Cycling – Road Route – Anniston – Horseblock/Cheaha Mountain Ride

This is a scenic 40-mile ride from Anniston to the highest point in Alabama. The route runs mostly very lightly traveled roads. Plenty of scenery and vistas along the way plus a lot of challenging climbing packed into a relatively short ride. The route features the long climb up to Cheaha State Park. Once on top, you can plummet down the back side of Mount Cheaha to Adams Gap, then turn around and come back over the top. Taking a break at the country store at the park entrance on top should be enough for most riders. The break may be needed since after the descent back on Hwy. 281, the route is marked with a series of five leg-breaker hills that are short, but much steeper than the big climb to Cheaha.

Part of this route is well known to Alabama cyclists as it is part of the annual Cheaha Challenge Century. This route, however, leads riders on a different way to Hwy. 281 that features more hills, more shade and more scenery than the Century route from Piedmont. This ride gives the most entertaining parts of the century in a 40-mile ride.

The route begins in Anniston at the Golden Springs Shopping Center at the corner of Golden Springs Road and Choccolocco Road. You can enjoy gourmet coffee and a pastry at the Java Bleu Coffeehouse 256-240-7266 before departing on this locally popular ride. There are two stores en route.

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Skill Level:

Intermediate/AdvancedThis route requires some level of navigation on city side streets and the ability to ride on short and steep hills as well as an extended climb.

Variations:

Instead of turning around at top of Mount Cheaha, bomb down the backside to Adams Gap. Climb back over to Cheaha to add approximately 13 miles to the route

Route Legs:

Leave Golden Springs parking lot and turn left (east) onto Choccolocco Road.
First big right turn onto Roberson Road.
Robertson dead-ends into Greenbrier Dear.
Greenbrier Dear dead-ends into Dearmanville.
Dearmanville takes a hard right, then crosses the Tracks.
Continue straight at the small gift shop all the way to Hwy 79. Cross 79 and road changes to Sunny Eve Road.
Sunny Eve ends on Buckelew Bridge Road.
Take the next thru left and ride out of town by the golf course. Watch out for wooden bridge! Vertical slats can catch a wheel!
At 4-way with Friendship/Jewel Roads, follow Jennifer through intersection and towards the left. Jennifer becomes CR 45 in National Forest, then CR 24 in Cleburne County.
Store!! Cross under Skyway (SR 281) and take a right at the Store. CR 3 becomes Abel Rd. at county line.
Hard right. Begin Climbing.
More Climbing.
The top!! Cheaha State Park General Store.
Turn around and start going down!!!
Not all down. Many leg-breakers on the way out of the park.
CR 24 to CR 45 to Jennifer Lane to Mellon Bridge… All the same road. Continue Straight at intersection of Friendship/Jewel Roads. Look out for wooden bridge again!!
Go straight when the road curves right next to the Gift Shop
Again, turn left as the road bends right.
Finish at the coffee shop for lunch!

Afterward:

There are plenty of good restaurants in Anniston. Recommendations –

Courthouse Cafe (19 West 11th Street, 256-741-8237) – Meat w/2 veggies, sandwiches, burgers.
LaBella Donna (911 Noble Street , 256-235-0706) – Traditional coffeehouse serving lunch.
Old Smokehouse Bar-B-Q (631 South Quintard Avenue 256-237-5200)
Java Bleu - 256-240-7266 - High-quality coffee and espresso. Open early for breakfast and lunch. Ideal location to start a bicycle ride.
More Dining Information: www.spiritofanniston.org, 256-236-0996

Notes:

General Information: Bicycle Clubs and Other Ride Information:

Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club (Local group ride information and up-to-date trail information.) - www.neabc.org.

For more info:: None

Contact any of the following for additional information:

Courthouse Cafe: Street Address:
19 West 11th Street
Anniston, AL 36202
Phone#:(256) 741 - 8237
Fun Wheels: Street Address:
1209 Snow Street
Oxford, AL N/A
Phone#:(256) 831 - 9507
Java Bleu: Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
Phone#:(256) 240 - 7266
La Bella Donna: Street Address:
911 Noble Street
Anniston, AL 36202
Phone#:(256) 235 - 0706
More Dining Information: Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
Phone#:(256) 236 - 0996
www.spiritofanniston.org
Northeast Alabama Bicycle CLub: Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
www.neabc.org
Old Smokehouse Bar-B-Q: Street Address:
631 S. Quintard Avenue
Anniston, AL 36202
Phone#:(256) 237 - 5200
Scott's Bikes and Repairs: Street Address:
101 Ladiga Street SE
Jacksonville, AL N/A
Phone#:(256) 435 - 2453