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Richard Martin Trail
Length	10.2 miles (16.4 km)
Location	North Limestone County, Alabama, USA
Designation	National Recreation Trail in 2010
Trailheads	North: Veto Rd. TN state line South: Piney Chapel Rd.
Use	Bicycles, pedestrian, horseback
Highest point	831 feet (253 m)
Lowest point	662 feet (202 m)
Difficulty	Easy
Season	All year
Sights	Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle, Town of Elkmont
Surface	Crushed rock
Right of way	Seaboard System Railroad
Website	Rails to Trails State lineAthensclass=notpageimage| North and south trailheads in Alabama

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The Richard Martin Trail or the Richard Martin Rails-to-Trail is a multi-use rail trail open to hikers, walkers, runners, and bicycle and horseback riders in Limestone County, Alabama built on an abandoned rail corridor as part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The 10.2-mile trail winds through wetlands, the Civil War site Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle and downtown Elkmont, Alabama. It was named in honor of Richard Martin, local citizen and trail supporter, who led the effort to build the trail for 25 years.

History

The railroad was built in 1859 by the Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad linking Nashville, Tennessee and Decatur, Alabama. The railroad right-of-way was abandoned in April 1986. Limestone County Parks and Recreation Board (established in 1992) adopted the efforts of Richard Martin to create the trail and its trail heads. Under the Limestone County Parks and Recreation Board purview, the historic church was relocated to the northern head at Veto and parking and restrooms were built; Coffman Park parking and pavilion were built; and upgrades were made at the Elkmont centerpoint to include horse trailer parking, additional egress points, and trail maintenance such as grading, repair, and anti-motorized vehicle barriers. Limestone County Parks and Recreation saved the historic church from demolition in 2006.

Features

The Veto trailhead includes the restoration of a 19th-century community church and restroom facilities. The Piney Chapel trailhead offers a pavilion with restrooms, parking lot for vehicles/horse trailers, and hitching posts.

Locations

Locations along the trails are listed in north to south order.

See also

• List of Hiking Trails in Alabama

References

1. "Rails to Trails". Limestone County Parks and Recreation. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
2. "2010 NRT designations". AmericanTrails.org. U.S. Department of Interior. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
3. ^ "Richard Martin Trail". National Recreation Trails Database. American Trails. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
4. ^ "Elkmont, Alabama / Tenn. & Ala. Central Railroad". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
5. "Richard Martin National Recreation Trail, Limestone County, Alabama". American Trails.org. Featured National Recreation Trails in Alabama. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
6. "Group plans to restore historic Valley church". Decatur Daily. Decatur, Alabama. October 23, 2006. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
7. "Richard Martin Trail: Piney Chapel Road Access". Alabama Recreation Trails. The Alabama Trails Commission, The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development. Retrieved March 15, 2019.

External links

• Richard Martin Rails to Trails Limestone County, Alabama
• Richard Martin National Recreation Trail American Trails

• National Recreation Trails in Alabama
• Rail trails in Alabama
• Bike paths in Alabama
• Protected areas of Limestone County, Alabama
• Horse trails
• Limestone County, Alabama
• Hiking trails in Alabama