With acres of beautiful shoreline and miles of uncrowded two-lane roads and pine-shaded trails, Lake Martin and Lake Jordan offer some of the best bicycling in Alabama.
Biking in Russell Forest
Stretching westward from State Highway 63 to the shores of Lake Martin, maintained bike trails crisscross Russell Forest. Managed by Russell Lands On Lake Martin, the forest
features more than 100 miles of trails perfect for hiking, horseback riding and some of the best biking in the South. Start a pleasant day of pedaling by stopping at the Adventure Center at Russell Crossroads. Fill out a Russell Forest Trails Association registration form, pay $10 for a day pass, and you’re on your way. (You can also rent a bike for $20 a day). Grab a tasty break-fast (served until 11 a.m.) or pick up some picnic supplies at Catherine’s Market across from the Adventure Center, and hit the trails. From the center, you can head south toward the lake’s rip-pling waters at Russell Crossroads Landing, or go north to the manicured greens of the Willow Point Golf and Country Club. Some riders choose to just follow the breeze — and spend the day discovering where each new trail takes them.
Cycling around Slapout
One of the most active cycling groups in the Southeast, the Montgomery Bicycle Club organizes biking events and maps self-guided tours throughout central Alabama. Join the club ($12 for a single yearly membership or $18 for a family) and ride with the members, or download one of their painstakingly planned tours for a day of adventure. The “Slapout Tour” features a two- wheeled trip from Village Green Park in Millbrook to the town of Holtville on the edge of Lake Jordan. While the lakeside town is officially named “Holtville,” local legend says the hamlet got its unusual moniker in the 1920s — because its general store was usually “slap out” of merchandise.
We have maps for both trails:
Cycle Lake Martin: forest_map
Cycle Lake Jordan: Lakeside_Cycling
For more information on biking and other outdoor activities in Russell Forest, visit www.russelllandsonlakemartin.com or www.russellcrossroads.com. The Adventure Center at Russell Crossroads is open (spring and summer) Tuesday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun-day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and (fall and winter) Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Montgomery Bicycle Club meets the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. For more
information on the club as well as a listing of upcoming rides and events, go to
www.mgmbikeclub.org.
