New Orleans Bike Trails
View Lake Pontchartrain from the Tammany Trace trail.
Tammany Trace Trail: Covington, Louisiana
I just flew in from New Orleans and boy are my legs tired!!
Although most people associate New Orleans with Mardi Gras and Cajun food, it’s also trail central for outdoor enthusiasts. Located directly across Lake Pontchartrain from the Big Easy, the Tammany Trace trail is a bike rider’s paradise. It’s easy to find, easy to ride, and easy to fall in love with. Trail lovers will start their tour of Tammany Parish in the beautiful southern community of Covington, Louisiana. Stay at one of the many local bed & breakfasts such as the Camillia House Bed & Breakfast, and they may even let you use one of their trail bikes for free.
Whether you rent a bike, bring your own, or borrow one from your hosts, you’ll love the activities available on the Tammany Trace. For the younger crowd, there are numerous “state of the art” playgrounds right beside the trail. There’s one in Abita Springs, one at the Tammany Trace (Caboose) Headquarteres, and a children’s Splash Fountain at the Mandeville Trailhead.
For the adults, there are also a couple recreation areas in the form of a brew pub and a brewery. The Abita Brew Pub is located right on the trail in Abita Springs and serves great food and drinks. The Abita Brewery is officially located in Covington but is much closer to the actual town of Abita Springs. The brewery is located near Josephine Street which crosses over the Tammany Trace Trail. It offers a free tour and beer tastings at 2:00 on weekdays and twice daily on the weekends.
Longleaf Trace Trail: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Bike riders enjoying the Longleaf Trace Trail in Mississippi
Another biking trail within easy reach of New Orleans is the Longleaf Trace Trail in Southern Mississippi.
How do we love this magnificently charming Mississippi trail? Let us count the ways:
- It is a short side trip from food, parties and culture of New Orleans.
- It is also near the Tammany Trace trail just south of New Orleans.
- Because it is a paved trail with negligible hills, it is perfect for the entire gamut of personal transportation vehicles including recumbents, Trikkes, Elliptigos, inline skates, Street Striders, & more.
- For the same reason, it is the perfect trail for children, recreational bicyclists, commuters, seniors, etc.
- Due to its southern location, it makes a nice destination trail during the fall, winter & spring.
- It has an abundance of southern charm & makes a great southern travel destination.
- It is a botanists dream with labels for most of the trees including ones w/ unique names like loblolly Pine and Sugar Magnolia.
- The trail length is perfect for a two day ride starting in Hattiesburg, MS, traveling to Prentiss, MS; stay overnight in Prentiss then ride back to Hattiesburg.
- Rent a recumbent at the Gateway at Southern Miss bike rental center that just happens to be located right at the trailhead.
- Enjoy a southern immersion tour starting in the college town of Hattiesburg and traveling through quaint southern towns like Sumerall, Carson, Bassfield, & Prentiss.
If you have ever visited the Longleaf Trace Trail or the Tammany Trace trail, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below. If you have any questions about these two wonderful trails or the bike riding experience in and around New Orleans, don’t hesitate to ask.
