Chief Ladiga Trail

The Chief Ladiga Trail stands as Alabama’s inaugural extended rails-to-trails endeavor, interlinking the cities of Anniston, Weaver, Jacksonville, and Piedmont as it traverses Calhoun and Cleburne Counties. Offering a safe, motor-free avenue for travel, exercise, and leisure amidst the great outdoors, this trail showcases a scenic journey through streams, wetlands, forests, farmlands, and mountains, catering to families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Anniston’s trail extension will stretch an additional 6.5 miles, bringing the Chief Ladiga Trail’s total length to approximately 39.5 miles. The Chief Ladiga will then seamlessly connect Anniston’s Multimodal Amtrak Station to the state of Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail, forming the longest paved pedestrian pathway in the United States by becoming an expansive 105+/- mile paved trail.

Directions to Ladiga

Directions: From I-20, take Exit 185 and head north about 10 miles through Anniston on Route 1/Quintard Avenue; bear right on McClellan Boulevard/Route 21 on the north side of town. A few miles past the split, turn left on Weaver Road; continue about a mile, then turn left again on Holly Farms Road to the well-marked Woodland Park trailhead.

Camping at the Trail

Anniston’s Michael Tucker Park currently serves as the southern terminus of the Chief Ladiga Trail. The park was named in memory Dr. Michael Tucker, a noted Anniston physician and long-time bicycle enthusiast. Nestled within a pecan grove, the park offers parking the trail, a gazebo, a drinking fountain, 16 site primitive campground and rest-room facilities.

For information and to view a map of the campground click this link, Campground Rules & Map. To make campground reservations, visit our rental page here: Parks & Recreation Rentals.

For more information on the Chief Ladiga Trail or Michael Tucker Park and Campground, contact the Parks and Recreation Department’s Aquatic & Fitness Center at 256-847-7349.

Staying in Anniston

Not sure where to stay, eat or shop? The Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce can help! Regardless of whether or not you’re planning on visiting for a day or a week, Visit Calhoun County is your one-stop for information stop on all things Calhoun County. Follow the links to find what you need:

Anniston Amtrak Station

The Anniston Multimodal Center, otherwise known as our Amtrak Station, is located at the end of the Chief Ladiga Trail. This provides trail-goers with a seamless rails-to-trails experience. Learn more about the station, and purchase tickets online, below:

Directions:

Hours:

MONDAY	9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
TUESDAY	9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
WEDNESDAY	9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
THURSDAY	9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
FRIDAY	9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
SATURDAY	9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
SUNDAY	9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

History of the Chief Ladiga Trail

The Ladiga Trail came into being in 1990 with the approval of a grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The trail is named after a Creek Indian leader who signed the Cusseta Treaty in 1832. In 1994, additional grants to the cities of Jacksonville and Piedmont, and the Cleburne County Commission, continued the project. In 1997, Jacksonville and Anniston were awarded National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) grants to build their connecting trail ways. In 1998, the City of Weaver built their 2.5 mile section of the trail through grant funding as well. In 2008, the Chief Ladiga Trail and the Silver Comet Trail were connected, with a new gateway marking the connecting point at the Alabama-Georgia state line. In 2022 Anniston purchased the final 1.4 miles needed from Norfolk Southern Railway for the trail’s final extension. On February 20, 2024, the Anniston City Council awarded the construction bid for the Chief Ladiga Trail to B&B Developers in the amount of $7,267,263.39.

Permits & Development

Fees, Zoning, & Inspections

Doing Business