Alabama's Chief Ladiga Trail

Alabama's Chief Ladiga Trail runs 33 paved miles on the former Seaboard/CSX right-of-way from Anniston to the Georgia border where it connects to the 61 mile long Silver Comet Trail. Both trails have been celebrated as "Hall of Fame Trails" by The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and together represent the second longest continuous paved rail trail in the country (after Minnesota's Paul Bunyan State Trail's 112 miles.) This trail was an 18 year, multi-city and multi-jurisdictional cooperative project. It is named for the Creek Indian chief who signed the 1832 treaty that surrendered the tribe's remaining land in the area. Below is the trailhead at Anniston's Woodland Park. The trail begins slightly above grade but soon is at ground level as it traverses woods, prairies, wetlands, a college, and several small towns. The trail is flat, smooth, scenic, mostly-shaded, and well-maintained.

Entrance to each town on the trail is marked by these attractive signs...

It was late March and green and pink foliage was breaking forth...

...and the kudzu probably would soon be awakening, too...

The trail passes through the Jacksonville State University Campus alongside the fraternity and sorority buildings.

The old Jacksonville train depot was restored in 2010...

Mileage markers let you know where you are...

I was on my way home, driving from the Everglades back to northern Illinois, and was time-limited to only a 20 mile round trip on the trail, but I'll be hitting another section of this lovely trail on my next trip. I'm especially anxious to do the northern section that traverses the Talladega National Forest.


You can reach the Anniston Trailhead by taking exit 185 north from I-20 through Anniston on Route 1, then onto McClellan/Route 21, then left onto Weaver Road, and finally left on Holly Farms Road to Woodland Park.

You can also park in Jacksonville and Piedmont.