The Nickel Plate Trail follows a greenway corridor for many miles connecting multiple small towns and villages in and around the Edwardsville area and providing lots of diverse scenery and terrain along the way. The trail passes through some industrial areas but mostly travels through wooded terrain and rural areas with farmland, parks, golf courses, and some small lakes and ponds. The trail connects to multiple other trails in the MCT system providing riders with numerous trip options and opportunity for exploring Madison County. The surface is all asphalt and crushed stone and is mostly level making it an enjoyable ride for cyclists of all skill levels.