The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail
The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail
Building America's Longest Paved Trail to Empower Rural Georgia
Story by Cindy Reid
What if you could actually ride your bike or walk from one side of Georgia to the other on a smooth paved trail that went through charming Southern towns with ample opportunity to learn local history, enjoy a meal or even spend the night?
That describes the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, a work in progress that will ultimately be a 211 mile paved path from Athens to Savannah that winds through East Central Georgia.
The Hi-Lo Trail will be much more than a nature or bike trail because it is driven by the urge to connect communities to the users of the trail. Some of it will be nature, some will be small town, and some will be more urban. Stretching from Sparta, to Tybee Beach, everything that makes Georgia unique will be incorporated into the trail. Think old train depots, shops and restaurants, small town murals and stately courthouses.
Because the Trail will be paved it can be used by runners, strollers, wheelchairs users, bicycles, rollerbladers, leashed dogs, and walkers of all ages. That is the essence of the Hi-Lo Trail, the community spirit of having something literally everyone can use. Creating America’s longest paved trail will of course take time. But the work has started.
The Visionary
Executive Director Mary Charles Howard is the visionary. Born and raised in the small town Sandersville, Ga., she left to pursue higher education and a professional career as a landscape architect. Eventually she returned to her hometown with her family.
“We were back home but we had left trails behind and had nowhere to walk or bike,” Mary says.
Furthermore, she saw that other families were returning to their hometowns, and new residents were discovering the beautiful homes that could be had for a much lower price than in an urban or suburban area. She thought they too could benefit from a walking or bike trail.
“With the advent of remote work, I saw a return to small towns, and I thought that bringing some benefits of urban life, such as a paved trail, to a rural setting could possibly revitalize these rural communities.”
Incorprating Communities with the Trail
The trail she was designing would wind through towns along the way where visitors would experience local points of interest and spend money at restaurants and shops. It was important to her that visitors and residents interact and share their stories. Mary was clear that the trail needed to be paved to make it accessible for everyone.
“I envisioned multi-generational users, grandparents, parents, kids and special needs folks, who often face barriers accessing the outdoors.”
She launched the project in 2019 with the thought that she could do it herself. “I had focused on trail design as a landscape architect, but I soon saw the complexity and scope of the project would require a team, ideally one with experience.”
Enter the PATH Foundation.
“All roads led to the PATH Foundation,” says Mary, “They have helped other trail organizations, and they have figured it out.”
PATH, a nonprofit based in Atlanta, started with trail systems in Atlanta and have since worked with other communities to create such stellar trails as the Swamp Rabbit trail out of Greenville, SC, and the Spanish Moss Trail in Beaufort, SC.
Mary says, “We have been working together since 2019. They designed our Master Plan, including signage and benches, with nothing left to chance. Without them I might have given up.”
With the support of PATH Mary has been able to use her time to promote the Trail, visiting local community organizations such as Rotary Clubs and lobbying in Atlanta, as well as actual trail building.
PATH has learned that persistence and patience are the virtues most needed during long-distance trail planning and that with them big things can happen.
The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail and its constituent cities and counties are fortunate to have inspiring leaders, competent staff, and dedicated community volunteers who can keep the vision focused and do the necessary hard work It will require the Georgia Hi-Lo Initiative’s Board and all of its staff to focus their efforts today and over many years to come.
Kids Bike League
Looking to inspire the next generation of cyclists and adventurers, Mary initiated a new program, Kids Bike League. The Trail effort was launched in April 2019 and the bike league in May 2019.
“We had a lot of bikes, and the initial premise was to teach kids how to ride but most of the kids who came already knew how to ride so we focused on providing safe riding trails and helmets that they can bring home.”
The free-of-charge ride days also provide nutritious meals and snacks for the kids. The program offers Free Community Ride Days in Sandersonville and Guyton, Effingham County, which are made possible by a grant from the Chestnut Family Foundation.
“It’s a great time on bikes, plus snacks, crafts, and adventure with friends,” says Mary.
There is also a series of Summer Camp weeks which have a fee, although scholarships are available. Registration is required for both Ride Days and Summer Camp.
The Trail
Mary says, “We have two sections of old rail we will be using but most of the land needed is a mixture of public and private owners.”
She says it will take time to build relationships to facilitate commitments from local landowners although some are already on board, such as a 2.2-mile segment on an easement generously donated by Forest Grove Preserve, a Georgia Centennial Farm and National Register of Historic Places site. While the trail is still on private property and not yet open to the public, Forest Grove Preserve recently hosted the Sandersville Kids Bike League.
The Master Plan lays the trail out across eight counties and by 2030 they will have built “model miles” in Effingham, Washington and Hancock Counties.
“Those three sections of model miles keep me very busy,” says Mary. “Ideally, we want each county to ‘feel the love’ as we continue to build on each section.” Trail building has commenced on the Sandersville to Tennille model mile and at the Forest Grove Preserve.
The Trail will not be a straight line as it is designed to “bend” to highlight local points of interest such as the Effingham ball fields, as well as connect to restrooms.
How to Help
People can help the Hi-Lo Trail project in a few different ways.
• PayPal Giving Fund by selecting it as your favorite charity on PayPal Giving Fund
• Athens to Savannah Ride - The Athens to Savannah Ride supports the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail by raising awareness and funds
• Volunteer for the Effingham County Bike League
• Donate new helmets for the bike league
• Check the Facebook page for current fundraisers
Volunteers are crucial to the ongoing work and success of the Hi-Lo Trail. “Our team sacrifices weekends and summers with their families to make dreams happen for the Trail, for the Kids Bike League, and for the Athens to Savannah Ride,” says Mary, “It takes many early mornings and late nights. We are truly grateful for all the hours, days, months and years invested in this vision that is coming to life and changing the lives of kids as we go.”
Mary says she wants residents to know, “The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail is connecting rural Georgia communities with a world-class trail while creating economic opportunities and outdoor adventures for all. If people can see the entire project, they will see it’s not about the trail, it's about the community and it’s about seeing each other. We are working hard to empower rural Georgia and ensure all the benefits come full circle.”
