Find the top rated trails in Jacksonville, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This is a rolling paved trail that follows along the shoreline of Guntersville Lake and is alongside Sunset Drive. Some of the hills are a little long, but there are plenty of flat areas as well. The...
The Silver Comet Trail follows the bed of the old Seaboard Air Line. From 1947 to 1969, the shiny Silver Comet passenger train provided luxury service between New York and Birmingham. Today, three...
The Carrollton GreenBelt is the largest greenspace and greenway conservation project ever undertaken in the city of Carrollton's almost 200-year history. The planned 16-mile paved loop runs along...
In northeast Alabama, the nearly 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail is a regional playground that passes through welcoming towns and pastoral landscapes. Following a former CSX railroad corridor, the...
The Heritage Park Trail links two paths at the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers, where these two waterways meet to form the Coosa River. Paved promenades line both sides of the...
In northeast Alabama, the nearly 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail is a regional playground that passes through welcoming towns and pastoral landscapes. Following a former CSX railroad corridor, the...
A rugged trek through the North Georgia mountains, this 4.5-mile trail is ideally suited to hikers and mountain bikers. Despite its quiet, dense forest setting, the Simms Mountain Trail does pass...
The Heritage Park Trail links two paths at the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers, where these two waterways meet to form the Coosa River. Paved promenades line both sides of the...
This is a rolling paved trail that follows along the shoreline of Guntersville Lake and is alongside Sunset Drive. Some of the hills are a little long, but there are plenty of flat areas as well. The...
The Silver Comet Trail follows the bed of the old Seaboard Air Line. From 1947 to 1969, the shiny Silver Comet passenger train provided luxury service between New York and Birmingham. Today, three...
The Carrollton GreenBelt is the largest greenspace and greenway conservation project ever undertaken in the city of Carrollton's almost 200-year history. The planned 16-mile paved loop runs along...
A rugged trek through the North Georgia mountains, this 4.5-mile trail is ideally suited to hikers and mountain bikers. Despite its quiet, dense forest setting, the Simms Mountain Trail does pass...
This is a rolling paved trail that follows along the shoreline of Guntersville Lake and is alongside Sunset Drive. Some of the hills are a little long, but there are plenty of flat areas as well. The...
In northeast Alabama, the nearly 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail is a regional playground that passes through welcoming towns and pastoral landscapes. Following a former CSX railroad corridor, the...
The Carrollton GreenBelt is the largest greenspace and greenway conservation project ever undertaken in the city of Carrollton's almost 200-year history. The planned 16-mile paved loop runs along...
The Silver Comet Trail follows the bed of the old Seaboard Air Line. From 1947 to 1969, the shiny Silver Comet passenger train provided luxury service between New York and Birmingham. Today, three...
The Heritage Park Trail links two paths at the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers, where these two waterways meet to form the Coosa River. Paved promenades line both sides of the...
My husband and I drove down from Cleveland TN after reading about the Heritage Park Trail online. The pictures online made it very appealing. However, the directions to find the park and walking trails were zero. Our GPS system brought us to a left turn in the town and we were left on her own to find the park We found a boat ramp and a small playground that some children were playing on I asked a lady there if she could tell me where the trails were. She thought if we took the walkway around where the children were playing it would put us on the trail and take us down next to the Atlanta Braves park. We ended up at what look like a sewer treatment plant. There were no markings on the trail to say go this way or go that way. We could see a beautiful historic area across the river but wasn't sure how to get there. On our return back after about 2 miles in the sun and passing a sewage treatment plant we decided to take a bridge across to the other side where we found a very pleasant walking trail. If you advertise your trail, you should give some definite directions for the trail and there should be signs along the way identifying how many miles and what's up ahead. Maps identifying all of the historical buildings would even be nice. Unfortunately we were on a time crunch and regret we didn't get to see the best part of this trail. Not likely to come back.
Roughly a 26-mile round trip, this is a beautiful stretch of the Silver Comet trail. It is pretty flat most of the way, all though I joked with my wife that it seemed like it was uphill both ways. It practically always seemed like we were going slightly uphill, but I guess that was an illusion, since clearly we couldn't have been going uphill both ways! There is a lot of shade and the ride is interesting as you ride through forests, over a high bridge, and through a couple of tunnels. One thing to know: the beach at Coot's Lake is no longer open to the public. We got caught in an unexpected heavy thunderstorm and sought shelter there until the storm passed, but were rebuffed by the owner. We were two veterans on July 4th simply seeking shelter from the rain for a few minutes. Sad. Anyway, stay away from there - they don't want you there. Otherwise, the trip was great.
This trail was easily the most welcome surprise I found after enrolling at Jacksonville State University. Paved and flat, it's a perfect trail for beginners (like yours truly) but the sheer length of the trail opens it up to experienced wayfarers as well. It's a beautiful, tree-lined experience with plenty of shade for extended trips. My usual routes are from the Jacksonville train station to Alexandria-Jacksonville hwy and from Park Place Apartments to Germania Springs Park, alternating which one I do each day. Both are just over 3 miles round-trip. The trail is lively -- so lively, in fact, that I've never gona down it without meeting at least 3 others. If you prefer your walk in solitude, then this trail is not what you're looking for. Otherwise, I believe everyone should give Ladiga a shot! Also, if you wish to go further, the trail becomes the Silver Comet Trail at the state line, extending on into Georgia.
We parked at Esom Hill, close to the GA/AL border. We rode the Comet east to Cedartown mi53 (see my reviews of other sections of Comet), then turned around and rode west to Borden Springs. 27mi roundtrip. Trail is concrete in GA, then turns to asphalt in AL, but both well maintained. It runs through the woods almost the whole way. Shaded, but no scenery but trees. No facilities either. It is a rail-trail, and you think its flat, but its not. Esom Hill is the crest, and its down hill both ways from there - about 100ft elevation change on both sides. But its gradual, so its very doable. But you will notice the difference one direction over the other. Will return to do final west section.
We parked at Esom Hill, close to the GA/AL border. We rode the Comet east to Cedartown mi53 (see my reviews of other sections of Comet), then turned around and rode west to Borden Springs. 27mi roundtrip. Trail is concrete in GA, then turns to asphalt in AL, but both well maintained. It runs through the woods almost the whole way. Shaded, but no scenery but trees. No facilities either. It is a rail-trail, and you think its flat, but its not. Esom Hill is the crest, and its down hill both ways from there - about 100ft elevation change on both sides. But its gradual, so its very doable. But you will notice the difference one direction over the other. Will return to do final west section.
First time on the Comet at the recommendation of a friend. He wasn't kidding - this is a great trail. Well maintained with beautiful scenery. Road the leg from the Georgia State line to Cedartown. Wow just wow. Will do again soon.
I've ridden a number of rail trails and the Chief Ladiga is the best yet. Started in Piedmont AL and the parking was the best; clearly marked lot right behind the police station! Couldn't ask for a better start. Well marked and groomed trail throughout our ride to the Georgia State line. Several stops along the way allow you to rest and even have a picnic lunch. Only needs one or two more bathroom facilities. Worth the drive to cycle this great trail. Will do so again soon.
I enjoyed this trail so much. I road 10miles with the ease. The trail is beautiful.
For a long, late fall weekend, my wife and I based camped at the Chief Ladiga Trail Campground. The campground is located in the Talladega N.F. approx. 7 miles from the GA state line. It is on the trial with plenty of acreage, a running creek, clean showers and a great staff (Terry & his dog Honey)! Hopping onto the trail riding east, we went through some of the most scenic RtTs we have ever rode. You will ride slightly uphill through beautiful forest and creeks until you hit the state line, the photo stop. You will continue with the same scenery, but on concrete, until you “dog leg” at the outskirts/industrial area of Cedartown. After the loop and city street maze, you can visit Cedartown via the unique S. College St. bridge or S. Main St. at the depot. The depot is a great spot to break and has a small museum and bathrooms. There are a couple of unique places to lunch but since it was Sunday most of the place were close so we ate some awesome Sunday-after-church fried chicken at Bojangles. While in town, ride round to courthouse to see the local sports statues. These parts of the CL & SC trails were great but bring plenty of fluids and be careful at all the crossings. After returning the same way, we had a great night sleep and I hit the CL trial westbound.
This is a continuation of my ride on the Silver Comet Trail. What a beautiful ride west through the Talladega NF with a taste of the “old South”. Passing the N.F., you will travel tangent a roadway until you arrive at Piedmont and the Eubanks Welcome Center. The town was tearing down the old cotton/textile mill which is now common in the south, but I could not overcome an overwhelming since of melancholy in the sense we are destroying all our history, but….. The trail to Jacksonville is less woodsy, hillier and more populated but still very nice. Watch on the left side for the white sea mines in the “tree tunnel” before you travel through the impressive campus of Jacksonville State University. The trail remains much the same as before while your travel through Weaver to abruptly stop at the terminus, Holley Farm Road Trailhead just north of Anniston. The CL trial is asphalt and has some minor rough sections but nothing that takes away from its enjoyment. The towns and locals along the path take pride in the trail and are very welcoming to cyclist. If you get the opportunity, I would recommend visiting downtown Anniston by car along the unique Quintard Ave and eating at the local’s favorite Matas Greek Pizza. I think my love of this trail system stems the opportunities to camp, hike & bike all in one GREAT place.
My husband and I drove to Anniston, Alabama from New Orleans and spent 2 days riding the Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet Trail. We stayed in Anniston and drove to Piedmont to ride to the Georgia State line. The trail was smooth and the scenery was beautiful. On Tuesday, we drove a little passed Rockmart, Georgia to ride the Silver Comet Trail. We wanted to ride through the train tunnel and across the tressel bridge, which was very cool. This trail was even smoother and the scenery was equally beautiful. We are looking forward to doing it again. If riding around this time, bring lots of gear to brave the cold weather.
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