State Senator Clay Scofield announced that a grant will be used to create a trail system at Lake Guntersville State Park.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has awarded a $100,000.00 Recreation Trails Program grant which will be used to create a 30-50 mile model trail system at the park.
The State Park will partner with the International Mountain Bicycling Association to create a trail system that will be used by mountain bikers and hikers.

Scofield, Chairman of the Senate Tourism Committee says, “This grant is great news! The trails project will be a great boost to our state park and will have a positive impact on our efforts to promote our park and recruit park visitors.”

State Parks Director Greg Lein said  “It’s great to see collaboration work for the betterment of Alabama.”

Scofield has been involved with the recovery of Guntersville State Park since the 2011 tornado.

We believe that in the near future, the ongoing support from our legislators, agencies such ADECA, and supporting recreational organizations like IMBA will make Guntersville State Park one of the greatest mountain biking destinations in the nation,” Scofield said.

Officials hope to stimulate economy with new trailhead

Director of Alabama’s State Parks System Greg Lein says partnerships with organizations like Central Alabama Mountain Peddlers or C.A.M.P., a local non-profit organization, is a reason Chewacla is in the black.  Over the past few years C.A.M.P. has built several new mountain biking trails, luring in more customers.

“Those trails are so new and well received that we’ve got people traveling from all over the country to ride their bikes at Chewacla and everyone goes in the gate and they pay their entrance fee”
Full article with video

February 19, 2014

Bentley awards grant to expand Coldwater Mountain

The king of Alabama mountain biking trails will be adding a new jewel to its crown thanks to a $350,000 grant awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley. The grant will enable construction of 11 additional miles of trail and renovation of five existing miles at Coldwater Mountain near Anniston. The 4,083-acre complex, part of the state’s Forever Wild program, currently includes more than 25 miles of biking trails. “Coldwater Mountain has become well known as a first-class venue for mountain biking,” Bentley said. “But it also is a demonstration that great things can be accomplished when state agencies, municipalities, private organizations and volunteers join together for a common cause.” The property, managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, has been the canvas for a network of wooded trails created without compromising the wilderness aspect of the mountain. In the few short years since it opened, Coldwater Mountain has become a mountain biking destination for riders throughout the Southeast and has been heralded in several national mountain biking publications. The trail system was created with funding approved by the governor and administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association served as architect of the trail system and much of the construction was done by members of the Northeast Alabama Bicycling Association and other volunteers. Anniston city officials and local businesses established a management committee to assist with the trail system. Plans call for the creation of up to 50 miles of trail and links to other trails in the area. The system includes trails designed for everyone from beginners to internationally competitive experts. Trails also are used by hikers and runners. Bentley notified SORBA Executive Director Tom Sauret that the grant had been approved. ADECA is administering the grant, which was awarded from funds made available to the state under the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program. ADECA manages a wide range of grants and programs that support law enforcement, economic development, workforce development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.

In 2013, the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) designated the Forever Wild Land Trust’s Coldwater Mountain tract near Anniston as a Bronze Level Ride Center, a large-scale mountain bike facility that offers a wide variety of ride options for riders of all skill levels. IMBA has also inducted Oak Mountain State Park’s mountain bike trails into its Epic Ride Hall of Fame.

Read the full press release here