Piedmont’s advantage is range: an approachable paved trail that brings families, and nearby long-distance hiking that brings dedicated outdoor travelers.
This page answers:
Welcome to Piedmont
Piedmont sits at the intersection of paved trail riding, clear-water creek paddling, and regional hiking + ATV adventures.
Chief Ladiga Trail
The Chief Ladiga Trail is Piedmont’s signature outdoor asset: paved, approachable, and built for repeat visitation. It creates a reliable flow of cyclists and walkers who need food, restrooms, coffee, retail, and places to stay.
- Paved and family-friendly — easy for day trips and group rides.
- Trail towns create natural “stops” that support Main Street business.
- Pairs well with downtown murals, shopping, and local dining.
- ChiefLadigaTrail.com — maps, towns, and business directories.
- DowntownPiedmont.com — shopping, dining, services.
Pinhoti Trail region
The Pinhoti Trail is a long-distance hiking route through Alabama and Georgia. Piedmont’s role is to be a practical hub for hikers and outdoor travelers: resupply, dining, lodging, and “bonus activities” like trail riding and paddling.
How Piedmont supports hikers
Hikers look for predictable basics: food, groceries, gear, medical, and comfortable places to recover. A trail town that can meet those needs becomes a repeat stop.
Turn a hike into a weekend
Combine hiking with a paved ride on the Chief Ladiga Trail, a paddle on Terrapin Creek, and a downtown evening. That’s how you increase nights stayed.
Where we send hikers
For broader hiking and trip planning resources, use the regional activity directory site.
Why the Pinhoti connection matters
The Pinhoti Trail brings a different kind of visitor than a paved rail-trail: hikers who plan longer trips, need resupply, and spend more per day when a town is set up to serve them. Piedmont’s opportunity is to be the “easy choice” for meals, rest, lodging, and trip logistics—then send hikers back out with a great impression.
- Food that’s fast, filling, and reliable
- Groceries / supplies / simple gear needs
- Comfortable places to sleep and recover
- Clear info: directions, services, and options
- Make downtown walkable and photogenic
- Offer a short list of “must stop” businesses
- Provide a simple itinerary that mixes activities
- Keep online info consistent across sites
Chief Ladiga Trail: the repeat-visit machine
Paved trails create repeat behavior. Families come back. Groups organize rides. Visitors return in different seasons. The more your corridor businesses are easy to find online—with hours, phone numbers, and Google Maps links—the more Piedmont captures that spending.