The first 3.5-mile section of the Georgia Coast Rail-Trail opens at 10 a.m. Saturday with a dedication ceremony at the White Oak Post Office north of Woodbine on Highway 17.
To celebrate the opening, trail lovers of all ages are invited to explore the trail on foot or bicycle. Bicycles will be available free of charge, courtesy of Monkeywrench Bicycles of St. Simons Island and Camden Bicycle Center of St. Marys, or participants can bring their own for the inaugural ride.
The dedication is part of National Trails Day, which is sponsored by the American Hiking Society. Children ages 5-12 can enter the National Trails Day coloring contest for a chance to win an outdoor prize pack from The North Face and have their artwork featured in American Hiker magazine.
Trail mix and bottled water will be provided free to attendees.
The initial section of the Georgia Coast Rail-Trail extends north and south from White Oak. It is the first part of a planned 68-mile trail to be built on an abandoned CSX railroad bed running from Kingsland to Riceboro. The trail will run across marshes, maritime forests and 43 rivers and creeks in Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, and Liberty counties.
The trail is 10-feet wide with a hard-packed surface. On this section, the trail was constructed with finely crushed concrete reclaimed from Interstate 95. The surface accommodates walkers, runners and bikers, but no skates, road bikes or motorized vehicles. Equestrians can ride on the grassy area alongside the trail.
Amenities include a picnic shelter, benches and restrooms. At the trailhead in front of the post office, parking has been improved to accommodate more visitors.
The cost of building the White Oak segment is being split three ways among the Atlanta-based PATH Foundation, Coastal Georgia Rails to Trails Inc., and Camden County, owner of the White Oak segment, which provided in-kind construction assistance.
To celebrate the opening, trail lovers of all ages are invited to explore the trail on foot or bicycle. Bicycles will be available free of charge, courtesy of Monkeywrench Bicycles of St. Simons Island and Camden Bicycle Center of St. Marys, or participants can bring their own for the inaugural ride.
The dedication is part of National Trails Day, which is sponsored by the American Hiking Society. Children ages 5-12 can enter the National Trails Day coloring contest for a chance to win an outdoor prize pack from The North Face and have their artwork featured in American Hiker magazine.
Trail mix and bottled water will be provided free to attendees.
The initial section of the Georgia Coast Rail-Trail extends north and south from White Oak. It is the first part of a planned 68-mile trail to be built on an abandoned CSX railroad bed running from Kingsland to Riceboro. The trail will run across marshes, maritime forests and 43 rivers and creeks in Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, and Liberty counties.
The trail is 10-feet wide with a hard-packed surface. On this section, the trail was constructed with finely crushed concrete reclaimed from Interstate 95. The surface accommodates walkers, runners and bikers, but no skates, road bikes or motorized vehicles. Equestrians can ride on the grassy area alongside the trail.
Amenities include a picnic shelter, benches and restrooms. At the trailhead in front of the post office, parking has been improved to accommodate more visitors.
The cost of building the White Oak segment is being split three ways among the Atlanta-based PATH Foundation, Coastal Georgia Rails to Trails Inc., and Camden County, owner of the White Oak segment, which provided in-kind construction assistance.