Chief Ladiga Trail

Chief Ladiga Trail
Piedmont to Jacksonville to Weaver Alabama
A Rails-to-Trails Ride
The trail is now open to the Georgia line !!!

Eubanks Welcome Center
Piedmont, Alabama

Click for more info on the following

Some Trail Facts

Trail History

Trail Rules

Locator Map

Directions to Parking Areas

Trail Shots Photo Page

Trail Shots Photo Page 2

To obtain trail maps or to make
comments, call or write:
Trail Manager, P.O. Box 112,
Piedmont, AL 36272
(256) 447-3363 or (256) 447-9007

This trail is not an actual mountain bike trail, but is just too good not to list here. It is a Rails-to-Trails type ride. From just east of Piedmont, Alabama, through town, and on west to Jacksonville a narrow asphalt ribbon follows an abandoned railroad bed through woods and neighborhoods. It crosses streams and a few roads. Some of the bridges are new. Some are improved railroad trestles, and all are great. On the other side of JSU campus the ribbon takes up again and goes to the town of Weaver. Signs point the way to parking there. You can walk, run, bike, roller-blade, or what ever. No stinkin' engines allowed. The paved part of the trail is about 22 miles from one end to the other, as of Summer 2002. This means an out-and-back ride can be up to 44 miles with no side trips. There are no steep grades on it so it is suitable for all. It is a great family ride and it is great for a hammer head who wants to ride a good level straight ride. It follows along hi-way 21 from Piedmont to Jacksonville. There are several good places to park in Piedmont with signs pointing the way. There is a good parking area on hi-way 204 where the trail crosses 204 in Jacksonville. There is a large parking area at Germania Springs Park. The Western end of the trail is now at Woodland Park near Anniston, Alabama. The Eastern terminus is the Georgia state line. The bridge across Terrapin Creek was completed and opened in 2007. I have not field checked it this year, but am told the last section of the Silver Comet will be connecting this summer.

You show your support and help complete the trail by letting the local elected officials know that you support this project. Here is a list of some.

City of Piedmont, P.O. Box 112, Piedmont, AL 36272, (256) 447-9007
City of Jacksonville, 320 Church Ave., SE, Jacksonville, AL 36265, (256) 435-7611
City of Weaver, P.O. Box 1060, Weaver, AL 36277, (256)820-1125
City of Anniston, P.O. Box 670, Anniston, AL 36202, (256) 236-3422
Calhoun County Commission, 1702 Noble St., Anniston, AL 36201, (256) 236-3521
Cleburne County Commission, 120 Vickery St., #202, Heflin, AL 36264 (256) 463-5655
Calhoun County Conventions and Visitors Bureau, 1-800-489-1087

If you have not ridden this rails-to-trails, it is a "must ride".

Maps of the Chief Ladiga Trail

Instructions for viewing and printing map: The map in on two sheets. To view either half of the map simply click the thumbnail or link under the map. To print the map you may have to set the page properties for your browser if part of map is missing.
printing instructions........	Map Left Half - 187kb	Map Right Half - 192kb

Some of the information on this page and the trail maps were obtained from a brochure which was funded by a grant from the Calhoun County Commission. All information used by permission and is placed here to promote the use and expansion of the trail project. Thanks also to the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, P.O. Box 2186, Anniston, AL 36202. And to Mr. Jack E. Plunk, Principal Planner, for his assistance in obtaining information about the trail.

Related Links

Chief Ladiga Trail Page - latest news and facts from Jacksonville State University.
Rails-to-Trails - national organization home page. Info about other projects and trails.
Silver Comet Trail - rails-to-trails from Smyrna to Rockmart that will connect with the Chief Ladiga Trail at the Georgia line.
Biking Weatherman's Page - This site has many good photos of the trail and country surrounding it and maps second to none.