River's Edge Trail is a star in Great Falls' crown — and it continues to shine brighter each year.

In 1990, Recreational Trails Inc. formed to help forge the riverside route, which grew again this year, with new places and trails to explore.

The initial portion of the trail was largely built upon abandoned Milwaukee Road railroad beds, but it has moved far beyond those areas since then.

Numerous memorial benches, tables and picnic shelters dot the trail and provide places to stop and enjoy the view. Signs offer information about the wildlife and history of the area.

Check out trail maps and the latest improvements to the River's Edge Trail on its Web site.

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The trail for walking, jogging and biking offers more than 40 miles of varied terrain and scenery. A paved, wheelchair-accessible trail runs eight miles along the south shore of the river, from Oddfellows Park, which is near the Warden Bridge on 10th Avenue South, past Broadwater Bay, Mitchell Pool, Gibson and Elks Riverside parks, Black Eagle Falls, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Giant Springs Heritage State Park and Rainbow Falls to the Crooked Falls Overlook.

The asphalt ends there, but the trail doesn't. A dirt trail stretches along the cliffs another three miles to Cochrane Dam. Bicycles can handle the rougher trail, but inline skates can’t.

East of Great Falls, the North Shore Trail follows along Cochrane, Ryan and Morony reservoirs. The trail begins at the end of Rainbow Dam Road and includes gravel and single track segments totaling more than 13 miles.

At Morony Dam Road, the North Shore Trail meets with the Forest Service Sulfur Spring Trail, extending nearly two miles downstream.

The North Shore Trail, provided by PPL Montana and managed by the state Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, is served by trailheads at Rainbow Dam, along Ryan Dam Road and along Morony Dam Road. The trail between Ryan and Morony dams now has three single-track loops, offering more rugged terrain for bikers and hikers to enjoy.

In 2009 the trail was extended from its old terminus at Oddfellows Park, under Lower River Road via a new tunnel, and up and over the hill to Warden Park on top of Prospect Heights. There are plans to pave the new section in 2010. In addition three major expansion projects took place in 2009, primarily linking neighborhoods to the trail system.

More trail on the west bank of the Missouri River at Broadwater Bay is under construction, between the river and Bay Drive and under a BNSF Railway bridge across the river from the Great Falls Tribune. Plans for 2010 will tie the new stretch to the River's Edge Trail adjacent to the new Missouri River Federal Courthouse by way of a stretch beneath the 1st Avenue North Bridge.