Cycling the Tammany Trace: A Hidden Gem in Louisiana’s North Shore
In 2016, while touring by bicycle from Lubbock, Texas to Pensacola, Florida, I had the pleasure of riding one of the most enjoyable car-free stretches of my entire journey: The Tammany Trace in Louisiana. It’s not often that you get to pedal for miles without worrying about traffic, and this 31-mile trail—running from Covington to Slidell on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain—was just what I needed. I even stopped at a bayou where a game warden told me that a massive alligator was known to hang out along the bank behind me. Sadly, I didn’t see him—but the anticipation made that rest stop unforgettable. 🚲 Trail Overview The Tammany Trace is a rail-trail that follows a former railroad corridor built in the late 1800s. Converted into a paved, multi-use path in the 1990s, it now welcomes cyclists, runners, walkers, and nature lovers from all over the country. What makes the Trace truly special is its combination of nature, history, and small-town Southern charm . The trail me...
