What do trails mean to you? To some, it means a quiet stroll with the family, a fast-paced mountain biking trip, horseback riding down old logging roads or snowmobiling through powder-fresh snow.

Trails such as the Hart-Montague, Boardman Lake, Macomb Orchard and Kal-Haven, all evoke images of the very best of Michigan -- rolling fields, winding rivers and deep woods. And there are many others, including the Polly-Ann, Paint Creek, the Gaylord to Cheboygan, Mackinaw City to Hawks and the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail.

What does it take to make Michigan a leader in the number of miles of trails open to the public? Long before anyone can actually enjoy these trails, the first step is purchasing the property, then clearing, brushing or surfacing.

For some, an enjoyable trails experience includes amenities such as parking, restrooms, maps and informational kiosks. For others, it can include lighting, picnic tables and trash cans or benches to rest along the way.

There is a common thread that runs through all of these trails, but it's not the hard-packed surface created for the millions who use them. And it's not that they all are former railroad corridors, or even that they all are in natural areas as demonstrated by the Lansing River Trail, Big Rapids Riverwalk, Portage Riverwalk or Dequindre Cut.

"The one mechanism that has helped create these trails is the funding support provided by the grants programs of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which have financed the acquisition, development and maintenance of these trailways," said Deborah Apostol, recreation grants unit manager for DNR's Grants Management.

They include the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Land and Water Conservation Fund, ORV and Snowmobile Trail Improvement programs, Recreational Trails Program and Recreational Improvement Fund.

One grant program, however, stands out in terms of sheer impact, and that is the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The trust fund has propelled Michigan, by bike, foot, horseback, ORV and snowmobile, to the position of national leader in public trailways.

Since its inception, the trust fund has provided more than $62.4 million in grants for 184 trail acquisition and development projects in 44 counties throughout Michigan. A total 8,963 acres of land has been purchased.

"The trust fund has provided the means for our state to acquire the land that has made many of the most well-known trails in Michigan possible," Apostol said.

The 10.5-mile Paint Creek Trail, voted one the 10 most popular trails in Michigan by "Trails.com," is a former Penn Central right-of-way running from the Oakland/Macomb County line through Rochester Hills to Lake Orion. The trust fund helped the Paint Creek Trails Commission, a partnership involving four local units of government, acquire the abandoned railroad corridor in 1983. Paint Creek was Michigan's first established rail trail.

The commitment to ensuring Michigan's role as the nation's leader in trailways continues today with Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's announcement earlier this year that the state will work with the trust fund to link Michigan's trail system by building new trails and upgrading existing trails throughout the state.

Future emphasis will be placed on completing critical trail linkages, where connections to otherwise disconnected cities, towns or villages will be provided by the completion of a trail.

But trailways are more than just a way to get from place to place. They preserve open space and habitat for plants and animals as well as historical and culturally significant sites. They also can provide a much-needed boost to communities seeking to attract tourists and encourage local economic development -- trailways can bring people into the heart of their downtowns.

An important new and emerging trend in Michigan is water trails, and with more total shoreline than any other state except Alaska, Michigan is poised to join states like Maine, Florida and California in establishing this important recreation opportunity.

One recently funded project in Chocolay Township includes the development of a campsite and paddle sport locker along the Hiawatha Water Trail which runs 120 miles from Big Bay to Grand Marais on Lake Superior's south shore.

"These trails provide close contact with natural resources as well as highlighting cultural and historic resources related to water travel," said Lisa McTiernan, grants coordinator for the project. "They also facilitate other outdoor recreation activities such as fishing and wildlife viewing."

McTiernan said the city of Bangor in Van Buren County also received a grant to develop a canoe/kayak launch and boardwalk along the Black River on the historic Bangor/South Haven Heritage Water Trail.

"Whether it's providing access to a spectacular wilderness area or linking schools, homes and businesses, the DNR's grants programs and particularly the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund will continue to provide trail users a place to experience the diversity of Michigan's landscape," Apostol said.

To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov-dnr-grants and click on "Grant Programs" for more information about the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and to see the complete list of DNR grant programs that help enrich and sustain Michigan's outdoor heritage and outstanding quality of life.