Find the top rated dog walking trails in Thomaston, whether you're looking for an easy short dog walking trail or a long dog walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a dog walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
If you start at the northernmost trailhead (Lake Oliver Marina) there is still lots of construction in progress & detours. Otherwise really fun trail
I spent 3 days in Columbus Aug 7-9, and finally got to ride this whole trail, plus roads through town to the Riverwalk. Very nice and enjoyable, cars stopped at several crossings for me (which I am not used to), and generally I was respected as another vehicle when I was on the road. I never felt threatened in any way, it is safer than many store parking lots. Thank you for this great amenity! When we come back, (Dr visit) I will be bringing my bike again!
I've not only been over every inch of this trail as a recreational biker but I've also used it to commute to work at Fort Benning from my neighborhood deep in the Alabama side of the Chattahoochee. Riding to work I sweated street traffic until picking up the trail in downtown Columbus. After that it was very pleasant peddling along the safe Riverwalk at sunrise all the way into Fort Benning. On the ride home, it was a much slower trip because I would stop and look into every creek and slough along the way. Such "alligator habitat" side sights make this trail extra interesting. I no longer work at Benning but I still ride the trail which is great for tween and teen family members too.
I favor the Rotary Park access when taking children with me to the trail. From there one can go upriver to downtown, the rapids, and the mills. Or one can go downstream toward the wooded areas and Fort Benning.
An excellent recreational motive for peddling from Columbus south toward Benning are two attractions around the Benning end of the trail. One is the Oxbow Meadows Nature Center. The other is the Infantry Museum. The museum is outside of Benning's checkpoint gates so there is no hassle. But the Museum prohibits even "small pocket knives" so leave your bicycle maintenance multi-tool, your pepper spray, etc. at your bike before going in.
The pavement on this trail is generally smoother than downtown roads and much of the Riverwalk. However there are lots of rough spots that can trip a novice-class inline skater like myself. I've skated from Flat Rock Park to Psalmond Road and back a couple of times and I've completed a one-way from Flat Rock Park to the Train Station Burger King at the Peachtree Mall area. The later trip involves a 95 foot net elevation drop according to Google Earth and the same source shows the distance as 4.66 miles. From FRP to Psalmond Road is 1.3 miles and is 2.6 for the down and back. The asphalt to concrete junctions vary from well-meshed to quite rough, especially on the first bridge east of FRP. I skate with typical 80mm wheels and have had some trouble with rough spots so I may follow the trend to 110 or 125mm tri-skates for smoothing out the ride. I've fallen only twice and both times were on the rough pavement of the street crossings, once at Reese Road and once at nearby University Avenue. Fatigue probably played a part in the falls but the pavement is tricky. The trail uses yellow bump panels at the approaches to the crossings that are not inline skate friendly but the asphalt out in the road is more of a hazard.
Rode the Fall Line Trace for the first time with my 4-year old daughter and it was awesome! Rode between Hilton Ave. and Columbus State University. Shady, flat, perfect! Bravo!
I have used this trail many times. I do agree that there are too many busy intersections to cross. Some areas where the trail are located can be a bit sketchy. But overall the trail serves its purpose.
I've ridden over 1,000 miles on the River Walk and Fall Line Trace since May of 2016. I have never had one instance of feelin in danger. I'm 66 years old and have had nothing but great experiences. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Since May of 2016 I have ridden this trail at least 20 times.
There are several good entry points, but my favorite route is to park near Lake Oliver Marina and start at the very north end of the trail.
Your can ride several miles to the dam and then exit the Riverwalk briefly north of Bibb City. You will ride through a restored old neighborhood. Stay to the right at all turns, until you ride past the Event Center and storage warehouses. You will see the Riverwalk entry signs on your right. Turn right and follow the road down to the public park where rafters and kayakers put in the river. Follow the trail until it runs into 1st Ave. Turn right and ride about 200 hundred yards, then turn back onto the trail.
From there you can stay off public streets until south of downtown where you exit for a quarter mile onto Lumpkin Blvd. Turn right onto Lumpkin and then turn right into the Naval Museum and follow the trail back to the river. From there follow the trail past South Columbus Water Works to the Oxbow Creek golf course. Turn right just before the golf course.
Follow the bike path past the environmental center and cross S. Lumpkin Ave. The trail is clearly marked until you get to the construction site north of Upatoi Creek. Turn left just before the road construction and pay attention to the markings where the trail crosses the streets. The trail runs through forested areas until you get to the older section of Ft Benning. I enjoy riding out around the airfield and back to the trail starting point at Baltzell Ave.
If you ride around the airfield and back to Lake Oliver the total ride is around 42 miles. Very few climbs, lots of walkers, joggers, and riders on the weekends. There are lots of opportunities to hammer down, but stretches where you need to relax and sit up. Map your course on Google before you go. I love it. You will too.
It's a somewhat hidden gem. My wife and I walk on this trail at least weekly. Very serene, and other walkers are almost always pleasant, sweet folks. We've never felt threatened by any seedy human elements. The City of Stockbridge, Ga., does a pretty good job of maintaining it, moreso if you phone their stretched-thin Parks department with a request, such as, please remove a fallen tree, etc. People say that parking at the Memorial Park (106 Jennings Way, Stockbridge) end of the trail is more secure than the Flippen Road parking lot at the other end... but we've done both and never had a problem at either. We've seen foxes, turkeys, Canadian snow geese, ducks, possums, armadillos, hawks, a big 20" wide tortoise and a jillion squirrels and turkey vultures, and there's a number of wildflowers to delight. Oddly, no snakes or gators so far, even though some of the surrounding area is the bog of Reeves Creek. Every season has its charm on this diverse trail.
very nice and good workout if you head west from Cooper Creek Tennis Center. however heading east there are too many road crossings, very bad signage. The trail goes through an impoverished area that appears to be dangerous with many boarded houses and businesses.
My son and I started riding at the Columbus Bike Shop (which is located on the trail) and rode the trail North all the way to the North parking lot at the other end. A neat long bridge over I185 and several more bridges along the way. All very scenic. There are a few streets to cross before you get to the long runs but love the 'press the button' and traffic stops immediately when there is a street to cross. Thats a nice feature. This is a smooth paved ride with gradual up hill, down hill grades. Some long straightaways for max speed if needed. From the bike shop to the end and back is 14.75 miles.
Did not do the 'thru Columbus' part of the trail as its mixed with lots of 'to much city and vehicle traffic'. We relocated the bikes to ride the trail along the river. It starts downtown on the East side of the Chatahoochee. Very scenic and nicely done. Lots of gradual uphills going North along the river. The ride is scenic with grand views of the river and rock formations. Am planning on doing the trail South along the river to Fort Benning another day and will report on that ride soon.
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