For anybody looking for a nice, flat trail to ride their trikke, the Trace is the best place around!

I ride my trikke once a week at the Trace.

If any trikkers want to meet up with me and ride, go to my trikke club at MYTRIKKE.COM and join me for some fun, awesome rides.

My husband and I rode from Covington to Mandeville and back and it was a wonderful ride. We started out early and had very little company. As the day progressed we saw more people and a few groups training. This is a nice easy ride. Four stars because of lots of road crossings. Trailheads have great facilities and the trail is well maintained. We saw two rangers checking on the trail on our trek. Of course we had to stop at the Abita Brew Pub for a cold one. Great day, Great ride.

We rode the trail in April. The trail was very well maintainec. It was ride was beautiful and the weather was perfect. They were building a new trailhead at the drawbridge. The wetlands beside the trail provided a variety of plants. Covington is a very nice town in which to stay.

Just finished a 2761 mile, 27 day cross country tour from San Diego to Jacksonville, Fl. We happened upon the Trace from friendly folks in a convenience store in Covington who told us about it. What a welcome break from Rt. 71 and 190 ! The trail is perfectly paved the entire way, clearly marked once you're on it. We rode 22 miles to Slidell in about an hour, in the shade. What relief after leaving Hammond in a heat index of 117.

We rode this trail in April 2010. We started at Abita Springs where we had a wonderful soup-salad-sandwich lunch at the Breakaway Cafe, across the highway from the Brew Pub. There is parking nearby and we rode the trail in two diections, before and after lunch. At this time of year wisteria and azeleas were in bloom adding to the beauty of this ride.

I've been planning a ride from Mobile, AL to Hammond, LA and came across the Tammany Trace.

I've noticed that the TrailLink Google Map shows the trail continuing east beyond US 190 to North Slidell. However, the new Google Map bicycling direction option shows it only going as far as Neslo Road, with a rail line continuing east to N. Slidell. Several street views confirm that it this portion is still a rail line.

My wife and I just rode the Trace. we took two days and it was great. In Manderville we went down and rode around the lake front. We toured the state park. A great trail.

We just spent a week in Abita Springs and rode on the Tammany Trace. Even though we had not ridden at all this year, we found the trail to be easy riding. The scenery was great; there were many places to stop. I wish there were places like this everywhere! The surface was wonderful, even for a rode tandem.

I'm a life long mandevilliean. When I was a kid, a very long time ago, I walked the rail to school, smashed pennys when the trains went by and though rock from the bed at snakes. YES, lots of snakes. But if your coming to bike/hike the trace you need to take the side trips. In Mandeville, soon after the 190 under pass, take coffee street to the lake front. Bike the lake front then take girod street back to the trace. This will take you the trial head, pass many GREAT place to eat, have coffee { Maxein's } and if your lucky, see free music at the trial head. Covington and Abita Springs are also great side trips.

I live in the area of the trace and have gotten much enjoyment out of it.

As of Tuesday Sep. 16, the new Bayou Lacombe drawbridge is open, thus completing the 30+ miles of the trace, from Slidell to Abita Springs.

The Bridge has a ranger stationed at it to operate it, from dusk till dawn, everyday. It is put in the open position during the night.

On this site it currently says that the legs of the trace are from Slidell to Lacombe, and from Lacombe to Abita Springs; now it would read: Slidell to Abita Springs.

And fortunately for visitors coming from the Mandeville Trailhead, the area now opened up by the bridge (the length from Bayou Lacombe into Slidell), is one of the most beautiful areas of the trail.

According to the Times Picayune (4/18/08):
Tammany Trace bridge taking shape
http://blog.nola.com/tpnorthshore/2008/04/photo_tammany_trace_bridge_tak.html

The long-awaited Tammany Trace crossing over Bayou Lacombe began to take shape Friday with the installation of the vertical tower for a new 80-foot drawbridge.

The structure, built by Land and Marine Fabricators Corp. of Slidell, was barged early Friday from Bayou Bonfouca to Lake Pontchartrain and up Bayou Lacombe to the recreational trail.

There, workers bolted the structure to the steel 8-foot-wide deck of the $1.94 million span being built by McDonald Construction of Slidell.

Parish officials say they expect the new bridge to be completed next month and be opened shortly afterwards.

When the bridge opens for trace traffic, 20 more miles of the recreational trail -- from the bayou west to downtown Covington -- will become easily accessible to trail users east of the bayou.

For trace users west of the bayou, another six miles of the trail, from the bayou east to near Thompson Road west of Slidell, will be accessible.

Plans call for the fixed-end drawbridge to be down during the day for trail users, with a trace ranger opening the span for boat traffic. The bridge will remain open for marine traffic after sunset, when the trace is closed.

Long-range plans call for constructing a trailhead, with a ranger station and restrooms, on the western bank of the bayou. Plans also call for eventually extending the trace from the Slidell/Carollo trailhead near Thompson Road into Olde Towne Slidell.

"A tunnel was built under Hwy 190 to remedy that problem. We still ride to Bayou LaCombe to ""wish upon a bridge"" though. We could actually use a tunnel at Hwy. 36 to Covington too. My husband and I are over 55 and ride the Trace every weekend."

"A very nice trail. We were impressed with the trailheads and the adequate parking. It was very comforting to see the amount of security on this trail. However, there are some bridges out that limit how far you can ride in some directions. We first rode from the Slidell/Carollo trailhead, but after six miles the bridge over the Bayou Lacombe is out. Then we rode from the Tammany Trace Trailhead and found out that after four miles the bridge over the Albita River is out. Nevertheless, this is a great trail and well worth the effort."

"This beautiful trail is actually a former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio branch line, not Illinois Central. In the 1970s, the two lines merged briefly and became the Illinois Central Gulf, a new line. They later separated again.

Anyway, we rode this trail over the Thanksgiving holidays in 2004 from Abita Springs to Fontainebleu. This is a beautiful trail, especially from Mandeville and Eastward. Numerous live oaks, tupelo or cypress tees, and many bayous. We rented bikes at a place in Abita with only a few ancient bikes; there is now a new place with many modern bikes near the Mandeville depot.

Winter riders should be aware that from Abita to Mandeville, the trail goes directly south and the sun is in your eyes. It turns abruptly East in Mandeville. Lots of shade except when you ride directly into a low sun.

In summer, remember to bring mosquito stuff, as you are in the swamps. When the bridge over the large bayou between Fontainebleu and Slidell is finished, that will be the most scenic section. Lots of police presence.

We ate lunch in Abita right near the trail -- the trail goes through the center of town and next to the famous spring. The trail is flat."

"We stayed at Trail's End B&B in Abita Springs, which is located right on the trail. It's a superb combination of trail and first class accomodations.

From the trail's end to Lacombe is about 21 miles. It's a nice run through some interesting mixture of rural and suburbia. On Saturdays, Mandeville has a farmer's market with food vendors and live music at their trailhead. It's a fun break and a good place to get a snack for the final leg to the Trail's End B&B.

There are several bike rental places and the owner of Trail's End B&B could not be more amenable to meet your needs. As an added plus, you can visit New Orleans for a little fun to cap your ride."

"We made our first trip to the Tammany Trace a week ago and it was absolutely wonderful! We ended up riding the entire trail over the two days we were there. The first day we rode from Slidell to Bayou Lacombe and back. Then, we rode from Mandeville to Covington. Along the way, we ate lunch outside in Abita Springs at a quaint little restaurant where patrons arrived by car, horse, bike, and foot. The next day we rode from Mandeville to Bayou Lacombe and through Fountainbleau State Park. It was beautiful. We plan on returning for a long weekend and staying at the park for easy access to the trail. It was great to see so many people of all ages, races, and athletic abilities on so many different types of bikes out exercising and riding the trace. The trail personnel were very nice and helpful. I like the fact that there is security along the trail. Keep up the good work!"

We only had enough time to ride a few miles out from Abita Springs during lovebug season. We are impressed with the separate unpaved trail for horses. It is definitely safer for riders of both animals and bikes. Rest benches were few and far between without bike racks. Intersections are many and horrendously dangerous.

Be sure to keep your mouth covered during lovebug season! It takes a lot of Abita Beer to wash those bugs on down!

We rate this trail 6/10 because of the road crossings.

I have ridden all or a portion of this trail for the past three years whenever I travel through this area. It is well worth the time and is one of the most enjoyable rides between Texas and Mississippi.

This trail was a great antidote to the snow and cold at home. A very well done trail. Completing the bridge over the bayou at Lacomb and a road crossing into Covington will enhance the experience. We stayed at the Trails End B&B in Abita Springs and enjoyed the local restaurants; don't miss the UCM museum.

This is one of the best maintained and patrolled trails you'll find. Its patrolled by rangers on motor scooters and also by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Department.

In the spring of 2000 a friend and I were riding the trail. He ran off the trail and suffered a broken ankle. Within 10 minutes the rangers had an ambulance there.

Outstanding!

"This was the first rail-trail that I have been on. My husband and I biked it a few weekends ago (only about 20 miles). We found the trail to be pleasant, easy to ride and full of friendly people. Not many places along the way to stop and get something to drink (it's hot and humid in the south)! However, we did stop at the Abita Springs Brew Pub and eat lunch. Excellent food and atmosphere. The beer is good too. Worth your time. You'll be glad you rode it."

"My wife and I biked the Tammany Trace and loved every minute of it. It is beautiful scenery. A well kept trail with security patrol. I can't say enough good things about it.

Try it, you will like it too."

We rode this wonderful trail in late March. We camped at Fontainbleu State Park and rode to Slidell and back and the next day from the park to Covington. The paving has just been completed from Abita Springs to US 90 in Covington.

None of the trail literature indicates that there is no bridge across Bayou Lacombe which is about halfway between the park and Slidell. By leaving the trail at the street that has the Lacombe sign and going a block over to US 190 you can get around this trail block. The road shoulders are wide here except for across the two bridges. Turning right at Carrol St. you can meander back to the trail on S. Oaklawn.

The trail is in good condition and the wildflowers are nice.

"This is a beautiful paved trail and, quite frankly, the only safe place to ride in Louisiana. There are several really good places to eat in Abita Springs and in Mandeville. There is a tunnel being built in Mandeville to get across a dangerous highway that should be completed by September, 2002. There are Rangers at the trailheads to help, protect, and give information. We have found them to be very nice folks.

My wife and I are in our sixties, and we find our 20-mile or so rides to be peaceful, fun, and energizing. The scenery is beautiful. The people you meet are friendly. You'll see lots of families on the trail: mom, pop, and the kids. For an enjoyable, healthful ride, this is the place. "

I rode from Abita Springs to Fontainbleau State Park as part of the May Cycle Mainstreet Ride. It was beautiful!

"I have ridden this trail twice now. The first time was just three weeks ago and it was great. The trail is absolutely beautiful. It runs through woods and swamps, and it is very well maintained. Trees shade the biggest portion of this trip. We biked from Abita Springs to Mandeville with a great rest area just over five miles out of Abita. There is an old caboose for the ranger station and a covered paivillion. Outside the restrooms there is a cool mister providing the pause that refreshes. Along the trail we saw deer, snakes, rabbits, a bobcat, an owl, and egrets. In Mandeville we stopped at a great little coffee shop called Java (something). Because of the shade and easy grade of the trail, we were able to make thirty miles in three hours (that is round trip). The rangers are an ever present entity, so there is no need for concern about safety. "

"Great bike ride ... flat and fast (in spite of the 20 mph posted speed limit) ... enjoy the natural beauty as you cruise along ... and when you're done, treat yourself to lunch and a beer at the Abita Springs Brew Pub & Cafe"

"This is a beautiful ride. During the warm months expect to see a lot of wildlife and wild flowers. The UCM Museum in Abita Springs is a very interesting tourist attaction with a good collection of bicycles, vintage and custom built."

"Although I haven't gone the whole route. I've gone from Mandeville to Lacombe and took a detour through the State Park on the way. If you go in the early morning before 8:00am you might encounter some of the wildlife there. Last year, the saturday before Easter I came accross a bobcat and what I thought was a racoon. You will also see an old cemetary and bridges over swamp area where you can view water lilies, cypress trees, and moss covered oaks. If you detour into the state park ($.50 admission)you will see some of the most beautiful moss covered oaks and an old sugar mill. There is a nature trail at the park that you can walk or if you have a mountain bike ride through and see the vast swamp area beyond the forested trail. "

"Will be attending the National Senior Olympics in July at Baton Rouge, looking for rider(s)to hit Tammany Trace trail."