Hidden Atlanta

A SCENIC RIDE THROUGH GEORGIA’S HISTORY

THE DETAILS LOCATION: 4342 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA 30126 HOURS: Dawn to dusk PHONE NUMBER: 770-819-3279 WEBSITE: silvercometga.com By Todd DeFeo

The Silver Comet Trail offers not only beautiful scenery for a day outside but also a chance to discover a slice of Georgia history.

The 61.5-mile-long trail, ideally suited for bicycling, walking and running, extends from Smyrna to the Georgia-Alabama state line. At the border, it connects with the Chief Ladiga Trail, which runs to Anniston, Alabama, making for a 95.5-mile-long connected trail.

The pet-friendly route derives its name from a former Seaboard Air Line Railroad (and later Seaboard Coast Line) passenger train that ran between New York City and Birmingham, Alabama, and operated over the route until the 1960s. The Silver Comet Trail is a less crowded alter native to the more urban Atlanta BeltLine, a 22-mile ring of abandoned rail lines that have been converted into a multiuse path around the city. Silver Comet runs through some of Georgia’s most scenic areas, includ ing rural countryside and farmland.

While the trail itself makes for an exhilarating bike ride or run, leave plenty of time for some stops along the way with connected trails leading to parks and other landmarks. Heritage Park, located near Smyrna, is a nature preserve that includes the Concord Woolen Mills ruins, dating back to 1847. In Powder Springs there’s Seven Springs Water Park.

There are a number of trailheads along Silver Comet’s route. For more information, visit silvercometga.com.