Georgia May Soon Be Home To The Longest Paved Trail In America
Georgia may soon be home to America’s longest paved trail. The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail initiative came about in 2019, by Mary Charles Howard. She saw the success of the Firefly Trail, which is a 39-mile trail, that begins on East Broad Street, close to the University of Georgia in Athens to Union Point in Northeast Georgia, connecting Athens-Clarke, Oglethorpe, and Greene Counties. Here is a map of Firefly Trail.
Howard decided to add on another 211 miles with the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, that would go through Sandersville ending in Savannah, Georgia. A comprehensive master plan is still being worked towards. It will show the exact timeline, cost, and where exactly the trail will go.
This is a map of the proposed trail.
Even though the idea came from Howard’s frustration with a lack of safe cycling, it’s not just for bikes. It’s intended for walkers, runners, strollers, bicycles, and rollerbladers. It is even open to dogs on a leash.
Currently, the Georgia Hi-Lo team has been hosting many events, like races, to help benefit the trail.
They also hold public meetings in various counties throughout Georgia for people to learn about the Hi-Lo Trail, voice concerns, and learn about the trail’s impact on their community!