State: AL Length: 12 miles Surface: Dirt
The Swayback Bridge Trail is open only to mountain bikers and hikers; no horses or motorized vehicles of any kind are permitted. Mountain bikers are asked to give way to hikers at all times. On a map, the 12-mile trail looks like a heap of spaghetti tossed down along the hilly shores of Lake Jordan. There are four different loop trips you can take, or do all 12 miles, depending on how far you want to go through the dense forest. The trail consists mostly of well groomed single-track with fire road and power line sections. The terrain varies from rocky, tight single-track to all-out big ring sections. The Swayback Bridge Trail is managed by the Trail of Legends Association (TOLA), a nonprofit organization formed in 1993 whose mission is to create trails in Elmore County. In 1995, TOLA changed its charter to become a statewide organization. TOLA now offers guidance in creating trail organizations in other communities throughout Alabama and assists in developing and building trails that will eventually make up a statewide trail system. To learn more about the Swayback Bridge Trail and TOLA's efforts: Trail of Legends Association P.O. Box 1101 Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-277-1661