Explore the best rated trails in Ft Payne, AL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Sunset Drive Trail and Mount Berry Trail . With more than 20 trails covering 173 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We rode the entire pathway, starting at the northern dam site. This is one of the most enjoyable, varied, and well maintained routes we've ridden! The entire route is well done, with light poles the entire way, elevated sections or bridges thru all types of natural areas (instead of around), and many parks or trailside restrooms. Whether thru parks, alongside the highway, or even past industrial businesses, the trail is landscaped O meadow-scaped), the path is smooth, and
The map needs to be updated. The path was extended under the bridge & follows all the way to the harbor, shops, restaurants, and access to the historic downtown. Brilliant!
The trail is mostly freshly paved and in great shape, relatively flat and beautiful scenery!
Today 4-17-2025 my husband and I rode the trail from the Wheland Factory parking lot to the Dam. The first part of the trail goes past some industrial areas. As we got further up it goes past townhomes and downtown. Our only complaint was the lack of trail signage to keep you on tract and mileage markers. There were some metal cutouts with numbers indicating the miles and some very small markers in the concrete itself with markings but unless you stopped to read them, there was no way you could have read them as you pedaled by. The trail itself is in good shape and we saw several crews keeping the grounds surrounding the trail trimmed.
They have built a very nice bike path that connects the middle and the southern sections along Bailey Cove Road. There are also lights at the crosswalks. Thanks!!
From the Kingston Pavilion at Ditto Landing, cross the bridge and walk north along the river. Also suitable for gravel or mountain bikes. About 60% shaded. Beautiful walk.
Wife and I rode two sections, first east from Cedartown for about 21 miles to just past the large tunnel. The first 4 miles (or so) is extremely challenging with a number of very steep grades. Our second ride was from Coots Lake trail head , again east for about 20 miles. This is a much easier ride with easy hills.
Overall this is a beautiful trail that is well marked. My only complaint was that every single water fountain we stopped at was inoperative.
Rode from the bottom TH all the way up and back again. Gravel bike did great. Enjoyed the scenery and history. But the trail simply dead ends on a busy road. I took the road up higher on Lookout Mountain, but was not worth the extra ride.
The multiple boardwalks and intermittent views of the creek are what make this trail a 5*. As noted by another reviewer: A large section of trail is CLOSED until July 2027. If you are coming from Camp Jordan and heading north, you cannot cross I-75. But the 11 miles of trail north of I-75 to downtown Chattanooga are open. I parked at Sterchi Farm TH and did some out-and-backs. The best scenery (ie, the boardwalks) are north and south of Sterchi Farm TH.
We rode the full 91 miles from West of Atlanta to Alabama in mid March. It is a well maintained concrete trail that travels through the countryside. It is 95% a straight gradual inclined or decline, except for a few miles in the middle of the trail where there are quite a few hills. These hills are due that the existing rail trail was sold to private owners so they had to reroute approximately 5 miles section around the hills in the area. At approximate mile marker 43 we stayed at the Manor at Beck’s Lake bed-and-breakfast. I would highly recommend the B&B. These two trails are one of the best continuous trails I have ever written. Highly recommend.
The SO Chick trail follows the Chickamauga Creek but it is not a flat trail that follows the grade of a river or an old rail line.
We started our ride at the Tennessee River and the shared trail head with the Riverwalk trail. As the trail goes up stream is climbs high on the hillside banks. Half of the trail distance is wooden boardwalks, and a couple of the climbs are so steel that they created switchbacks.
Another clue this is not a rail to trail path is the many railways along the path that are active. The path runs along side an active line for a stretch and at one point 4 active lines can be viewed from the same spot. On the 10 mile round trip we saw 4 trains including the Tennessee Valley Railroad scenic train.
This is a very pretty trail with a lot of hill and turns. Boardwalks are in good condition, but being boardwalk they are not smooth and can be slippery.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
