Anniston, AL – The City of Anniston is set to mark a historic milestone with the official ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Chief Ladiga Trail extension on Thursday, April 24, 2025. This celebration aligns with Alabama Rails to Trails Month, a statewide initiative promoting trail connectivity and outdoor recreation.
The ceremony will take place at approximately 3:30 PM (CT) on the newly completed section of the trail behind Coldwater Mountain Brewpub, located at 1208 Walnut Ave, Anniston, AL 36201. The event will follow a Rails-to-Trails Ride-In along Anniston’s newest portion of the Chief Ladiga Trail, further emphasizing the importance of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in the region.
The journey toward this trail expansion began in 2022 when the City of Anniston acquired the final 1.4-mile stretch needed to complete the project. This acquisition, facilitated with assistance from the Calhoun Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, was made possible through purchases from Norfolk Southern Railway and the Anniston Water Works & Sewer Board.
By 2024, the Anniston City Council took a decisive step forward by awarding a $7.26 million construction contract to B&B Developers, paving the way—literally—for the long-anticipated trail extension.
With this newly completed 6.5-mile expansion, the Chief Ladiga Trail now spans an impressive 39.5 miles, seamlessly linking Anniston’s Multimodal Amtrak Station to the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia. This completion marks a significant achievement, as the combined Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet Trails now form the longest paved pedestrian pathway in the United States, stretching an uninterrupted 105 miles.
Local officials and trail advocates anticipate that the expansion will provide enhanced recreational opportunities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth in the region.
For more details about the Chief Ladiga Trail and its impact, visit www.annistonal.gov/chief-ladiga.
