I love Rails to Trails programs. We have one close by and it's really nice. You get to see come country that you wouldn't ordinarily get to see. I wish they'd do more of them.
The one here has terrible footing that I think was the old rail bed... deep pea gravel that was like walking on tiny marbles that moved around under horse's feet. We actually tried to get down off the track bed and ride alongside it was so bad. Is that not what it's like where you are?