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Chewacala
4 reviews
3 of 5
The official bike trails are trails 7 and 8. 7 is very difficult and is actually more suited for hiking. However, there are sections that are not impossible to do on a bike. Trail 8, the 'Mountain Bike' trail was designed for bike use.
Begin the trail in the parking lot at the end of the main road (there is no where else to go in a car) beside the bathrooms. The trail begins a moderate descent that, in the fall and winter is covered in leaves. These leaves hide roots and rocks. The roots are not that bad, it is the rocks that will get you. These are big, loose rocks so be careful the first time you go down the hill. The trail winds through the woods, following the topography. The descents are fun and allow you to get some speed, but watch out for those rocks! The climbs aren't bad, either. After you cross the paved road, the trail gets a little more technical. At this point, you leave the leaves behind, but not the rocks.
The trail widens out to an old dual track Jeep road. The first part of this portion of the trail is downhill. Again, moderate, but fun. Be careful though, there are some pretyy slippery places here even three days after the last rain. Add in the 'fun' of the rocks and you get a white knuckle ride all the way to a creek crossing.
Recently, this crossing has been made easier. The banks have been graded down to a manageable slope and the creekbed has been lined with large rocks (don't worry, there's enough rocks left on the trail to keep you occupied) so there shouldn't be a problem crossing. Of course if it rained the day before your ride, the red clay of central Alabama will drag you to a stop while trying to climb up the other side.
From here, you begin to make a moderate ascent with a few quick, small downhills tossed in to make you smile. Those smiles will quickly fade as you approach the final ascent. There is no mistaking the fact that you are about to begin the final ascent. The trail goes up at roughly a 6-9 degree angle (I could be off, but after you have done this climb once you will think I erred on the easy side!)I didn't have my computer on my bike, but I think this could be half to one mile total distance climb. It felt like it, anyway.
After you reach the paved road (don't worry it you had to push the bike some) you have two options: you can ride up the paved road to the parking lot and begin again. Or, you can turn around and blast back down the hill you just climbed and do the trail in reverse. No matter which way you go on trail # 8, you will end with a climb. But remember, for every lung busting climb, there is a smile forcing, shock-busting descent!
Trail # 8 crosses trail # 5 a few times. According to everything I have seen, there are no trails marked "No bikes." So, get out there and ride and have fun. Of course when you ride on shared trails behave and yeild when safe to do so.
Summary: Trail is not very well maintained. Many of the trail markers are missing, knocked down, or don't have numbers. I spent most of my time lost on other trails. Take note of the reccomended route of the other review (the trail map from the guard shack doesn't help much).
Recommended Route: It is a short trail and you should plan on making a couple of laps or as suggested ride one way then turn around and ride back. At the end make sure to ride a short section of Trail 7 down past the restroom. It has a nice drop off an eroision barrier.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Oak Mountain (B'ham)
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Summary: Trail hasn't been kept up as well as one would hope, you have to get off of your bike way more than you would like. It is hard to follow the trail in some parts also. There were numerous times that I would get off by accident, but that was where some of the best riding was. There are a couple of fair climbs with some pretty fast decents with some mean rocks along the way.
I'll try it again, but I wouldn't make a trip out of the way to hit this trail.
Recommended Route: Stay on trails 7 and 8 (they merge together for a long way). Do not go on trail 5-it hasn't been kept up at all, and even if it were there are parts that are unrideable.
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Summary: I ride this trail fairly often, but it's too technical for the short length of it if you ask me. There's one point where the trail splits and it's probably the most vertical climb you've ever seen. Plus there's a rock quary you have to worry about diving head into, which makes it just the more exciting.
Recommended Route: There's several places where the trail splits and you might get lost, but just stick to following the same trail number at every intersection. The first time I rode this I thought the trail markers were actually mile markers, so don't do that because you'll get really lost.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Pleasant Hill Trail, Tuskegee National Forest.
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Review Date April 20, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a year
Reviewed by: Tom P
, from Wilmington, NC
Summary: Coming from the NC coast this trail kicks ***! All the trails I ride in Wilmington are flat. After the intial leg burning climb the trails get fun you don't get bored. For my twice a year trip to the in-laws' in Oplika this is a great little get away! For a few hours I am on my own and having a blast! Not to mention getting a good work=out and a few new scrapes and scars on the legs. By the way, if you just switched over to clipless like me... this trail will not kill you... if you are careful. However, you can get hurt if you haven't practiced a little bit! This trail is good for just about everyone. The very, very new biker will not like it. The portion of trail 5 that runs along the creek, just beside the quarry is tricky. Not to mention the climbing up and down the rocks to go from trail 7 to trail 5.
Recommended Route: You can do the above route or you can start at any trail head. When I was there in December the ranger on duty said that none of the trails were off limits to bikes. I have recently began starting at the 2nd picnic pavillion on the right as you begin to head up the hill. A short downhill trail leads to trail two. Make a right, cross the creek then the road. You are now on trail 3. Follow until you cross Chewacla Creek then back to the road. Cross road, start on trail 7. Follow 7 to water falls. Just before the falls there is a trail (steep climb but good challenge) up to the top parking lot/trail 8. Take this to trail 8 which leads back down to the road or continue to the falls. Do a little bit of hike-a-bike over the rocks and continue on trail 5. Trail 5 connects up w/trail 8. A left on to 8 takes you up a gruelling climb to the road, a right leads you on a winding up-down-up-up ride to the road. Just before the road... Well, get a map at the gate and enjoy!
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