Hey I know people are going to call me shill but I answer enough of these to be proactive. There is a 50% off bikes sale at Dick's Sports (can buy online). Dick's carries GT mountainbikes so you can get the $600 model (3x8, front 80mm xct shocks) for $300 and the $1000 model for $500.
The first one would be a good "rail trail" bike since it seems like everyone on here wants a bike to ride on casual trails but doesn't want to spend enough to get a gravel/allroad bike with drops.
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/bikessale ends at the end of 5/1
