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In the early days, the railroad was the lifeblood of St. Tammany Parish. Today this spur, created from the Illinois Central Railroad corridor, is a 28-mile recreational corridor for pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians, roller-bladers, and joggers.

The Tammany Trace, is Louisiana's first and only rails-to-trails conversion. The Tammany Trace meanders through loblolly pines, live oaks, and magnolias from Covington, to Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell.

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. The Trace, as locals call it, 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.

With the help of grants and federal dollars, the St. Tammany Parish Government has asphalted 28 miles, remodeled railroad trestles into pedestrian bridges and maintained the Trace. The Tammany Trace is also supported by the Tammany Trace Foundation, a private, nonprofit corporation that raises funds for continued improvement and expansion. The Foundation hosts the annual Holiday of Lights, numerous races and events to help fund Trace activities.

Experience the Tammany Trace! You'll find lots of things to see and do along the way, and we hope you'll come back again and again.