Two connected rail trails now let cyclists ride roughly 100 paved miles from the Atlanta suburbs all the way into Alabama, following the route of a historic passenger train through Appalachian foothills, forest tunnels and sleepy Southern towns.
The route combines the 61.5-mile Silver Comet Trail in Georgia with the 39.2-mile Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama, making it one of the longest continuous paved rail trails in the United States. It starts in Smyrna, about 16 miles from downtown Atlanta, and ends at Anniston's Amtrak station, crossing the state line near Cedartown. The name Silver Comet comes from the passenger train that ran these tracks between Birmingham and New York from 1947 to 1969; the Alabama trail honours Chief Ladiga, the Muscogee leader who ceded his people's territory in the 1832 Treaty of Cusseta.
Both trails are smooth and mostly flat — the Georgia side is concrete, the Alabama side asphalt — so it suits touring and mountain bikes alike, plus walkers, runners and roller skaters. More than 30 trailheads mean you can ride as much or as little as you like. The Georgia stretch includes two standout sights: the Pumpkinvine Creek Trestle, a 750-foot bridge rising 126 feet above the creek, and the 800-foot Brushy Mountain Tunnel, where a flashlight helps. East of Cedartown the route gets noticeably hillier, with a free but basic tent option at Camp Comet Campground before the state line.
Once in Alabama, the trail flattens out again and passes through Talladega National Forest, with views toward Mount Cheaha, the state's highest point. Piedmont makes a good rest stop with restaurants, shops and hotels — fitting, since it's where the rail-trail campaign began. In Jacksonville, a restored 1860s railway depot now serves as a rest stop with bike repair tools, and the final miles run through a bamboo forest south of Weaver. A 6.5-mile extension opened in 2025, so riders now finish right at Anniston's train station.
Strong cyclists can do the whole thing in a day, but a relaxed three-day itinerary with overnight stops in Rockmart and Piedmont leaves time to explore the towns. BikeSilverComet offers free itineraries matched to your riding speed. One practical note: the route feels remote between towns, so carry enough food, water, a puncture kit, lights and a charged phone. If you'd rather not ride back, the scenic Amtrak Crescent connects Anniston and Atlanta — reserve a bike spot in advance. Bike hire is available near the start at Comet Trail Cycles in Mableton for about $80 a day, and plans are underway to link the trail to the Atlanta Beltline.
For anyone planning a cycling holiday in the American South, this is an easy-logistics winner: gentle grades, frequent access points, a train ride back to your starting city, and fall colours at the trestle if you time it right.
