Tammany Trace Trailhead

Overview
St. Tammany Parish puts the former Illinois Central Railroad route to good use with the Tammany Trace, a 31-mile blacktopped track for bikers, bladers and the like. Ultimately the trail will stretch nonstop from Slidell to Covington, hitting all the North Shore's biggest towns along the way. So far, almost 20 miles bring riders and runners through the pine forests, swamps and marshes that separate Slidell and Abita Springs.

The Experience
Rangers at Trace Headquarters in a caboose between Mandeville and Abita Springs give the scoop on area goings-on. The new Mandeville trailhead features a historical interpretive center, open-air amphitheater, playful fountain and frequent festivals. Toward Lacombe, the Trace threads Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and Fontainebleau State Park, Bernard de Marigny's former sugar plantation. End an active day on the track with a cold brew at the Abita Brewpub, former home of the local brewery.