PIEDMONT, AL
| RIDE TYPE Gravel | DISTANCE 41/52/68 Miles | ASCENT 3895/5093/6077 Feet |
| GRAVEL At least 60% | COURSE Lasso-Loop | TERRAIN Mountains |
| PAVEMENT No more than 40% | SETTING Forest | HIGHEST POINT 1511 Feet |
Accessible from the Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet Rail Trails, the playful and rolling Duggar Mountain gravel routes are available in 41, 52 and 68 mile lengths. All three traverse ridges and climb the sometimes punchy hills in the pine glades of the Talladega National Forest near Piedmont, Alabama.
Gravel in Alabama’s Talladega National Forest is sublime. In fact, the first route ever published on SoutheastCyclingRoutes.com was in the rolling hills of the Talladega National Forest. The Duggar Mountain routes revisit the forest from a more accessible perspective and add a few surprises to keep things interesting. 41, 52 and 68 mile options will satisfy riders of all abilities.
All three Duggar Mountain routes start at the Eubanks Welcome Center on the Cheif Ladiga Rail Trail in Piedmont, Alabama. The Chief Ladiga Trail connects to the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia and one could start anywhere along either to increase mileage. Piedmont has most modern conveniences and the welcome center has restrooms, space for about a dozen cars and a couple of very friendly cats.
The first 8.5 miles is an out-and back followed by loops of various lengths depending on how far you want to ride. All three routes run concurrent for the first 18.5 miles and the two longer loops share the same GPS track for another 7.5 miles.
The routes start on the rail trail followed by a few miles of local roads which take riders to the base of Duggar Mountain. If you are not warmed up at the bottom, you will be at the top. While not insanely long, the climb is steep. This is arguably the toughest part of the route and the feature from which the route gets its name. Keep in mind that the outbound climb will be a blistering descent on the return. Gravel greets you on the other side of the ridge where the federally protected Dugger Mountain Wilderness will be on your right. A paved crossing of Rabbittown Rd is an obvious regroup point and signals the start of the loop section.
The loops feature a couple of one or two mile long climbs but terrain is mostly rolling and open views through Loblolly Pine glades abound. Gravel quality is generally excellent but you may encounter a little gnar on steeper parts where washout has occurred. Like most national forests, the forest service may dump fresh gravel in advance of hunting season, typically in the early fall. The amount of gnar and chunk are below average however and the roads tend to roll fast. It’s super fun!
All three loops converge at the Shoal Creek Church which was built circa 1895. Two other buildings preceded it but one of them burned. The churches served a long-gone population of settlers but the location is now, quite literally, the middle of nowhere. Unhook the latch and head inside. The place is fascinating. You can learn more about the building and it’s people at the Shoal Creek Preservation Society website.
Coleman Lake Recreation Area is a short distance from the church and getting there may require a brief CX style carry. The campground’s day use area has restrooms, the route’s only water and an outdoor shower! In winter you may be able to ride the walking trail around the back side of the lake but take care on the wooden bridges as they are as slippery as ice. There’s no prohibition against bicycles on the walking trail but its best to leave it to families in warmer months when the campground is full. Either way, the turn for the trail is indicated on the maps.
Try not to burn all your matches early in the loops, especially if you are doing the longer routes. It’s easy to get carried away hammering Alabama’s fun gravel roads but the route gets noticeably more punchy heading north from Coleman Lake. Lots of steep kickers in this section have taken their toll on more than one rider! In contrast, the final six miles back to your car are an absolute delight as the descent off Duggar Mountain gives way to a flat finish on the Chief Ladiga Trail.
Close proximity to the Chief Ladiga and adjoining Silver Comet Trails makes the Talladega National Forest a prime bikepacking destination for those riding in from Georgia. Organized racing in the forest has dramatically increased the area’s popularity and with good reason. The riding is simply fantastic.
Check the tabs below for links to important information such as hunting dates and prescribed burns. Please post a comment if you ride one of the Duggar Mountain routes. Your feedback is a great way to help the cycling community stay up to date about cycling routes across the southeast. We would love to hear how the routes works out for you.
- Cell service will be spotty or non-existent in the National Forest.
- Keep in mind the time zone change if driving in from the east. Piedmont AL is in the central time zone.
- Alabaman's love to hunt and the Talladega National Forest is very popular. Hunters are deep in the woods so stay on the gravel roads if you ride on dates when hunting is allowed. The Coleman Lake Recreation Area is absolutely off limits to hunters. SoutheastCyclingRoutes.com experience is that hunters are friendly and curious. Just keep in mind that there may be additional traffic on the forest roads during firearm deer hunts.
- The Duggar Mountain routes are in the Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area. WMA hunting maps and schedules can be found at https://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/wildlife-management-areas.
- The National Forest Service sometimes performs prescribed burns in the Talladega National Forest. You will see evidence of burning out on the routes. The US Forest Service however, has a uniquely and supremely frustrating inability to provide a succinct source of information and often does not post dates on their notices. This makes it impossible to find current information. Your best bet is to call the Talladega Ranger District. The phone number can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/contactus/alabama/about-forest/contactus/.
- Parking at the Eubanks Welcome Center is free but space is limited. You may need to park elswhere on busy summer afternoons.
- The Eubanks Welcome Center caretaker typically opens the restrooms around 8:00 AM. Before then they will be locked.
- Piedmont, AL has modern conveniences such as ATM's, fast food stores and medical care. Sandwich shops and fast food are located along Highway 278 on the north side of town.
- Water is available at the Coleman Lake Recreation Area and at the Shoal Creek District ranger station on the 68 mile route. The spigot is to the left of the ranger station's front door at the corner of the building.
- Pit toilets are available at Coleman Lake recreation area and again at Pine Glen Campground on the two longer routes.
- Bring your own calories because there are no stores on the Dugger Mountain routes.
Terms of Use: Use of this route is at your own risk. This route map and associated route descriptions are believed correct at the time of publication but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. You assume all responsibility for 1) checking weather and road conditions, 2) knowing and obeying land use rules and restrictions, 3) knowing and obeying all rules of the road, 4) carrying and using proper safety and navigation equipment and, 5) knowing the limits of your physical ability. SoutheasCyclingRoutes.com, contributors and Timothy Hollingworth are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other loss to individuals following this route or using information contained in the route map or description.
Did the 41 yesterday and will definitely be back for the longer ones. Looks like the ride w/gps map says the county rd. 540/upchurch rd. section is paved? It is not, and was a really fun part of the ride for me.
Careful on the descent off the mountain on the way home, mix of pavement, gravel, potholes. My girlfriend went down there, thankfully no harm done to her or the bike other than a few scrapes.
Anyone have recommended camping spots for backpacking the 68 mile?
Hi Clint. Sorry for the delayed reply. Coleman Lake Recreation Area is an established, fee based campground at around mile 48 on the 68 mile route. Pine Glen Recreation Area is at mile 42 and is very pretty, nestled into a valley with a creek running through. Pine Glen has vault toilets but is primitive otherwise. There are numerous hunt camps along the way and lots of gated logging roads off the route which would likely be nice sites. One could probably camp near Pinhoti trailhead at the very southern end of the route but I’m not 100% sure. I think there is a small stream near the parking lot or the ranger station spigot could be used for water.
Uhhh, that’s DuggEr mountain, not DuggAr mountain. That may be picky but there is much history there and it definitely has nothing to do with those television Duggars.
I changed it back and forth ten times before publication. Open Streets map and especially the US Geologic Survey maps show it as Duggar so that’s what I went with in the end. Thanks for letting me know. Not sure how you would get in touch with the USGS to correct it. I’d love to know something about the history of you had a link or were kind enough to give a synopsis.
-Tim-
I learned a bit of the history from a information board on the Chief Ladiga Trail. The following is a little about the Dugger Mountain Wilderness: “The 7,245-acre Cheaha Wilderness was designated in 1983, and the 9,222-acre Dugger Mountain Wilderness, named for the 2,140-foot Dugger Mountain, was established in 1999. Dugger lies at the northernmost edge of the Talladega Mountain Range, with its peak of 2,140 feet being the second highest in Alabama. The land is unsuitable for logging because of its ridge lines, deep ravines, and rock outcroppings, but these features make it an excellent primitive area. During recent years, archeologists have found prehistoric rock shelters and artifacts indicating that the area was a habitation site during the early Archaic period.” I found this information at https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=166
I am disappointed that the history of the mountain does seem easy to find although it is made quite clear on the information board on the Chief Ladiga Trail. I will continue my search.
Still trying to find more info. This from https://www.usparksonline.com/463/dugger-mountain-wilderness-area/
The wilderness also protects numerous threatened and endangered plant communities. The property was named for Thomas Dugger, a Civil War veteran from Tennessee who claimed his forty-acres-and-a-mule at the foot of the mountain. Most of the forest around Dugger Mountain was logged off in the early 1900’s, and when the Forest Service bought the land, it was essentially a glorified slash pile sitting on top of heavily eroded countryside.
The Dugger Mountain area, though, was still pretty much untouched because of the steepness of the hills.
Thomas Dugger donated the land to be kept wild in perpetuity but information to confirm this seems difficult to find. This could become a quest.
Rode the 68 miler on the 4th of July. Started at the Ranger Station on the southern end of the route which worked out really well, making Piedmont a perfect resupply/lunch stop and gets you back onto I-20 quickly when it’s time to get out of dodge.
Road conditions were excellent, some washout here and there but for the most part you could really rip down everything which was a blast. The whole place felt like my own personal playground, saw 2-3 vehicles all day. Love the route and the site, thanks for posting all these and keep em coming 👍👍
I think the way you did it, from the southern end, is perfect. That’s the way I am going to do it next time. Glad to hear that everything is still fast rolling. Sounds like a great 4th!
-Tim-
Update 4/3/21
Olen’s “Gravel bike commercial” comment inspired me to ride the full 68 mile version. A few photos were added to the main gallery including the Einstein mural in downtown Piedmont.
Road surfaces have taken a beating over the winter, especially steeper spots where there is more washout. The section heading north from Coleman Lake/Warden Station to Highway 55/Liberty Hill was always a bit rough and has gotten somewhat more gnarly. Its still a super fun route and I’d do it again tomorrow.
The Forest Service has been busy over the winter and there is an impressive amount of prescribed burning along the routes.
Be sure to soft pedal through Piedmont and stop at Elevated Grounds coffee. They are very cycling friendly and were doing a brisk business on the evening before Easter. The coffee is great.
-Tim-
I rode the 52 at the beginning of 2021 and it was a blast. Hands down some of the best scenery in the southeast, for most of the route I felt like I was in a gravel bike commercial. I was wishing for one more cog in the back on the climb up Duggar Mountain, but made it to the top. The route was challenging and really fun. I’d rate it as slightly more difficult than Double Murder, but a little easier than the north Georgia routes. Looking forward to going back and trying the 63 as well as Shake and Brake. Thanks for putting this route up.
Rode the 52…it’s fantastic! A great loop of some of the Skyway and some stuff I had not ridden before. Thanks for sharing this solid route, Tim!
JC, comments like this are literally the fuel which keeps this site running. I’m glad you had a great time, especially in this mixed up world we live in.
-Tim-