Explore the best rated trails in Fort Payne, AL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Mount Berry Trail and Viking Trail . With more than 20 trails covering 165 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We rode the full 91 miles from West of Atlanta to Alabama in mid March. It is a well maintained concrete trail that travels through the countryside. It is 95% a straight gradual inclined or decline, except for a few miles in the middle of the trail where there are quite a few hills. These hills are due that the existing rail trail was sold to private owners so they had to reroute approximately 5 miles section around the hills in the area. At approximate mile marker 43 we stayed at the Manor at Beck’s Lake bed-and-breakfast. I would highly recommend the B&B. These two trails are one of the best continuous trails I have ever written. Highly recommend.
The SO Chick trail follows the Chickamauga Creek but it is not a flat trail that follows the grade of a river or an old rail line.
We started our ride at the Tennessee River and the shared trail head with the Riverwalk trail. As the trail goes up stream is climbs high on the hillside banks. Half of the trail distance is wooden boardwalks, and a couple of the climbs are so steel that they created switchbacks.
Another clue this is not a rail to trail path is the many railways along the path that are active. The path runs along side an active line for a stretch and at one point 4 active lines can be viewed from the same spot. On the 10 mile round trip we saw 4 trains including the Tennessee Valley Railroad scenic train.
This is a very pretty trail with a lot of hill and turns. Boardwalks are in good condition, but being boardwalk they are not smooth and can be slippery.
To start with, getting to this trail can be an adventure. Just as I got to the intersection of Friday and Big Texas Rds. the satellite service cut out then told me to turn left instead of right. I advise printing out directions before leaving home. There is absolutely no signage at the trailhead. You just need to know that shortly after you turn left from Big Texas onto Huffiger there is an opening on the right (parking) and a trail on the left. It is clear the RR once continued behind the parking area but this requires development- my view is that it is not currently bikeable and maybe if they don't cut the weeds, not really hikeable come later spring/summer. Cross the road from the parking area to begin your upward grade. The trail has medium sized stones that make MTB tires required. The rail bed is rough and there are lots of pine cones, pine needles, gravel chunks, sticks of varying diameters and some ruts that must be navigated. I proceeded to the bridge over Cabin Creek, crossed Big Texas Rd. and continued to the Friday Rd. crossing. All along there is no directional signage. I just assumed I was on the right trail. It gets confusing at this Friday Rd crossing. There is a fancy gate indicating a private drive but it appears that the trail continues to the left of this gate/wall. However when i crossed to check it out I noted thick mud heavily rutted by what likely was an ATV. This did not look hospitable for a biker so I turned around. That amounted to a 5.5 mile round trip- only a little over half of what I had hoped to accomplish. In my opinion this trail needs a lot of work in the form of signage and repair of the heavily rutted mud areas in order to be worth the trip. Just seemed a little directionally sketchy and impassable at that intersection. You can see the other end of the trail when you return towards Summerville but there too it is unclear as to what the parking situation is. No real signage other than a road sign warning motorists of hikers crossing. Georgia, you can do better!
Rode from Rambo trailhead north to Van Wert in early March 2025. I think this is the best part of the trail. Very quiet and scenic with few road crossings and the trail is in excellent condition.
only thing keeping it from 5* is length. Parallels river 90%, light traffic. Surface is nothing fancy but in good condition.
well maintained trail, wide enough to accommodate walkers, skaters, cyclists, etc. with minimal, if any, inconvenience. No cross streets, though bridge interchanges require slowing down. Some narrow & blind spots, esp around RR underpass. Heat was not an issue, but probably more sun than shade overall, though not extreme. Light traffic on a midday Friday.
Aldridge Creek runs straight and shallow, not terribly scenic; extent of wildlife observed were a few aquatic fowl
My default ride is from the Eubanks Welcome Center In Piedmont to over into GA and back. It’s such an awesome trail and is always a joy to ride there. Well maintained and beautiful!
Yesterday 10-10-24 we rode the trail. We parked near Jacksonville State Campus and rode the the trailhead to the Silver Comet start. Beautiful trail with great scenery. Only complaint was the asphalt needed some work. Some parts were marked when it was rough (although they’ve could stand to remark them) but lots of places weren’t marked so be careful and watch the road. We stopped in Piedmont for lunch at Elevated Grounds Coffee Shop. Paul had chicken salad sandwich and I had BLT. Both delicious ! The owner even greeted us when we arrived.
Really fun trail. Lots of bridges and boardwalks beside the river. Felt like being in a tree fort at times.
A very nice, well maintained trail with ample bathroom facilities, trash and recycle receptacles. Well paved double-lane path out and back. Beautiful views of Lake Guntersville and neighboring communities. Plenty of picnic tables and benches and water filling stations. If they could bridge busy Hwy 69 which you cross it might be perfect.
Fun ride new record of 41 miles on my e-bike. I’m sure I could have hit 50 no problem.
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