Southeastern Outings Dayhike on the Chief Ladiga Trail

Chief Ladiga Trail, Piedmont, Alabama

Details: Join friendly folks on an easy seven-mile dayhike and picnic on the Chief Ladiga Trail east of Piedmont, Alabama.  Walk on Alabama’s first extended rails-to-trails conversion route on an old railroad right of way.  This smooth trail is wide and level.  Absolutely no hills—guaranteed!  On this particular hike you will be walking on the most scenic section of the trail.  This newly-paved part goes through mostly wooded terrain.

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on these links:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hvAl09cGgN97zJW73

AND

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5tX3IzUXzAKZTwm22

Please be sure to click on the links and view the photographs.

No motorized vehicles are allowed on your trail!  Note this is a relatively easy outing, one which should be lots of fun for everyone.  Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age eight and up able to walk seven miles without complaining are welcome on this walk.

Please bring a picnic lunch and drink.  From the trail you can see Dugger Mountain, one of the newest national wilderness areas in Alabama.

There will be an optional restaurant dinner after the hike.  You will have an opportunity to wash up and change clothes in the Eubanks Visitor Center restrooms after the hike.  If you’d like to clean up and/or change clothes, please bring your soap and towel and/or change of clothes with you.

Meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Restaurant in Trussville.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m. or meet 10:20 a.m. at the Eubanks Welcome Center in Piedmont, Alabama.

Trip Leader and Info: Sean Boogaard, 256/365-6321.

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Applebee’s Restaurant Trussville (coming from Birmingham)—4711 Norrell Drive, Trussville, AL 35173.  Take I-59 North to Exit #141 (Chalkville Mountain Road Exit).  Exit I-59 at Exit #141.  Drive to traffic light at far end of interstate exit ramp.  This is at intersection of the exit ramp and Chalkville Mountain Road. Turn right at the traffic light at the far end of exit ramp.  Drive to first road you come to on the left when you are on Chalkville Mountain Road. This is immediately after you pass a Texaco gas station on your left and a Shell gas station on your right.  Turn left there onto Norrell Drive.  Applebee’s Restaurant is on Norrell Drive directly behind the McDonald’s which faces Chalkville Mountain Road at the far left corner of that intersection.  There is no longer a stoplight at this intersection.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has about 250 members.  We scheduled forty-six events during the six months ending May 31, 2021 for an average of EIGHT fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10 per family or household.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from most of our outings.

Thank you.