Chattahoochee Valley Railroad Trail:
Alabama
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Description:
On Alabama's eastern border, nestled amid gentle hills that overlook the mighty Chattahoochee River, is a cluster of four small textile mill towns-Shawmut, Langdale, Fairfax, and Riverview-all on the National Registry of Historic Places. In 1980 these villages incorporated as the city of Valley, a community of nearly 10,000 residents.
The Chattahoochee Valley Railroad served the region for nearly 100 years, carrying passengers, cotton, cloth, and supplies. But the trains stopped running in 1992, and in 2000 this corridor became a rail-trail that winds past the communities and historical sites.
The route begins in Shawmut along straight, quiet spans through tall pines, passing a few homes set back from the trail. Two miles along, in Langdale, the trail stops just shy of moderately busy, two-lane US Highway 29. Cross the road here and pick up the trail again a block south. Or consider a short side trip to the Chattahoochee by heading east on 59th Street and taking an access road to the riverfront. You'll be rewarded with a stunning view of the river and may even spot a bald eagle.
Back on the trail, you'll pass several historic properties and bridges-most notable is the Langdale Mill, off the east side of the trail. Plans are underway to house shops and a conference center in the mill, which was originally built to stimulate the local economy following the Civil War.
Continuing south, the trail parallels local roads, passing the 1917 Fairfax Depot, today a museum with welcome restrooms. Columbus Road marks a short trail extension to the south, but to finish the last mile of the trail, you'll follow the sharp turn north toward the river, passing through fragrant pines to Riverview.
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Parking & Trail Access:
Directions: From I-85, take Exit 77 in Valley. Turn east on Fob James Drive and follow it to Langdale, then turn left on US Highway 29/20th Avenue. Continue about two miles until you pass a Wal-Mart on your left. At the next light, turn left on 35th Street, then left on 22nd Street. Parking for the trail's Shawmut access point is at road's end.
Contact:
City of Valley Parks & Recreation Department
P.O. Box 186
Valley, AL 36854
(334) 756-5281
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By Jeff Brown on June 02, 2003
"We rode the CVR trail on Sunday, June 1. We started from the Shawmut end after we found the trailhead without too much of a problem. You would think that a small sign identifying the trail would be appropriate though. Within about 1 1/2 miles the trail appears to come to an end close to where it intersects with 29.
We managed to find where it continued on the other side of Hwy 29, but then it was closed a short distance later by a bridge that was under construction. The rest of the trail was in good shape, except for the fact that the trail appears to come to a ""Y"" with about a mile left to go. We rode both portions of the ""Y"".
Yes, it was a nice ride, even though it was rather short. "