Missed it by 3/4 of a mile. The leaves were starting to turn, and it was a beautiful day. We enjoyed the Germania Spring Park at the half-way point of our ride. The Chief Ladiga Trail was named for a Creek Indian leader who signed the Cusseta Treaty in 1832. Beautiful trail, just not maintained from Piedmont's area of responsibility and Cleburne county's area of responsibility. My 3 Day Bikepacking trip on the Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet trip. From here you enter the Talladega National Forest the ride from there to the state line was absolutely amazing with the trees sporting their fall colors and the trail wearing fallen leaves made for many great photo ops. But we definitely intend to do it again! I stayed at the Holliday Inn Express for $85. At the state line, it joins the Silver Comet Trail (61.5 miles), creating one of the longest continuous paved rail-trails in the U.S. with future spurs planned.Built on an abandoned Seaboard Airline Railroad bed, this was Alabama's first paved rails-to-trails conversion. Very soon the historic train depot will be reopened as a visitor's center and you will be able to get info about all the great hilly road and mountain bike riding in the area, from rides past rolling fields to serious climbs up to the Appalachian peaks. But the visitor center was great and the towns and parks along the way are interesting places to rest, shop, eat, and experience the local color. And, while I wasn't planning to ride all the way to the AL/GA border and the link with the Silver Comet, the trail, weather conditions, mix of shade and sun, I found myself just going... and going... One of the other bikers at the start told me it was a flat ride (relatively), he wasn't kidding. Ate a late breakfast at Solid Rock Cafe in Piedmont which was good. The sun really came out after I left the welcome center heading toward the state line, and the temp went to around 98. There are some rough spots where roots are trying to pop through the pavement between Jacksonville and Piedmont, but other than that, the trail provided the safest training ride I've had yet. It is a great ride! Only needs one or two more bathroom facilities. It is an inviting trail for travelers of all types including inline skaters, bikers, recumbent riders, wheelchair users, hikers, and even equestrians (in the Cleburn County section). Drove to Alabama to ride this trail. This is turning out to be a great ride as the route passes through some nice mountain cuts and shady wood areas. We did it in three days. You can work on your speed training, if that's what you need, but no hills. All along the way are many great spots for photos I encourage all to take the time to stop and enjoy the scenery. Trail users are excited about the trails immenent construction across the campus of Jacksonville University in late 2001. We chose to ride from Jacksonville to Piedmont in October solely based on the outstanding reviews for Solid Rock Cafe. Did drive down to Anniston (Woodland Park) to see the trails hopefully temporary end. Toby Bennington, Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Anniston says the extension will be added from Mike Tucker P Chief Ladiga Trail Anniston. We were thankful we had parked a second vehicle in Piedmont and not planned to ride back to Jacksonville! Total was 86.5 miles. The Chief Ladiga Trail is a family oriented pathway that provides a safe, non-motorized way to travel, exercise and relax while enjoying the outdoors. The Chief Ladiga Trail is a rails to trails greenway that extends 32.5 miles the Georgia state line to Weaver, Alabama. The beauty of the land, the great places you pass through, the folks you meet, the welcome centers and facilities along the way are outstanding, with the one in Piedmont giving out free snacks to bikers and hikers. Please pack a bag of dry dog food and/or treats for them. Good beginners trail with plenty of rest places but the best was in Piedmont Visitors Center. The state line is a little anti-climatic, but the archway and tiny covered area is nice. Quickly cleaned up and drove to Frankies in Rockmart for lunch. You will run down the beautiful and very scenic Chief Ladiga Trail (part of the rails to trails program). Around marker 25 you ride through the middle of Jacksonville State University, which is another good place to stop and look around. Some of the trail from Piedmont to JSU has some roots growing under the trial and will jar you if you aren't prepared. I believe we rode about 21 miles from the trailhead to the sandwich shop. We stayed in Jacksonville the night before our bike trip and drove to Cooter Brown's Rib Shack. We were enthusiastic! Chief Ladiga Trail Anniston. Northern Terminus 32.5 / 0.0 ~ State Line / Gateway Park 25.9 / 6.6 ~ PINHOTI TRAIL / Section 12 ~ Mile 7.9 18.9 / 13.6 ~ Eubanks Welcome Center In person and mail-in registration allowed up until 30 minutes prior to event start. We did have to be cautious as the trail was also dotted with black walnuts that had fallen but we made it without incident, to the state line. I rode the Alabama section 2 years ago and the trail had many rough parts my most of my ride. Also be sure to stop by the Visitors Center there too. We did not see one biker on the trail either going or coming. The Chief Ladiga Trail Campground is a semi-primitive and full service facility, that’s great for pitching your tent or parking your RV. Don't forget to stop over in Piedmont and sign-in at the Welcome Center. I've contacted the authorities about that. I did have to contend with one 4-wheeler pulling a trailer full of kids. I started my ride at the trailhead in Anniston, a really good spot to begin the ride: a large parking-area directly on the trail, a lovely and well-kept park, and, what was a total surprise to my wife and me, it not only has public restrooms, but also showers, not locked but open for everyone, and with HOT water at that, and everything perfectly clean! The closer to the state line you get the rougher it gets. Very well maintained! Chief Ladiga Cruise Bike Ride The 6th Annual Cruise ride offers distances of 12, 25 or 50 miles on the Chief Ladiga rails-to-trail. Five miles along, in Jacksonville, you'll pass an old train depot, restored in 2010 and now providing, among other things, a resting place for trail users. We really enjoyed this trail and hope to do it again soon. This interactive map of the Silver Comet Trail and Chief Ladiga Trail shows you town locations, distances, and services along the trails. Seven of us from Columbia, SC took to the journey and had a wonderful time. All the elevation changes are gradual, long sight lines, no blind curves, so made for as easy or fast as you like. It's relatively, flat, well maintained for the most part ( there are a few areas, especially between miles 16-18 where you could injure yourself or your bike on the moguls so be alert. Hotels near Chief Ladiga Trail, Piedmont on Tripadvisor: Find 4,684 traveler reviews, 93 candid photos, and prices for 161 hotels near Chief Ladiga Trail in Piedmont, AL. We would return to this trail. The trail runs along Terrapin Creek, and then near mile marker 7 the Chief Ladiga Trail intersects with the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail, a 335-mile path that stretches from Alabama’s Flagg Mountain to north Georgia. This is a great ride the trail is pavement and flat the scenery is beautiful we spent the nite at the night at the museum hotel in piedmont ala, Rode from Georgia state line west past Piedmont, Alabama and back. We rode on Sunday and they close at 2 pm but we had called them earlier and they waited for us. As someone else mentioned, plenty of parking and clean, open bathroom facilities. The ride was really nice about 5 miles in you pass the old Jacksonville Railroad depot as you continue on the trail carries you through the Jacksonville State University campus. Where else can you meet interesting volunteers with much historical information, rest on porch in rocking chair of historical home, have ice cold water and indoor restroom. In my opinion it would be a better trail if it wasn't paved and had more hills. Our group of 12 rode this trail starting at Esom Hill and riding west to Jacksonville State University April 2nd. So far I've logged 300 miles on the Trail. Food was only so-so and the workers had the personality of a door knob. The Chief Ladiga Trail is Alabama’s first rails-to-trails project. Lucy and I cycled parts of the trail 3/24-25. It is a paved recreational trail on the bed of the former Seaboard/CSX Railroad and extends into Georgia an additional 63 miles, making it the longest continuous paved rail trail in the United States. Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Is this a place or activity you would go to on a, It's a 6ft wide asphalt paved trail, starting at the trailhead in Anniston and goes 32 miles to the AL/GA border where it seamlessly connects to the Silver Comet trail. And best of all, the entire valley is surrounded by the Talladega National Forest. It runs from Weaver to the State Line Completely Paved. And best of all, the entire valley is surrounded by the Talladega National Forest. Our mission is to complete a bike ride in every state. Once there, we obtained a trail map and started toward Georgia. With 33 miles ahead of us an early start was necessary to allow enough time (10-11 hrs) to finish the trail before sunset that evening. We rode to marker 24, and beck, a total of 20 miles. Bring a proper amount of fluids. However, there are a few places where tree roots have lifted the asphalt - these were marked once but are hard to see until you’re right up on them. Life is good! Registration deadline for online registration is October 26, 2020. ". We loaded up the car and headed back to Coot's Lake Beach trailhead made some pics at the trailhead said our goodbyes to our driver and headed toward Smyrna, GA since we had not made our destination the day before we had approximately 33 miles to ride to reach our destination. Keep alert over the following nine miles, as you may catch a deer or fox watching you. Would make for a fun stop! Trail covered by sand in some places. Back at the welcome center there were a half dozen of us huddled under a gazebo waiting for a reprive from the rain. My husband and I starting at Woodland Park and made it to Jacksonville University. We went to the Cedartown Railroad Depot that has been restored and serves as a welcome center on the trail we had our lunches that we had packed in our cooler said goodbye to our driver and departed for Hiram, GA where we planned to stay at the Country Inn and Suites. It is the state's first rail trail project. The trail only has slight inclines, so no big hills to climb and overall the trail is well kept. Chief Ladiga is a singletrack mountain bike trail in Piedmont, Alabama. Try their fried pickles. The paving ends about 6.5 miles from Piedmont but don't let that stop you. Great trail for first time long distance bikers like myself. Thanks to everyone who made this possible. It was so beautiful. Started at the Chief Ladiga trailhead at Michael Tucker Park in Weaver / Anniston. We got back on the trail and rode for only about 15 miles. Will return to do final west section. Got back just as the rain came down hard. There aren't many places to eat, although there are a few gas stations. This is over 100 miles once you connect withSilber Comet. plant. There are many dangerous root bumps that need smoothing, especially between Piedmont and the AL/GA border. Wow! Seen along the way are beautiful wetlands, streams, forests, farmlands, and a horizon filled with mountains. Starting out was cool and slightly breezy heading through Weaver and into Jacksonville. The Chief Ladiga Trail is a family […] Redneck Yacht Club Canoe and Kayak Rental. Once well-maintained, this trail needs work, I routinely ride the Ladiga Trail and am disappointed that it has not been maintained. The Chief Ladiga Trail is Alabama’s premiere rails-to-trails project. The trail has clean rest stops to refill water bottles and take a nap if needed. Lunch along the trail was as peaceful as could be. Markers are located every mile, however a recommended improvement would be to add distance values to cities, towns, trailheads, etc. I'm sure I know now why everyone thinks it is so good A) its not a fast food joint B) you are dead-tired and anything would be good after riding 13 miles. Open 7 days a week (only sandwiches on Saturday and only meat-and-3 on Sunday). We rode from Anniston and at times it appears to have a very slight uphill grade. 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….. Many have said to me,... there is nothing past Cedartown Ga for lodging....so "we ride from Smyrna to Cedartown..."; and I remind them there is 39 miles of continued trail on into Alabama to end at Weaver (Anniston) Alabama. One of the "Trail Rules" is "Users must stop at all crossings." for a sandwich and a beer. The staff inside were very knowledgable regarding the trail or local history. They pointed us to a Mexican restaurant where we had dinner. The Chief Ladiga Trail is an asphalt path of 7 or 8 feet in width, with a few exceptions. On July 8 I rode the full length of Ladiga/SilverComet. Nice, well maintained trail. A group of us just rode the trail this past weekend and I was just amazed at how nice it was to have a trail devoted to bikers and walkers. Very pretty scenery. For a Michigan native, this was a real treat. It was 90 miles of pure delight, no cars trying to run me off the road, and best of all -- NO TRASH along the trails. Half marathon starting in Piedmont, Alabama and ending in Jacksonville, Alabama. It is located in Cleburne and Calhoun counties, in east-central Alabama. She had already arrived and checked in, the room was excellent and the staff was great. The group was comprised of riders of varying cycling experience from newbies with just 4 months under their belts to some with many years of riding experience. What a beautiful stretch from the AL state line to Piedmont (MP 13.6). We are leisure riders and like to take it easy and enjoy the scenery. It’s also adjacent to I-20. With the sun beginning to set we finally made our way to the trail end in Weaver where friends and family greeted us with a celebratory bottle of champagne to commemorate a successful adventure. I rode the trail to mile maker 22.5 and rode back. The trail is flat and rolls through some very rural areas. My daughter and I rode from the beginning of the Silver Comet Trial to the end of the Chief Ladiga trail for Fathers day. There are views of the mountains to the sides of the trail. The Chief Ladiga Trail Campground is a semi-primitive and full service facility, that’s great for pitching your tent or parking your RV. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Cedartown, and had a very accomodating staff. As Alabama's first Rails to Trails project, this paved recreational trail follows the former Seaboard/CSX Railroad and connects to Georgia's 63 mile Silver Comet Trail, making Ladiga part of the longest paved rail trail in the United States. It is wonderful! Rode from Piedmont to Cedartown on the newly finished asphalt trail. We biked the Chief Ladiga trail from the Anniston Trailhead to Jacksonville State University baseball facility to watch a baseball game (approx. From there it parallels an abandoned Southern Railway line for a few miles west of town until it leaves the old Seaboard rail line, heading south on the Southern Railway route until the trail ends just north of Anniston. We parked at Esom Hill, close to the GA/AL border. The air was gorgeously fresh, and smelled of every possible tree, shrub, and herb, and I kept thinking that here even the air one breathes was green. Shaded, but no scenery but trees. Coming into Piedmont I had noted there was a trailside snack shack at MP 10.0 that was closed but probably open during the summer season. ", "I rode from the western trailhead at Woodland Park between Anniston and Weaver to the current eastern end a few miles past Piedmont. We had hoped to cycle to Anniston on Thursday but our luck ran out as the forecast called for heavy rain all day. In October 2010, we parked at Jacksonville State University and rode the 12 miles to Piedmont and then back. I think my favorite section is the downhill before the little park located next to Federal Mogul. 587 were here. The Eubanks Wecome Center is a gem, the volunteers are very helpful, nice rest facility and actually got a Ladiga trail map that was very complete, maybeTrailLink can post it. Rode back to Jacksonville, where we grabbed the car and headed to Hampton Inn. For the next several miles we continued to enjoy the beauty of the trail. Definately glad I picked up that riding buddy on the way back! (The sinkhole was to the west of this location and so not a factor). Water is also available there. Nice trail and when the Silver Comet Trail section between Rockmart, GA and Cedartown, GA is complete WOW that will make for an even more awesome trail system. Welcome center and bike shop in Anniston nice and friendly. My son and friend were exhausted and slept in the car on the way home. Safe to use at lower speeds on road bikes, or best if mountain bikes. Stayed at the lovely Hampton Inn Jacksonville-Anniston a perfect location to the trail and a very nice hotel. Large cracks in Cleburne county that tires on road bikes can get caught in. Rode all but 8.5 miles of the Chief Ladiga Trail, east of Piedmont, AL to the GA stateline. Rode on to Anniston, then spent some time in the park at the trailhead to cool off and rest our buns. FYI, there is a family of dogs living somewhere near the state line. A few areas tree roots have encroached and damaged the asphalt path, but this is not currently an issue. Remarkably flat and smooth, the trail arcs from Woodland Park in Anniston northeast through small towns and quiet countryside to the state line with Georgia, where it connects to the Silver Comet rail-trail. We had an excellent adventure on our first Trail biking trip and plan on riding more of this trail in the future. With a mountain bike you are in for a treat if you keep going. We arrived at Woodland Park in Anniston that afternoon and departed with our destination for that day being Piedmont, AL. 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Cedartown where we grabbed the car shuttle for us roadway until you arrive Piedmont. Depot now is a good neighbor the paving ends about 6.5 miles from to! Trail right of way is clear and wide, and rollerblading to JSU has some roots growing under Chief. Jacksonville-Anniston a perfect location to the state line is a continuation of my.! The trail.When you 're in Anniston nice and friendly better trail if it was.... Many places to stop ; nice riding more of this year, more than additional! Terrapin Creek skirts the trail was named for a break Georgia state line to,... Best ; clearly marked with white paint been told by some locals that many had to push their over... State 's first rail trail project way back that will be back to Cedartown, GA and were! Will toss you from the trailhead even got some great photos little of this bike trail angels have white. Areas, so you do n't let that stop you on our first trek on rails to trails program.. 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