2026 – Another Year of Alabama Trails!

To our partners, volunteers, and trail enthusiasts:Looking ahead towards our work in 2026, we’re also looking back towards what was accomplished in 2025. Last year remains a defining chapter for the Alabama Trails Foundation, and for trails in Alabama. When we look at the progress that has been made—from Flagg Mountain and the winding Pinhoti Trail to the waters of the Cahaba river—it is clear that Alabama is no longer just a hidden gem in the outdoor world; we are well on the way to becoming a premier destination.

Together with our partners, we worked tirelessly to elevate our state’s trail systems to world-class status. This year, our focus remained steadfast: completing the vision for the Pinhoti Trail by enhancing infrastructure and working in Washington D.C. on an expansion of the Talladega National Forest, to celebrating the statewide Year of Alabama Trails project alongside the Alabama Tourism Department. Trails are more than just paths through the woods; they are the backbone of our rural economies and the heart of our community health.

The year 2025 will be remembered as a transformative period for Alabama’s outdoor landscape. 

• The Southern Terminus: We officially dedicated the Flagg Mountain Observation Tower as “Mile 0” of the Pinhoti Trail. 
• Jogloma-Scott Bridge: We completed a 60-foot steel pedestrian bridge at Jogloma-Scott Lake.
• Year of Trails: We visited 30 counties across Alabama, adding directional signs to trails that needed additional signage, and worked with the Alabama Tourism Department to promote the best trails across the state.
• Celebrate Trails Event: We partnered in Spring with the National Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to celebrate biking trails across Alabama with a group of national writers.

Join us on this path to better trails and a stronger recreation economy.

Paul DeMarco, President, Alabama Trails Foundation Board of Directors

Year of Trails Signage for Trails
Developed signs for locations across Alabama, including:

• Flagg Mountain Trails
• Pinhoti Trail (Porter’s Gap & Flagg Mountain)
• Richard Martin Trail
• University of West Alabama Trails (pictured above)
• Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trails
• Cahaba River Blueway
• Chief Ladiga Trail
• Tuscaloosa Riverwalk (pictured above)

Worked on the Kick-off Event for the Year of Trails
Pictured Above: Alabama Dept of Conservation Director Chris Blankenship, Alabama Tourism Dept Director Lee Sentell, Rails-to-Trails Board Member Cathy Sloss Jones, Past ATF President Daivd Perry, Rails-to-Trails Vice President Brandi Horton celebrating the official kickoff of the “Year of Trails” at Vulcan Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

Video Series: Visited 30 counties in 2025 from the gulf to the Tennessee state line, with more planned for 2026. (watch some on our YouTube Channel)

Tour of Alabama Trails: Participated in the celebrations of the Year of Trails in multiple locations, including the “Tour of Alabama’s Trails,” a premier four-day cycling event for national travel writers. The nearly 100-mile journey began on the Chief Ladiga Trail, highlighting how these corridors bridge rural and urban landscapes before heading to North Alabama’s Richard Martin Trail, across Huntsville, and finally ending in Birmingham.

Jogloma-Scott Lake Project
The Alabama Trails Foundation announced the successful installation of a new 60-foot steel pedestrian bridge at the Jogloma-Scott Lake site along the historic Pinhoti Trail. This significant infrastructure upgrade marks a major step forward in the Foundation’s mission to improve safety, accessibility, and trail continuity for hikers traversing the Appalachian foothills.

The steel structure spans Dry Creek, near Jogloma-Scott Lake, replacing what was previously a difficult crossing for hikers with a new destination. The bridge ensures a safe, dry passage over the water, protecting the riparian ecosystem from foot traffic erosion while providing a reliable crossing during high-water events.

The bridge was made possible through the support of the Alabama Trails Foundation, Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Power Company Foundation, Innovate Alabama, American Honda Motor Corporation, and the USDA Forest Service.

Flagg Mountain Milestones: The official move of the Pinhoti Trail to the observation towerIn October, the mountain’s iconic stone tower was officially recognized as the southern terminus, or “Mile 0,” of the Pinhoti Trail, including unveiling a survey marker highlighting the starting point. A key highlight of the day was the celebration of a major infrastructure project: the successful installation of a Stewartville Water Authority extension to the summit. 

For the first time since the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the tower in the 1930s, the facilities at the top of Flagg Mountain have reliable, potable running water. This improvement drastically improves the safety and quality of the experience for hikers, campers, and the caretaker who resides on the mountain.

• Full Pinhoti Trail Map Signage: The Alabama Trails Foundation unveiled the latest iteration of the complete Pinhoti Trail map, incorporating roadwalks, shelters, and trailheads, providing a glimpse into the expansive trail at the official starting point.
• Flagg Mountain Day Hike Map Signage: A map of all the trails found on Flagg Mountain, highlighting mileage for each trail, the connections, and trailheads.

These combined improvements will not only attract more visitors, boosting local tourism in Coosa County, but also serve as a strong base for the countless volunteer hours necessary to maintain the Pinhoti Trail’s future.

Pictured above: Cutting the ribbon on the new water at Flagg Mountain. 

Pinhoti Trail Pedestrian Bridge Over U.S. Highway 78

This proposed key infrastructure improvement will eliminate a risky roadwalk along a vehicular bridge, and strengthen the Pinhoti Trail’s reputation as a premier long-distance hiking destination, while increasing the visibility of the trail as a major asset in Alabama’s recreation economy. We’ve raised over $800,000 to date.

Why Now? As participation in outdoor recreation continues to grow, we are meeting that need with quality well-designed infrastructure. The proposed Highway 78 Bridge and over 1.5 miles of new trail is the next step to improving the entire length of the Pinhoti and continuing to grow the region’s economy through the burgeoning recreation marketplace.

Building on our successes at Flagg Mountain and Jogloma-Scott Lake, we are taking on another strategically located trail improvement that rises to the standard of legacy. Located just outside Heflin, Alabama the US 78 Bridge Project will be designed to transform a missing portion of the trail into a destination inviting people of various abilities and experiences to enjoy the beauty of Alabama’s southern Appalachians. It will be a statement and part of a comprehensive approach to elevating the Pinhoti to a national standard, while providing connections to nearby communities.

Year of Strategic Connections
Our success in 2025 was not achieved in isolation. Under the leadership of our board, the Alabama Trails Foundation acted as the connective tissue between state agencies, federal partners, and local communities. This was on full display at the Innovate Alabama Outdoor Recreation Summit, where we discussed partnerships with state and federal partners and how to most effectively work with different agencies.

Key work in advocacy and coordination this year included:

The Talladega National Forest Expansion Act: We provided critical support for federal legislation to expand the forest, ensuring the Pinhoti Trail remains protected in a forested corridor for generations to come.

The “25 Must-Tread Trails” Campaign: In partnership with the Alabama Tourism Department, we helped curate a list of premier destinations, helping to drive visitors to rural trailheads from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast.Partnering with state and national partners: In Spring. we worked with the National Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to celebrate biking trails across Alabama and bring a laser focus to Alabama’s established and developing trails. (pictured above along the Richard Martin Trail)

Working with Talladega College to Expand Outreach: We continued our partnership with Talladega College, including providing a one year internship for a student to work on ways to increase awareness of Alabama’s trails. The work culminated in a presentation at the Innovate Alabama Recreation Summit at Lake Guntersville State Park in April. (pictured above at the Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park)

Our Board Leadership

The Alabama Trails Foundation Board continues to be integral to our success. With strong participation and steady leadership, we’ve continued to grow as an organization, and to broaden our impact on trails across Alabama, while remaining deeply committed to doing real work that has a lasting impact on our state.

Picture Below. Clockwise from top left:

1. David Perry, Past President, receiving a well deserved thank you for his service to trails across Alabama by incoming President Paul DeMarco. 
2. Paul DeMarco and Lea Ann Macknally, Macknally Land Design discussing the Jogloma-Scott bridge as it was being built at Pioneer Bridges in Fort Payne, Alabama. 
3. Paul DeMarco, David Perry, and T.C. McLemore, of Innovate Alabama, at the grand opening of the Jogloma-Scott Lake bridge in Talladega County. 
4. Board Secretary Maggie Cunningham welcoming travel writers along the Chief Ladiga Trail with husband Kevin at their newly opened Pinhoti Pizza.

New Board Members