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Print Friendly MapClosure Notice: The Tammany Trace has a bridge closure over the Bogue Falaya in Covington, on the eastern end of the trail. Please check with St. Tammany Parish for more information.
Overview
Situated to the north of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain, the Tammany Trace was Louisiana's first rail trail. The Trace, as it’s known to locals, is so named because it traces across St. Tammany Parish, connecting the communities of Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, and Lacombe.
Along the paved pathway, trail users will experience the piney woods and moss-draped oaks that earned the area its Ozone Belt nickname. In the late 1800s, New Orleanians seeking respite from the oppressive heat of the coastal plain chose this as a vacation spot. Today, the trail passes many of their stately retreats.
About the Route
Leaving off from the trail's western end in Covington, be sure to check out the H.J. Smith and Sons General Store and Museum for a glimpse into the town’s past. The trailhead in Covington is also home to a museum and hosts the Covington Farmers Market every Wednesday during the growing season.
Seven miles to the east is the quaint town of Abita Springs, home to the famed Abita Brewpub, which serves a pleasant lunch at trailside seating (park at adjacent Abita Springs Park). The famous local beer and root beer are brewed nearby. For a quirky experience, check out the Abita Mystery House, a trailside attraction of unusual goods that will leave you with plenty of stories.
From Abita Springs, the trail heads south to Mandeville, where a renovated train station now serves as a community trailhead. Looking to get a glimpse into the famed jazz scene of Louisiana? If you’re in town on the night when it is open for a performance, a visit to the Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall is an absolute must. If you're out during the weekend, stop by the Saturday morning market at the Mandeville trailhead to browse handmade items and sample a variety of local foods.
Beyond Mandeville, the trail leads southeast through a wetlands landscape. This is the Louisiana of Deep South lore. The trail comes within several blocks of Lake Pontchartrain before angling inland toward the bayou. A worthwhile side trip here is the 2,800-acre Fontainebleau State Park, where the brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 remain. This park is a bird-watcher’s dream, and the professionals at the nature center can give you tips on how to spot some of the region’s finest feathered friends.
The Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge lies between the small fishing town of Lacombe and the lake and offers endless opportunities to explore. The refuge’s visitor center, just off the trail, is a great place to start. If you have a few extra hours to spare, rent a kayak or fishing gear to see a different side of the bayou.
The trail reaches its eastern end at the Slidell-Carollo trailhead.
The Tammany Trace runs between N. Theard Street (Covington), where parking is available, and Gause Blvd W.
Parking is also available at:
Please see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
But the bridge is out in Covington. We started our ride in Covington and was told that the bridge was out. That's fine but NO signage to navigate the detour. Since we have this app we figured it out, walked our bikes across a very busy bridge and eventually got back on the trail. But they should have it marked. Now for the good part. Great trail, best we have ever been on. Had lunch at the abita springs cafe, visited the Abita Mystery House of super cool collectibles and spoke to the owner for quite some time. Rode on a cool day in December about 6 miles each direction. Flat, interesting ride. Highly recommend
Kudos St. Tammany Parish for this beautiful and safe trail. What a treasure.
Tried to start in Covington. Bridge out so had to ride around this on the busy highway. Otherwise trail in very good condition. A lot of cross roads that you have to slow down or stop for. Shaded for the most part. A lot of people on the trail which is nice to see
We rode Tammany trail from Neslo rd to Abita Springs 2/26/24. The surface is blacktop the entire way and in great condition, with the exception of a couple small spots. Ride is flat. There are several intersections with roads, but good visibility and almost no vehicle traffic. We had the trail pretty much to ourselves until we got to Mandeville, then some light bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
I have run this trail 3 days per week for 2 years and it’s the most peaceful & serene experience one could ever ask for. It encompasses the true Louisiana Swamp beauty! From the occasional gator sunbathing to the squirrels rustling through the pine needles for nuts. The large array of southern flowers will have your senses going haywire in a good way¿. As perfect as this sounds there are a couple things you’ll need to be aware of. 1. Pets are NOT allowed, but yet people still make their way on the trail and allow their pets to poop without picking it up. Sometimes the less than desirable drug addicts make a way to the trail. They won’t bother you, they’ll just move out of your way. And last but not least please be careful when crossing the intersections it’s a lot of them.
We rode from Mandeville to Covington round trip @28 miles. There are lots of street crossings but many have a 4 way stop. There isn’t much traffic at the crossings. There are 2 towns of interest , Abita and Covington. Other than those towns there isn’t much to look at. Trees are on both sides of the bike path so you do have shade. I like lots of scenery so this wasn’t my favorite trail.
We joined the trail from Camp Salmen Nature Park and rode it to the city limits of Covington and back to Abita. The first section was recently repaved and was in superb condition and the rest of the trail was also in great shape.
One nice safety measure that is in place is that as the trail intersects secondary roads and neighborhood streets there were 4 way stops in place which makes the trail safer for the users.
The Abita Brew Pub was a refreshing as it was right on the trail and offered food and adult beverages but was extremely busy at lunchtime on a Saturday. It was worth the wait…
The well maintained asphalt is relatively level throughout from Slidell to Covington with a slight incline in a few places with shaded areas along the way. Bonus lunch and beer on the way back at Abita Springs!
Pleasant experience throughout from Slidell all the way to Covington. The trail is fairly level along the entire route on well kept asphalt pavement. And there was a bonus at Abita Springs on the way back … a great meal and beer!
We rode 8.5 miles from the beginning of the trail in Covington to the St Tammany’s Children’s Museum and park. Lots of good parking there. So the trail is about 10 miles from Covington to where it crosses the 12 fwy. Sometimes I wish TrailLink showed some mileage on their map. In Covington we parked at the Justice Center. Really fun ride. When you leave Covington it is 4.5 miles to Abita. Both towns have fun eating places. This would be a great trail on a hot day-lots of shade. Due to time we could not do whole trail. Not sure if this rest is as Great as the part we didgreat as the part we did.
This is a really nice trail for all cycling levels. As it’s a former rail line, there several street crossings along the way, some of which are blind. Approach with caution. Also when passing through Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, watch out for children riding on the trail.
This is a great trail that passes through nice towns along the way. Definitely pay attention to closures along the route and plan accordingly. While we have ridden portions of the trail several times, we have never been able to complete the ride end to end due to closures.
Perhaps it has been reported before and we missed it, but we discovered access to the Abita Brewer yesterday that is definitely worth a stop if you like beer. After leaving Abita Springs headed towards Covington, watch for a white decorative bike at the intersection of Josephine St and the Trace and turn right; the Brewery parking lot is a few hundred yards on the right.
Supposedly there is also Trace access to the Chafunkta Brewery at the tunnel under Hwy 59, but it wasn't obvious with the tunnel construction still in progress. Happy trails.
Started at the eastern edge, smooth sailing all the way to Fountainbleu State Park then returned. Trees hug the path providing lots of shade, looks like recent asphalt. Mostly flat with slight incline. I liked the lily pond and the drawbridge was the smallest I've seen. Any construction that may exist must be on the western side because my ride was fully open.
I had been looking forward to riding this trail for months after reading all the positive reviews. This was our first bike trip toting our dog in her "carriage" and the Trace would be a great test of my strength and stamina! We started in Covington and made it to the I-12 construction point. My thought going in was we could just cross over the highway and pick up the trail on the other side...nope; especially not towing a dog behind! Will definitely have to put this on our list to do again when construction is complete! I saw comments about no pets on the trail...we didn't experience any issues. I did see signs saying no pets but I assumed it meant in the grassy area where the signs were, to keep it clean.
On a wet, March morning we braved the sprinkles and enjoyed as much of the Tammany Trace as we could before the full brunt of the storm hit later in the day. We got wet and had to modify our bike ride, but it did not dampen our admiration and enthusiasm for this awesome trail we traveled across the country from California to ride. This 5 star Rail Trail Hall of Fame trail absolutely lived up to its reputation!
The trail was smooth, flat, safe, quiet, and picturesque. If you enjoy long, straight, peaceful rides along tree covered trails accompanied by the sounds of birds, then this is the trail for you to ride, walk, or jog.
We loved our visit to Slidell and would highly recommend this trail as a road trip destination experience!
From the FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH DEPARTMENT: I noticed a couple of previous reviews mentioning the e-bikes being banned. One rider so ticked off he gave the trail just one star. We had several interactions with the trail ranger, and she had no problem with us (a couple of senior citizens) utilizing our quiet Swytch pedal assist systems. No throttle, no roar, no excessive speed. Too many e-bikes aren't bikes, they're motorcycles. I'm just sayin' . . .
We rode the trail yesterday and found that the trail closure now extends from the Dove trailhead (south of I-12) all the way north to Robert Road (north of the Rt. 59 tunnel). This is due to I-12 widening construction as well as construction at the tunnel. The signs indicated closure as "indefinite" so watch for updates. We road Abita Springs to Covington trailhead and Dove Rd to Mandeville trailhead. Last week we road from Mandeville trailhead to the Bayou Lacomb draw bridge. Very nice rides. Also note that the rules of the trail do indicate "no electric or motorized vehicles" with no exception for e-bikes. We suspect this may be due to horses that share portions of the trail. This may also be the reason for another rule stating "No pets allowed". This is the first trail that we have encountered that does not allow pets.
Wow...All I can say is stay away from this trail if you have an ebike. Sadly, I encountered a ranger who insisted my ebike was a "motorized vehicle" and thus not allowed on the Tammany Trace. I was on a road trip and was looking forward to this trail, but left without even pedaling a single foot on the trail. So disappointed that some people are so misinformed about the laws regarding ebikes. Fortunately, I found less than an hour away some GREAT trails in Alabama. I highly recommend heading East and skipping this place.
Great trail! Safe, easy, nicely paved. Lots of wildlife. Stay in Mandeville at Harbor Landing Cottage. Great Place! Close to trail and lake. Fun trail and other great things to do.
Clean. Safe. Security throughout trail. Endless communities to stop in, especially Abita Springs. 100 out of 100 for Tammany Trace. One thing - construction has trail between Dove trailhead and Koop Drive trailhead. So park at Koop Drive trailhead if want to go north on trail to Abita Springs brewery, etc.
Wonderfully flat, we rode from the Koop road trailhead (lots of parking) to the end in Slidell. LOTS or road crossings but the locals err on the side of caution and most stop even when not required. Round trip was more than 40 miles and every mile is beautiful. Cool drawbridge that we crossed and then got to watch operate for a boat heading upstream. The rest benches are plentiful at first but thin out further on.
Rode this trail 27 miles from Slidell to Covington to take advantage of prevailing winds. Trail is very flat, mostly tree lined, in good condition, and very scenic. There are many streets/roads to cross...be careful!
Pleasant 3-day trip starting in Covington to Fontainbleau State Park campsite. Trips from there both ways to Slidell, Mandeville, and Abita Springs. Ate a lot of meals in Mandeville which were very enjoyable. The ride to see the old oaks along Lakeshore Dr. is a must. Nice trailheads.
Best roller blading is from Covington (Harbor Freight) to Mandeville Trail head, be careful at the crossings. Do not cross 190 into old Covington it isn’t paved and is very difficult on roller blades. Also it is hard blading from Fontainebleau State Park to Slidell due to the old asphalt, very rough and fatiguing on the feet.
Trail was very well maintained and pretty much flat with no turns. Only complaint would be no markings along the trail at all. You better have a map or you’ll be wondering where you are and missing lots of sights.
It should really be noted somewhere that pets are not permitted on the trail. It was rather disappointing to get off the highway, find somewhere to park my RV, and walk down to the trail, only to find that I could not walk my dog.
Stayed in Fontainebleau State Park for a couple of days and rode the Trace to Slidell on January 1st 2019 in miserable weather. Got soaked, returned to the State Park for a change of clothing and continued to ride towards Covington. Didn't realize how early darkness would set in though, not being local and had to turn around at I12. Unfortunately I had to leave the next day. Well, going all the way next time, hopefully this spring. Loved the beautiful Trace.
I rode this trail as I cycled the Southern Tier in 2018 as a solo cyclist. It is a wonderful trail and lots to see. Very well maintained and loved the scenery from the ponds with the lily pods and daffodils plants to the beautiful waters edge at the bridge and dam. Oh and loved that Bathroom stop at almost the halfway point by the bridge. Just wish it went on longer.
Finally…….after months of trying to get down to Southern LA, we enjoyed our best overall rails to trails experience. Not that the TT is the best trail (great surface, clean restrooms, good security and frequent trailheads) rather it’s the whole package; great local restaurants, Lake Pontchartrain, Fontainebleau S.P., water splash pads, Abita Brewery, community fairs (Mandeville on Saturday & Abita Springs on Sunday), drive-thru daiquiris and the IMAX theater at Slidell.
Due to the impromptu nature of our trip, we had to stay in a motel in North Slidell, decent & inexpensive. We planned to tent camp at Fontainebleau or rent a B&B in Mandeville but everything was booked. The east terminus was easy to find but you will have to park across Gause Blvd. at the shopping centers if you don’t park at the trailhead. The trail is pine tree lined with a lot of crossing that will moderate your speed. Eventually, you reach the picturesque, rolling bascule bridge over Bayou Lacombe (bridge hours vary). We arrived at Fontainebleau ($3 entrance fee) to relax at the lake/beach/pier and roll through the campsites all under majestic live oaks, approx. 32 miles round trip.
The following day we drove to Abita Springs to ride the western half. First, we rode to the western terminus at Covington and turned around at the statue of Ronaldus Magnus and returned to Fontainebleau. When passing Mandeville, we explored the harbor area and rode along Lakeshore drive. Upon returning to Abita Springs, approx. 35 miles round trip, we partook of post ride refreshments at the brewery, free beer tokens come with the tour! We are definitely planning to return in the very near future; “laissez les bon temp rouler.”
Rode the eastern half of the trail, parking in Slidell. Big parking lot, restroom building, visitor's log. Dead flat trail (what else would you expect in the bayou?), wide, smooth, scenic, with a very rural feel and few road crossings. Talked with the trail manager at the lift bridge, which itself was a neat attraction. Turned around at Fontainbleu State Park for a 25 mile round-trip. The trail crosses the entry road with no trailside facilities, rather than traverse the park.
I would have liked to see another developed trailhead with full facilities; about every 5 miles is ideal. While in Covington I drove by that trailhead. The western half of the trail seems to get more urban, and I would expect to see a higher concentration of street crossings. Next time I'm in the area I will probably ride this trail again, and explore further west from Fontainbleu.
Nice up kept trail. Several attractions around the trail
What an amazing trail! We sailed along on this flat paved partially-shaded surface loved every minute until I got a migraine and had to stop after only seven miles. 😞 Plan to try again tomorrow.
1st time, long distances riding, picked a good trail to start. We found it to be very nice, wide, clean and shaded for a sunny day, I was concerned about not being able to use the restroom, well you do have plenty places to stop with the right facilities. Highly recommended! Lots of places to stop, sit and stretch, along the trace. We enjoyed the streams, squirrels and the turtle pond @ marker 13.
Enjoyed a great round trip ride on the Trace! The trail is very well maintained and regularly monitored. I did have a hard time finding anyone in the Trailhead centers even though I was there during open hours. No biggie, very enjoyable ride. Note that there's a bike shop at the Covington end and about midway.
absolutely beautiful ride ,, well paved and very scenic ,,,,goes through the woods ,, very peaceful !
We had great fall weather for our ride today. The leaves are turning and the sky is blue. We started at the SE end at the Slidell trailhead. Staff was on the trail and at bridge over bayou near St.Tammany Parish trailhead (which closes @5:06pm) The trail is well maintained and is well used by the community. One ranger we spoke to has met people from all over the world traveling the trail. The trails website and this site give accurate descriptions of the trail. There are a lot of things to do along the trail and facilities are available. Be sure to leave the trail to visit or camp at Fontainebleau State Park. Mandeville has some beautiful sites to see. We had lunch in Abita and turned around for the return trip today. We've visited the Covington trailhead and the bike shop right on the trail previously, and I can say you will enjoy that end as well.
Rode this trail from the Koop Dr. trailhead north for about 7 miles. Flat, straight ( in this section ), and well-maintained made this a pleasure to ride upon.
Did the whole trail Covington to Slidell and back. There were plenty of fun stops along the way
Being from Louisiana but now living on the coast of Mississippi, I would suggest doing this ride in the fall or winter because of the heat and humidity in our deep south summers. If you do shorter rides, you can manage but you have to be able to handle the temps. Lots of beautiful trees and wildlife to view. Cool places to stop and get a bite/beer. Flat surfaces, no hills, clean. You will not be disappointed....
I am writing to share a wonderful experience I recently had on your Rails to Trail during a vacation to Mandeville from Raymond, Mississippi. My husband and I have recently taken up biking as a hobby that provides both leisure and exercise to ward off at least some of the unfortunate side effects of aging.
On what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year, we lit out on your trails to enjoy a few hours of riding in a new environment. We were amazed at the size of the rabbits, the lovely landscape and the overall quality of the trail infrastructure; however, the most noted aspect of the ride was the blistering, relentless HEAT. About 28 miles into the ride I began to have a headache, blurry vision and nausea due to the heat. My husband was not concerned and encouraged me to press on to shady spots for breaks as he was not so affected by the heat. On our third break after the turnaround point, I told him to call 9-1-1. About the time I thought I would pass out due to heat exhaustion, two rangers, CJ and Allen, appeared to literally save my day!
They pulled out ice cold water and called a cab for me to take me back to the inn where I was staying. They loaded my husband’s bike in the cab and called ahead to the next ranger on the trail to have water ready for my husband who would complete the ride back on my bike. Were it not for the serendipitous timing and preparation of these rangers, I would likely have been hospitalized. Instead, I was able to enjoy a sno cone compliments of my cab driver, Mo, and make my dinner reservation later that same day.
I understand that governments face increasing economic pressure to meet many competing demands. I hope this letter serves as an endorsement for the wonderful rangers and trail program that you have established. I will continue to visit your parish and trails and promote both as a place where one can experience leisure, natural beauty and wonderful Southern hospitality. I hope you will recognize the excellent service of CJ and Allen and continue to offer these wonderful experiences to St. Tammany natives and visitors alike.
With gratitude,
Betsy Crook
One day we rode from Covington trailhead to Mandeville trailhead and back (about 25 miles). Lots of pretty scenery, shade, and other interests, like Abita Springs, bridges, playground, and a tunnel. There's a restaurant within 2 blocks of the Covington trailhead that is really good, too! (Mattina Bella) Another day we rode from Mandeville to Slidell. Had problems at the beginning so we went into Mandeville and found a store, The Bike Path, to help us. Great service from them and we were back on the trail in no time! This section was more remote. We saw a beautiful area full of blooming lilypads and also enjoyed checking out the Lacombe drawbridge. There are a few picnic tables along the way and most are maintained well. Loved this even in the heat of summer - my advice is go early in the morning!
Rode the Tammy trace trail and the experience in every way was exceptional.
... you start and end at the Mandeville trailhead. Mandeville has the most elaborate trailhead facilities I have seen. Plus there is a coffee shop right at the parking and the "not to be missed" Old Rail Brewpub within sight for the afternoon wrap up.
We rode from Mandeville to Slidell and return on a February day. Not shown on the Traillink map are the restrooms at the draw bridge just east of Lacombe.
Also, prompted by a previous reviewer, we made the side trip into Fontainebleau State Park. A mile+ trip off the trail leads you to a beach and a fishing pier out into the lake. $2 admission, free for 62+.
For another nice view of the lake ride one of the quiet side streets to the SW in Mandeville to enjoy a long lake-front park with paths along the shore.
Was much better before they added a speed limit of 15 MPH. Serious cyclist will now go elsewhere.
In Louisiana shade is more than a want -it is necessary. Out of all of the trails I've been to in Louisiana -this is the best! There are interesting stops along the way. You can break the 31 miles up. My first bike journey started in Abita Springs, which is a charming town, and ended in Mandeville riding along the lakefront, before we turned around and headed back. The next trip we picked up in Mandeville and headed east trying to complete the Trace, but we spent so much time exploring Fountainbleau Park, that we had to save the drawbridge for another day. Also, there are delicious restaurants to try, which are close to the trail. A beautiful, tree lined journey, enjoyed by serious bikers, as well as kids on training wheels and everyone in between!
It was a nice ride. I wish that there weren't breaks in the trail where you have to cross streets. I love the area of Abita Springs! Great feel. I can't wait to go back!
I traveled the Tammany Trace during the late spring 2025. Awesome trail, well maintained and very pleasant to travel.
Loved it!!!
This is an awesome trail, well maintained and a joy to ride, Downtown Covington and Downtown Abitia Springs are full of things to see and do. The kids connection playground in Mandeville is awesome, take de te and enjoy the Tammany Trace.¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿
Nice easy, flat surface. Trail is really clean. Trail maintenance personnel continually patrol trail and are very courteous and helpful. Really enjoyed our ride!
We really enjoy the trail. It is flat and well kept up. You don't have to be an experienced cyclist to enjoy it. It's interesting to visit the towns along the way.
Rode an easy 30 miles - Mandeville to Slidell and back. Flat, very well maintained. Hope to go back soon to complete the Trace -- from Covington to Mandeville!
It's flat as a pancake, straight as an arrow and has beautiful pine forest scenery. I enjoyed it immensely.
We are down South for a month and having biked the Long Leaf Trace in Hattiesburg, Ms..wanted to try the Tammany Trace in Slidell. We are so glad we did. My wife rated the trail an A+ and she is a hard grader. The trail was flat, smooth for the most part and where it had been patched it was well done. The trace was not overly busy on the Sunday afternoon in February but the folks we met were very friendly and helpful. The Trace is easy to find and parking was plentiful right by the path. We will be back!
We biked a portion of this lovely trail in mid January. It is very well maintained and runs through a great part of the state of Louisiana. All levels of cyclists were using the trail. Many parking options as well as rest spots. I wished I lived closer to this trail. Please plan one like it for the Lafayette ,LA area!!
Flat as can be,great asphalt condition,mostly in shade unless sun is directly overhead-tall trees on both sides.Great snoballs(snow cones if you're not a native) plus food/drink next to trail in Mandeville at Shiver Shack-they rent bikes-single speed cruisers,mutlispeed mountain bikes,trailers,trailer bikes,did have a 52 cm Scott CR1 road bike.Few spots next to trail to get fluids/snacks.Quite a few street crossing but most have little traffic.
You can start your ride to the Trace in Fountainbleu park (at the lake). Huge parking lot. Nice restrooms. If you go early it might remind you of Cade's Cove in the Smokies. This morning I saw a total of 14 deer and 5 wild hogs. Owls hooting in the distance. Some easy off road trails there, too. You can actually pedal your bike about 100 yards to a pavilion out over the lake. Really nice.
The St. Tammany Trace is a fantastic bike trail, especially the stretch between Mandeville and Slidell! I only wish I lived closer so I could enjoy this jewel, everyday! The local characters you'll meet, while resting at the Lacombe ranger station/draw bridge, are every bit as interesting as the Southeast Louisiana wildlife you'll encounter during your ride! Pine tree woods, bayous, swamps, and quaint, historic towns are all part of the Tammany Trace experience!
We loved this trail. It was easy biking since it was very flat. The weather was sunny and hot when we biked this trail but the trail is so shaded that we didn't even notice the heat. We stayed in Mandeville and loved the farmers markets, the great places to eat and all the nice people. It was like going back in time to a little Mayberry.
My brother and I rode the entire trail today and enjoyed it very much. Can't wait to ride it again.
We started in Covington and ended in Slidell and then returned to Covington. It was a great relaxing and flat ride. Take bug spray and suntan lotion. We crossed the bridge where we had a friendly conversation with the Ranger. Great day for riding and highly recommended.
We started at the Mandeville Trail head (not to be confused with the Mandeville Visitor Center) and before starting on the trail rode down down to the Lake Ponchtrain lake front. It was a scenic ride along the lake. We then headed back to the Tammany Trace on Girod Street and stopped at the Beach House Bar and Grill for lunch, which was really nice. There are several restaurants in this area. Then we hit the trail heading east. The trail was perefectly flat, wide and smooth - a great riding surface. Scenery was good also. We rode several miles beyond the draw bridge and ranger station at Lacombe then headed back to Mandeville. After 25 miles on the trail we ended the day at Old Rail Micro-brewery which is conveniently located on the trail at the Mandeville Trail head. It was very good.
We wanted to detour off the trail to ride the paths in Fountainbleu Park but after fighting 20 mph wind all day decided to save this excursion for another day. It was nice that park rangers were patrolling the trail.
Summary - this is an outstanding trail and we can't wait to ride it again.
We rode from the trail head in Slidell to Mandeville (about 15 miles.) We stopped at "Louie and the Redheaded Lady" for lunch (delicious!) in Mandeville before heading back to Slidell. What I loved most about this ride was the beautiful setting. There are lots of tall trees that shade most of the path, so riding when it is a little hot out was not too bad. (The temperature was in the low 90s the day that we rode.) There are some beautiful river crossings and scenery all along the way. You are never too far from civilization if you need to stop for any reason. Plus, we saw three different rangers patroling the path, so if you ran into any difficulty, there are people there that could provide assistance.
I would definitely recommend this trail to all levels of bike riders. We were riding our hybrid bikes, but it would be great for road bikes because it is paved in asphalt the entire way. Because it is so flat and paved, most any kind of pedal-powered vehicle would be appropriate. They were doing some construction that we had to dismount and go around, but they had signs up warning you, so it was not a surprise.
There are lots of roads that you have to cross over, which makes it a little more dangerous, but the drivers were all very considerate and stopped even when they did not have a stop sign. Once you get into Mandeville, the road crossings are all four-way stops, so it is a little less dangerous, but because of the road crossings, I deducted one star.
Great path that is very well maintained making for a great ride!
My husband and I rode this on our tandem. It is quite flat and was very enjoyable. One day we started at the eastern end at Slidell/Carollo. There were nice facilities there. If you are coming from the south to get there off I10, take the second road that says it is Rt 190 and also says W Gause. If you would like to put it in your GPS, it is actually 2289 W Gause. Our only criticism is that you have to cross alot of streets that go from 190 to the homes closer to the lake. If you were familiar with the path you would become familiar with which ones are busy streets. Our second day we started on the west end in Covington. There is a cute park there but we could not access the facilities that day. There are several parks with pavillions and restrooms along this western part of this trail. Be sure to stop at Abita Springs at the Brew Pub. It is literally right next to the path. Had a beer with friendly locals. There is an old gas station/now museum that looks like it is straight out of the 1930"s in Abita Springs as well. Tammany Trace has their own website with descriptions of each stop along the path. This is definitely one we will ride again if we are in the New Orleans area.
For anybody looking for a nice, flat trail to ride their trikke, the Trace is the best place around!
I ride my trikke once a week at the Trace.
If any trikkers want to meet up with me and ride, go to my trikke club at MYTRIKKE.COM and join me for some fun, awesome rides.
My husband and I rode from Covington to Mandeville and back and it was a wonderful ride. We started out early and had very little company. As the day progressed we saw more people and a few groups training. This is a nice easy ride. Four stars because of lots of road crossings. Trailheads have great facilities and the trail is well maintained. We saw two rangers checking on the trail on our trek. Of course we had to stop at the Abita Brew Pub for a cold one. Great day, Great ride.
We rode the trail in April. The trail was very well maintainec. It was ride was beautiful and the weather was perfect. They were building a new trailhead at the drawbridge. The wetlands beside the trail provided a variety of plants. Covington is a very nice town in which to stay.
Just finished a 2761 mile, 27 day cross country tour from San Diego to Jacksonville, Fl. We happened upon the Trace from friendly folks in a convenience store in Covington who told us about it. What a welcome break from Rt. 71 and 190 ! The trail is perfectly paved the entire way, clearly marked once you're on it. We rode 22 miles to Slidell in about an hour, in the shade. What relief after leaving Hammond in a heat index of 117.
We rode this trail in April 2010. We started at Abita Springs where we had a wonderful soup-salad-sandwich lunch at the Breakaway Cafe, across the highway from the Brew Pub. There is parking nearby and we rode the trail in two diections, before and after lunch. At this time of year wisteria and azeleas were in bloom adding to the beauty of this ride.
I've been planning a ride from Mobile, AL to Hammond, LA and came across the Tammany Trace.
I've noticed that the TrailLink Google Map shows the trail continuing east beyond US 190 to North Slidell. However, the new Google Map bicycling direction option shows it only going as far as Neslo Road, with a rail line continuing east to N. Slidell. Several street views confirm that it this portion is still a rail line.
My wife and I just rode the Trace. we took two days and it was great. In Manderville we went down and rode around the lake front. We toured the state park. A great trail.
We just spent a week in Abita Springs and rode on the Tammany Trace. Even though we had not ridden at all this year, we found the trail to be easy riding. The scenery was great; there were many places to stop. I wish there were places like this everywhere! The surface was wonderful, even for a rode tandem.
I'm a life long mandevilliean. When I was a kid, a very long time ago, I walked the rail to school, smashed pennys when the trains went by and though rock from the bed at snakes. YES, lots of snakes. But if your coming to bike/hike the trace you need to take the side trips. In Mandeville, soon after the 190 under pass, take coffee street to the lake front. Bike the lake front then take girod street back to the trace. This will take you the trial head, pass many GREAT place to eat, have coffee { Maxein's } and if your lucky, see free music at the trial head. Covington and Abita Springs are also great side trips.
I live in the area of the trace and have gotten much enjoyment out of it.
As of Tuesday Sep. 16, the new Bayou Lacombe drawbridge is open, thus completing the 30+ miles of the trace, from Slidell to Abita Springs.
The Bridge has a ranger stationed at it to operate it, from dusk till dawn, everyday. It is put in the open position during the night.
On this site it currently says that the legs of the trace are from Slidell to Lacombe, and from Lacombe to Abita Springs; now it would read: Slidell to Abita Springs.
And fortunately for visitors coming from the Mandeville Trailhead, the area now opened up by the bridge (the length from Bayou Lacombe into Slidell), is one of the most beautiful areas of the trail.
According to the Times Picayune (4/18/08):
Tammany Trace bridge taking shape
http://blog.nola.com/tpnorthshore/2008/04/photo_tammany_trace_bridge_tak.html
The long-awaited Tammany Trace crossing over Bayou Lacombe began to take shape Friday with the installation of the vertical tower for a new 80-foot drawbridge.
The structure, built by Land and Marine Fabricators Corp. of Slidell, was barged early Friday from Bayou Bonfouca to Lake Pontchartrain and up Bayou Lacombe to the recreational trail.
There, workers bolted the structure to the steel 8-foot-wide deck of the $1.94 million span being built by McDonald Construction of Slidell.
Parish officials say they expect the new bridge to be completed next month and be opened shortly afterwards.
When the bridge opens for trace traffic, 20 more miles of the recreational trail -- from the bayou west to downtown Covington -- will become easily accessible to trail users east of the bayou.
For trace users west of the bayou, another six miles of the trail, from the bayou east to near Thompson Road west of Slidell, will be accessible.
Plans call for the fixed-end drawbridge to be down during the day for trail users, with a trace ranger opening the span for boat traffic. The bridge will remain open for marine traffic after sunset, when the trace is closed.
Long-range plans call for constructing a trailhead, with a ranger station and restrooms, on the western bank of the bayou. Plans also call for eventually extending the trace from the Slidell/Carollo trailhead near Thompson Road into Olde Towne Slidell.
"A tunnel was built under Hwy 190 to remedy that problem. We still ride to Bayou LaCombe to ""wish upon a bridge"" though. We could actually use a tunnel at Hwy. 36 to Covington too. My husband and I are over 55 and ride the Trace every weekend."
"A very nice trail. We were impressed with the trailheads and the adequate parking. It was very comforting to see the amount of security on this trail. However, there are some bridges out that limit how far you can ride in some directions. We first rode from the Slidell/Carollo trailhead, but after six miles the bridge over the Bayou Lacombe is out. Then we rode from the Tammany Trace Trailhead and found out that after four miles the bridge over the Albita River is out. Nevertheless, this is a great trail and well worth the effort."
"This beautiful trail is actually a former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio branch line, not Illinois Central. In the 1970s, the two lines merged briefly and became the Illinois Central Gulf, a new line. They later separated again.
Anyway, we rode this trail over the Thanksgiving holidays in 2004 from Abita Springs to Fontainebleu. This is a beautiful trail, especially from Mandeville and Eastward. Numerous live oaks, tupelo or cypress tees, and many bayous. We rented bikes at a place in Abita with only a few ancient bikes; there is now a new place with many modern bikes near the Mandeville depot.
Winter riders should be aware that from Abita to Mandeville, the trail goes directly south and the sun is in your eyes. It turns abruptly East in Mandeville. Lots of shade except when you ride directly into a low sun.
In summer, remember to bring mosquito stuff, as you are in the swamps. When the bridge over the large bayou between Fontainebleu and Slidell is finished, that will be the most scenic section. Lots of police presence.
We ate lunch in Abita right near the trail -- the trail goes through the center of town and next to the famous spring. The trail is flat."
"We stayed at Trail's End B&B in Abita Springs, which is located right on the trail. It's a superb combination of trail and first class accomodations.
From the trail's end to Lacombe is about 21 miles. It's a nice run through some interesting mixture of rural and suburbia. On Saturdays, Mandeville has a farmer's market with food vendors and live music at their trailhead. It's a fun break and a good place to get a snack for the final leg to the Trail's End B&B.
There are several bike rental places and the owner of Trail's End B&B could not be more amenable to meet your needs. As an added plus, you can visit New Orleans for a little fun to cap your ride."
"We made our first trip to the Tammany Trace a week ago and it was absolutely wonderful! We ended up riding the entire trail over the two days we were there. The first day we rode from Slidell to Bayou Lacombe and back. Then, we rode from Mandeville to Covington. Along the way, we ate lunch outside in Abita Springs at a quaint little restaurant where patrons arrived by car, horse, bike, and foot. The next day we rode from Mandeville to Bayou Lacombe and through Fountainbleau State Park. It was beautiful. We plan on returning for a long weekend and staying at the park for easy access to the trail. It was great to see so many people of all ages, races, and athletic abilities on so many different types of bikes out exercising and riding the trace. The trail personnel were very nice and helpful. I like the fact that there is security along the trail. Keep up the good work!"
We only had enough time to ride a few miles out from Abita Springs during lovebug season. We are impressed with the separate unpaved trail for horses. It is definitely safer for riders of both animals and bikes. Rest benches were few and far between without bike racks. Intersections are many and horrendously dangerous.
Be sure to keep your mouth covered during lovebug season! It takes a lot of Abita Beer to wash those bugs on down!
We rate this trail 6/10 because of the road crossings.
I have ridden all or a portion of this trail for the past three years whenever I travel through this area. It is well worth the time and is one of the most enjoyable rides between Texas and Mississippi.
This trail was a great antidote to the snow and cold at home. A very well done trail. Completing the bridge over the bayou at Lacomb and a road crossing into Covington will enhance the experience. We stayed at the Trails End B&B in Abita Springs and enjoyed the local restaurants; don't miss the UCM museum.
This is one of the best maintained and patrolled trails you'll find. Its patrolled by rangers on motor scooters and also by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Department.
In the spring of 2000 a friend and I were riding the trail. He ran off the trail and suffered a broken ankle. Within 10 minutes the rangers had an ambulance there.
Outstanding!
"This was the first rail-trail that I have been on. My husband and I biked it a few weekends ago (only about 20 miles). We found the trail to be pleasant, easy to ride and full of friendly people. Not many places along the way to stop and get something to drink (it's hot and humid in the south)! However, we did stop at the Abita Springs Brew Pub and eat lunch. Excellent food and atmosphere. The beer is good too. Worth your time. You'll be glad you rode it."
"My wife and I biked the Tammany Trace and loved every minute of it. It is beautiful scenery. A well kept trail with security patrol. I can't say enough good things about it.
Try it, you will like it too."
We rode this wonderful trail in late March. We camped at Fontainbleu State Park and rode to Slidell and back and the next day from the park to Covington. The paving has just been completed from Abita Springs to US 90 in Covington.
None of the trail literature indicates that there is no bridge across Bayou Lacombe which is about halfway between the park and Slidell. By leaving the trail at the street that has the Lacombe sign and going a block over to US 190 you can get around this trail block. The road shoulders are wide here except for across the two bridges. Turning right at Carrol St. you can meander back to the trail on S. Oaklawn.
The trail is in good condition and the wildflowers are nice.
"This is a beautiful paved trail and, quite frankly, the only safe place to ride in Louisiana. There are several really good places to eat in Abita Springs and in Mandeville. There is a tunnel being built in Mandeville to get across a dangerous highway that should be completed by September, 2002. There are Rangers at the trailheads to help, protect, and give information. We have found them to be very nice folks.
My wife and I are in our sixties, and we find our 20-mile or so rides to be peaceful, fun, and energizing. The scenery is beautiful. The people you meet are friendly. You'll see lots of families on the trail: mom, pop, and the kids. For an enjoyable, healthful ride, this is the place. "
I rode from Abita Springs to Fontainbleau State Park as part of the May Cycle Mainstreet Ride. It was beautiful!
"I have ridden this trail twice now. The first time was just three weeks ago and it was great. The trail is absolutely beautiful. It runs through woods and swamps, and it is very well maintained. Trees shade the biggest portion of this trip. We biked from Abita Springs to Mandeville with a great rest area just over five miles out of Abita. There is an old caboose for the ranger station and a covered paivillion. Outside the restrooms there is a cool mister providing the pause that refreshes. Along the trail we saw deer, snakes, rabbits, a bobcat, an owl, and egrets. In Mandeville we stopped at a great little coffee shop called Java (something). Because of the shade and easy grade of the trail, we were able to make thirty miles in three hours (that is round trip). The rangers are an ever present entity, so there is no need for concern about safety. "
"Great bike ride ... flat and fast (in spite of the 20 mph posted speed limit) ... enjoy the natural beauty as you cruise along ... and when you're done, treat yourself to lunch and a beer at the Abita Springs Brew Pub & Cafe"
"This is a beautiful ride. During the warm months expect to see a lot of wildlife and wild flowers. The UCM Museum in Abita Springs is a very interesting tourist attaction with a good collection of bicycles, vintage and custom built."
"Although I haven't gone the whole route. I've gone from Mandeville to Lacombe and took a detour through the State Park on the way. If you go in the early morning before 8:00am you might encounter some of the wildlife there. Last year, the saturday before Easter I came accross a bobcat and what I thought was a racoon. You will also see an old cemetary and bridges over swamp area where you can view water lilies, cypress trees, and moss covered oaks. If you detour into the state park ($.50 admission)you will see some of the most beautiful moss covered oaks and an old sugar mill. There is a nature trail at the park that you can walk or if you have a mountain bike ride through and see the vast swamp area beyond the forested trail. "
"Will be attending the National Senior Olympics in July at Baton Rouge, looking for rider(s)to hit Tammany Trace trail."
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