Let’s Hike Limestone: Athens-Limestone County Tourism encourages exploration during Alabama’s Year of the Trails
Published 9:03 am Saturday, March 29, 2025
2021 File photo. A young hiker celebrates reaching the top of a trial.
Courtesy photo. Richard Martin Jr., right, and members of the Trail Church hike together.
Courtesy photo. The official graphic for "Let's Hike Limestone" from the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association.
Earlier this week, the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association, found online as “Explore Athens, AL,” launched a new initiative: “Let’s Hike Limestone!”
At the beginning of the year, Alabama Tourism declared 2025 as the “Year of the Trails,” illuminating the natural beauty throughout the state and detailing the largely untapped access residents have to the trails. To support this effort, “Let’s Hike Limestone” is a series of free, guided walks throughout 2025 that will cover many of the 17+ trails in Athens-Limestone County. It is also aimed at drawing residents and visitors to the smaller towns across Limestone County such as Ardmore, Elkmont and Historic Mooresville.
Led by Athens-Limestone Tourism Specialist Stephanie Reynolds, these walks and hikes are designed to invite all in the community to participate, offering different difficulty levels to entice the first-time hiker, the experienced adventurer and everyone in between.
The first hike of the year will take place on the Richard Martin Trail in Elkmont, on Saturday, May 3. The hike will span two easy, mostly flat miles down the trail until reaching the Sulphur Creek Trestle historic marker and turning back. The total distance is about 4 miles — which is great for beginners who can walk easily.
Afterwards, participants will be encouraged to explore the darling downtown of Elkmont and patronize its unique businesses. Those wanting to participate, including children, must register and fill out a waiver and the first 25 to register will receive a free ice cream cone from the Elkmont restaurant, Warehouse Pizza.
The Athens-Limestone Tourism Association is eager to see “Let’s Hike Limestone” activate Limestone County travelers by providing them the resources and agency to return to the trails time and again, especially as the beautiful summer approaches.
A link to register for the first hike can be found at https://forms.gle/RkSmZJpZXx5Yoy5P7. For more information on the Richard Martin Trail, please visit https://www.traillink.com/trail/richard-martin-trail/.