The Plan Is Complete!

Master PlanExecutive Summary

Sweet Trails Alabama, the Alabama Statewide Comprehensive Trails Plan, is the statewide initiative and planning document that identifies and maps existing trails and presents a statewide network composed of regional and local trails to connect all 67 counties, their communities, and major cultural and natural resource destinations across the state.

The Plan serves as a blueprint for the State’s future investment in a connected, accessible, safe, and world-class trail network.

Timeline

State Planning

  • Establish Trails Coalition
  • Collaborate with Innovate Alabama
  • Coordinate with state initiatives
  • Promote Year of the Trail

Regional, County, and Local Planning

  • Update trails plans
  • Host local public input meetings
  • Coordinate with Regional Councils

Corridor Feasibility

  • 3-8 corridor feasibility studies
  • Continued public engagement

Design and Construction

  • Identify projects for funding
  • Fundraise and plan for match
  • Submit grant applications

2025

2026-2027

2028-2029

2030+

2025

State Planning

  • Establish Trails Coalition
  • Collaborate with Innovate Alabama
  • Coordinate with state initiatives
  • Promote Year of the Trail

Regional, County, and Local Planning

  • Update trails plans
  • Host local public input meetings
  • Coordinate with Regional Councils

Corridor Feasibility

  • 3-8 corridor feasibility studies
  • Continued public engagement

Design and Construction

  • Identify projects for funding
  • Fundraise and plan for match
  • Submit grant applications

2026-2027

State Planning

  • Hire state trails coordinator
  • Establish new partnerships
  • Host first Trail Launch Tank
  • Establish project application for funding

Regional, County, and Local Planning

  • Continue to share resources
  • Update regional trail plans
  • Develop training and resources

Corridor Feasibility

  • Develop 3-8 corridor feasibility studies
  • Develop design and construction documents

Design and Construction

  • Submit applications for federal funding
  • Fund/leverage funds to support construction

2028-2029

State Planning

  • Continue to grow new partnerships
  • Establish new funding

Regional, County, and Local Planning

  • Continue data sharing and collaboration

Corridor Feasibility

  • Fund and support feasibility studies

Design and Construction

  • Implement awarded projects
  • New project grant submissions

2030+

State Planning

  • Update state trails plan

Regional, County, and Local Planning

  • Continued maintenance of plans

Corridor Feasibility

  • Fund and support feasibility studies

Design and Construction

  • Implement awarded projects
  • Submit new project grant submissions

The Action

Section 1

Connectivity

Build it so they come.

  • Provide no-match competitive state grant for regional, county, or local and/or college and university trail plans.
  • Provide funds to develop trail feasibility studies that define alignments and costs for priority projects that need further study.
  • Provide design and construction funding to push shovel-ready projects forward, giving them a boost to complete implementation.
  • Maintain and update state database of existing and proposed trails.

Economy and Innovation

Ignite the Alabama trail-based economy

  • Partner with Innovate Alabama to position trails as the number one opportunity in the growing outdoor recreation market.
  • Launch first annual State Launch Tank to attract and benefit trail-related entrepreneurs across the state, supporting grassroots economic development in the outdoor recreation sector.
  • Collaborate with the Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association initiative to advocate for trail tourism through an expanded Trail Towns program.
  • Collaborate with the Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association, the Alabama Scenic River Trail, and Tennessee RiverLine to advocate for trail tourism through an expanded Trail Towns/River Towns program.

Conservation and Stewardship

Promote Alabama's world class biodiversity and cultural heritage

  • Use trails for natural and cultural resource interpretation
  • Work with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, land trusts, the Alabama Wildlife Action Plan team, and other groups to use trail corridors as conservations corridors to protect and connect habitat.
  • Work with the Alabama Historical Commission to use trails to protect and promote the experience of historic corridors.

Funding

Bolster trail development and take care of what we have.

  • Provide state funding for trails for the first time in history, following in the recent footsteps of Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.
  • Create a Trail enhancements and Maintenance Fund that will fund trail improvements and mainteannce, not just new trails
  • Provide educational resources to inform communities of available trail funding.
In order to be competitive with trail-leading states in the Southeast, Alabama would need to fund trails to the tune of: $26.2M to match North Carolina $51.9M to match Virginia $57.8M to match Florida on a per capita basis

Promotion

Tell them what we have and get them here!

  • Roll out Alabama's Year of the Trail 2025 to amplify the message of trail tourism and economic development in Alabama.
  • Collaborate with the Alabama Tourism Department and partners to build off existing marketing platforms to increase visibility of existing statewide trail and outdoor recreation opportunities.
  • Advance the wayfinding signage program in Alabama to directing residents and visitors from major highways to significant trail locations, to and advance education about available trails.
  • Develop statewide events or competitions like biking or running relays across the state, including events that allow participation from a wide variety of ages and abilities.

Health and Wellness

Help Alabamians be well and succeed.

  • Pilot enhancements of one state-owned and one locally owned trail or trailhead and associated amenities to create universally accessible spaces.
  • Develop more comprehensive and legible trail education materials, with information about level of difficulty and access.
  • Expand ongoing and develop new statewide, regional, and local trail programs and challenges to encourage Alabamians to get outdoors, prioritizing communities with poor health indicators.

Partnerships

We will accomplish more working together.

  • Support trail non-profits and universities that provide regional and local commitment and technical assistance across the state.
  • Begin an annual statewide trails summit to expand the reach of Sweet Trails Alabama, and share best practices and lessons learned.
  • Partner with established organizations to provide trail toolkits to help communities plan, design, build, and promote trails, building off existing resources from allied partners.
  • Maintain the advisory/steering committee from the Sweet Trails Alabama planning process to foster inter-agency communication and momentum for the development of the statewide trails network and the actions described in this chapter.
  • Create a Trails Consortium across state agencies, led by Innovate Alabama to include but not be limited to ALDOT, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and others.

The Richard Martin Trail

North Alabama

Trail of the Month

The Richard Martin Trail travels nearly 11 miles from northern Athens in Limestone County to near the Tennessee border in Veto.  The trail follows a former rail bed through rural, bucolic northern Alabama countryside.  It is composed of crushed stone and gravel and accommodates equestrian, hiking, and biking/mountain biking use.  About halfway along the trail, the trail connects to Elkmont’s historic depot where shops, a trailhead, and restrooms are available.

The trail is named for local advocate Richard Martin who has spent tireless amount of energy and time to get the trail developed.  Richard continues to support efforts to extend the trail further north into Tennessee and south to connect to Athens, the Swan Creek Greenway, and the Singing River Trail.

Until 1986, the Tennessee & Alabama Central Railroad brought mail and supplies to area communities and carried away cotton.  The Veto trailhead includes the restoration of a 19th-century community church and restroom facilities. The trail passes the site of Civil War battles.  Today, the trail is enjoyed by naturalists, birdwatchers, historians, students, joggers, bikers, horseback riders, and outdoor enthusiasts of all types.

FAQs

Sweet Trails Alabama is in the early stages of implementation and will have multiple simultaneous projects moving into 2025 (see below). Stay tuned for more details on coming events and engagement opportunities!

2025 marks Year 1 of Implementation for Sweet Trails Alabama! The following projects will be running simultaneously throughout the year:

  • Year of the Trail with Alabama Tourism
  • Community Trail Toolkit
  • Creation of the Sweet Trails Alabama Coalition

Feasibility Studies:

  • Low Traffic Roads as Trails
  • Birmingham to Anniston Trail
  • Greensboro to Mario to Selma Trail
  • Andalusia Rail Trail
  • Singing River Trail to Chief Ladiga Trail
  • Around the Mobile Bay Trail

Join Our Community

Connect