Lake Lurleen Trails

Description for Lake Lurleen Trails

The Druid City Bicycle Club has been working since early 2002 to construct this trail. Phase I was completed in the spring of 2005. Phase II was officially opened in the fall of 2006 and connects the pre-existing trail to the North Trailhead. Together, these phases form a 12- to 15-mile loop (depending on whether you use an optional 3-mile loop) around the entire lake. Phase III will add approximately 5 miles of a second optional loop at the north end of the Park and lake. The completion date on this phase had not been established. Traveling clockwise from the South Trailhead, the first section you encounter is the Lakeside Trail, approximately 2 miles long. It follows an upgraded hiking trail around the edge of the beautiful lake. While not easy, the Lakeside Trail is the best section for novice mountain bikers to get dirt on their knobby tires. The 4-mile total OUT and BACK ride to the lake spillway is an excellent introduction to the Lake Lurleen Multi-use Trail System.The new Tashka Trail section starts at the lake spillway. Bring a strong heart and legs for the work-out it will give you! The cumulative climb around the entire 15-mile Loop is over 1600 ft.Tashka Trail will be very challenging for beginning mountain bikers, due to its constant climbs and descents and tight turns along sweet single-track. (As mentioned above, new riders should first become comfortable with the Lakeside Trail before undertaking the Tashka Trail.)At approximately 5 miles from the South Trailhead, Five Oaks Loop splits off to the right of Tashka Trail. This optional loop is 3 miles long and allows ambitious riders a 15-mile total ride. If you prefer the shorter option of 12 total miles, simply stay straight on Tashka Trail. Five Oaks Loop rejoins Tashka and terminates at Heartbreak Hill. To continue the loop around the lake, turn right onto Tashka Trail.Terrain-wise, both Tashka Trail and Five Oaks Loop wind up and down the ridges and drainages that make up the wooded west side of the park. The forest here is primarily mature hardwood with some pine, including rare longleaf pine areas. Tashka and Five Oaks are considered "Tsali type" trails, in that they are fast and relatively open. Due to the topography of this part of Alabama (no big rock gardens), the trail rates LOW/MEDIUM in the technical sense. But because of 150- to 200-foot climbs (and descents), it poses a challenging aerobic workout.Hazards exist. Many sections have very tight turns and there are occasional loose soil “wash-outs”.At trail’s end, you’ll arrive at the North Trailhead and there, intersect a paved Park road. Turn left (south) for a 1-mile cool-down ride on pavement. As you pass by the Park beach, you can catch a view of the Park entrance and the South Trailhead parking lot across an arm of the lake.

PLEASE REMEMBER: THIS LOOP TRAIL IS IN A WILDERNESS SETTING WITH NO BAIL-OUT OPTIONS. TIME YOUR RIDE TO FINISH BEFORE DARKNESS SETS IN.RIDING TIME ESTIMATES:Beginner Riders---4+ hours for the 12-mile loop. (Consider the shorter option of a Lakeside Trail out-and-back.)Intermediate Riders- 2-1/2 hours for the 15-mile loop; 2 hours for the 12-mile loopAdvanced Riders (racer types)--1-3/4 hours for the 15-mile loop;1-1/4 hours for the 12-mile loopCAMPING: Lake Lurleen State Park has great camping facilities.

Directions to Lake Lurleen Trails Trailhead