anything in between.