Reviewed by: Caleb Turrentine
Sweet Trails Alabama: State’s first comprehensive guide to outdoor recreation
Reading time: 3 minutes
This week, Sweet Trails Alabama released the state’s first Alabama Statewide Comprehensive Trails Plan, a detailed guide to building a trail network connecting all 67 of Alabama’s historic destinations.
The plan proposes a statewide network that will include hiking, paddling, horseback riding and more.
Keep reading to learn more about this new trail system and the vision of connecting some of Alabama’s most notable features.
What is Sweet Trails Alabama?
According to the Calhoun Journal, the Sweet Trails Alabama plan was heavily inspired by the Hoover Institution’s Innovative Alabama report, which emphasized the great outdoors as promoting economic growth.
With the help of Jacksonville State University and the Singing River Trail, several Alabama cities such as Montgomery, Birmingham, and Huntsville received $100 million for the trail development. As the plan continues to grow, it promises to help gain recognition for some of Alabama’s outdoors that help promote health, connectivity and recreation.
“This game-changing plan sets a vision for making Alabama a premier trails state, bolstering small towns and communities, fostering economic development, and enhancing quality of life for all residents and visitors.”
Senator Andrew Jones, according to a press release
Trail connections throughout the state of Alabama
After a year of planning the execution of this new trail system, Sweet Trails outlined their main targets that will connect some of the bigger trails already established. Here are some key features:
- Birmingham to Anniston: This project would connect the Red Rock Trail System in Birmingham to the Chief Ladiga Trail in Anniston, allowing users to complete a huge hike from Birmingham to Atlanta.
- Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail: This project would connect Selma to Montgomery along the already National Park Service designated route that marks the 1965 54-mile Voting Rights March led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1965.
- Collaborate with the Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association initiative to advocate for trail tourism through an expanded Trail Towns program.
- Collaborate with the Alabama Wildlife Action Plan team to leverage habitat conservation and focus on educating people about preserving our endangered plans and animals around the state
Stay updated by following Sweet Trails Alabama on Facebook and Instagram.
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