Citronelle Walking Trail

The Citronelle Walking Trail is a three-mile long, asphalt-covered rail trail in Citronelle, Alabama. It was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2011.

Citronelle Walking Trail
Mobile and Ohio Railroad depot, located along the trail, which can be seen in the background
Length3 miles (4.8 km)
LocationCitronelle, Alabama
DesignationNational Recreation Trail
UseSkating, hiking
Elevation
Highest point347 feet (106 m)
Lowest point323 feet (98 m)
Grade1%

History
1903 Mobile and Ohio Railroad map featuring the route from Meridian to Mobile

The route was created by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in 1852. The 30-mile stretch from Citronelle to Mobile was the first section of the railroad to be open for service.[1] The railroad was a major contributor to the growth of the town, as the railroads promoted it as a health resort because of its mineral springs and altitude.[2] Though the route underwent many transfers of ownership, it was eventually abandoned. It was then converted into a paved trail. It received grants from the Recreational Trails Program to develop the trail and to install gas lights along the trail.[3] The trail was designated as a National Recreation Trail on June 2, 2011.[4]

Route description
Hygeia Hotel Cottage

The trail begins in Newberry Crossing, in the center of Citronelle. It heads south from there and ends just before reaching a connection between U.S. Route 45 and Celeste Road. Along the way, the trail passes through the Citronelle Railroad Historic District. This includes a restored train depot, which was built in 1903 and currently serves as a museum.[5] Also within the district is the Hygeia Cottage, a part of the town's Hygeia Hotel. The cottage is the only remnant of the hotels built during the town's tourism boom due to its marketing as a health resort.[3]

References
  1. Lemly, James H. (1953). The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio. Richard D. Irwin, Inc. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. "About Citronelle, Alabama". Citronelle Historical Preservation Society. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. "Citronelle Walking Trail". National Recreation Trail Database. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  4. Busby, Guy (June 3, 2011). "Two Baldwin County sites declared National Recreation Trails". AL.com (Advance Publications). Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  5. "Hours of Operation". Citronelle Historical Preservation Society. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
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