The High Bridge Trail in Virginia runs 125 feet above the Appomattox River. Stop at historic train depots in Weaver and Jacksonville on your way to the Georgia state line, where distance cyclists can pick up the Silver Comet Trail for up to 62 additional miles of biking all the way to Smyrna.
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Perfect for a family day trip, the 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail takes you on an easy ride through the Alabama countryside just over an hour west of Atlanta. The 5-mile section between the Rambo Nursery and McPherson Road is especially attractive, as it passes between quiet woods and fields and crosses a 700-foot bridge that sits 100 feet above Pumpkinvine Creek. The 62-mile path primarily attracts cyclists, but it also serves plenty of walkers and hikers, and there are 17 access points for people with disabilities.
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In 1998, the portion of the rail line running from Smyrna, Ga., to Alabama was transformed into the paved, multi-use Silver Comet Trail.
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Highlights are a 270-foot steel pedestrian bridge over I-40 and a stop at Cloer Family Vineyards in Wake County.įrom 1947 to 1969, the Silver Comet Train carried passengers between New York City and Birmingham, Ala., including service to Atlanta. Start at the Durham Bulls Stadium in downtown to ride all the way to Cary, Apex, or Morrisville on connecting spur trails. The 22.2-mile paved and stone dust American Tobacco Trail used to be the Norfolk Southern Railway supply line for Durham’s tobacco plants. The American Tobacco Trail follows an old railway supply line for tobacco plants. Bike the wide, shady corridor through the 4,500-acre Shelby Farms Park to stops at the Woodland Discovery Playground, a disc golf course, and a zipline.ģ. The 10.6-mile Shelby Farms Greenline Trail brings the outdoors to Midtown Memphis by connecting one of the country’s largest urban parks with the city center. From there, the path tours Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain State Park, and Kings Mountain National Military Park. Along the way, you’ll encounter diverse scenery, from hardwood forests to farmland before reaching downtown Kings Mountain. You’ll traverse crushed stone, gravel, and a boardwalk as you follow North Carolina’s Kings Mountain Gateway Trail, which stretches almost eight miles. Kings Mountain Gateway Trail, North Carolina As you’re exploring the Southeast, be sure to check out these 12 excellent rail trails.ġ. There are more than 200 in the Carolinas and Virginia alone, with work on the 12-state, coast-to-coast Great American Rail-Trail from Washington State to Maryland already 50 percent complete, and the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway between Maine and Florida 33 percent complete. Since rail trails were introduced over 50 years ago, their popularity has grown steadily. Plus, many rail trails extend for miles so runners and cyclists can use them for training for their next endurance race. These trails are easy to reach, they’re designed for people of all ages and abilities, and they’re safely tucked into scenic, pedestrian-friendly corridors that are removed from the flow of traffic. Unlike technical singletrack trails and fire roads, the majority have ADA-accessible segments for wheelchairs, strollers, recumbent bikes, and trikes.
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Most are gently graded and travel through urban centers. That’s because these recycled railroad routes are usually wide, with a smooth surface of pavement, crushed stone, or gravel. Choose a rail trail for your next run or ride and one of the first things you’ll notice is the diverse mix of people sharing the trail with you.