THE TRAILS AT LAKE MARTIN ARE THE SUPERSTAR IN WINTER
Here at Big Fish we often meet with newcomers to Lake Martin and they almost always ask us, “Is there anything to do at the lake in the winter?” We enthusiastically reply “YES!” Now, more so than ever, the winter is full of fun things to do in and around the vibrant communities that make up Lake Martin.
We love to explore the unique shopping and dining in Alexander City, Dadeville, Waverly, Eclectic and Tallassee—of course we do this all year long not just in the winter! Some of our top spots for shopping are Cloud Nine, Half Moon Market and Tippy Canoe in Alexander City, Bless Your Heart in Eclectic, McCall and Co in Tallassee, Ellaby Boutique, Lake Martin Mercantile and Off the Beaton Path in Dadeville and Fig and Wasp in Waverly—they are all chocked full of personality and great finds!
One of our favorite activities during the winter is hiking and/or running on the extensive trail system around Lake Martin. If you’re ready to hit the trails, you are in luck! The Russell Forest Run is coming up Saturday, Feb. 25. Lace up your trail running shoes for a truly fabulous time seeing the lake from a different vantage point! You can choose to run the 10k which starts at 7:45am or the 5k at 7:55am. The out-and-back race through Russell Forest starts near the Town Green at Russell Crossroads—best of all the post-race party is a blast!
Once you try this race and you’re ready to step it up, you can plan to tackle the Lake Martin 100, 50 or 27 Mile Trail Run is March 25-26—stepping it up might be an understatement!
We asked experienced trail runner and Birmingham Ultra Trail Society President Amber Whillock what makes the trails at Lake Martin so great and she says, “They are perfect for trail running and hiking. You can find both single and double track trails with enough elevation to make your run challenging, but enough runnable downhill to keep it enjoyable.”
“The scenery is beautiful, with trails winding through the woods and around the lake,” adds Amber who has completed the Lake Martin 50 mile race.
If you can’t make it to either of these races but still want to venture out on the trails, visit the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association for all the details on the 26+ miles of trails in the area. A group of volunteers lovingly maintain the trails and you can find all levels of difficulty depending on the type of hiking you’d like to do. In addition to the CRATA trails you can also explore those at Russell Forest, Wind Creek State Park, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, the Nature’s Way Preserve, and the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex.
Of course you can hike the trails year round, but only in the winter can you explore the Island Hop Trails at Smith Mountain because in the summer they are under the lake!
Give your friends at Big Fish a shout if you ever have questions about life and activities at Lake Martin—we’re always here to help!
