History

In the early days, the railroad was the lifeblood of St. Tammany Parish. Today, this spur is an extremely popular recreation, transportation and educational corridor. Now called The Tammany Trace, it is Louisiana's first and only rails-to-trails conversion. This multi-purpose public path, created from the Illinois Central Railroad corridor, meanders through loblolly pines, live oaks, and magnolias from Slidell to Covington, Louisiana.

"The White House Millennium Council chose The Tammany Trace as one of 50 Millennium Legacy Trails."

Like our first explorers, you can crisscross urban, suburban and rural St. Tammany on foot, skates, bicycles, and horses and in wheelchairs. This 31-mile asphalted trail and parallel equestrian trail connects five communities--Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell.

The Trace, as locals call it, also serves as a wildlife conservation corridor, linking isolated parks, creating greenways, and preserving historic landmarks and wetlands. You can observe the natural habitat, bayous, streams and rivers from the vantage point of 31 bridges built on the original railroad trestles.