Lowline Railroad Trail
- 2.6 mi
- distance
- 154 ft
- climb
- 515 ft
- high point
- Lollipop
- route
- Oct–May
- best months
Lowline Railroad Trail is a 2.6-mile loop in Alabama's Yates Lake West Wildlife Management Area, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route rises from about 509 feet to 515 feet, with a total elevation gain of 154 feet, and is rated easy. It makes a short outing for hikers and riders alike, with the trail's gentle climb and flat stretches working well for a walk or a bike ride. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Milstead show October highs around 77°F with lows near 52°F, and April highs around 75°F. That station sits about 300 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little cooler. Bikes are allowed, but horses are not. The John B Scott Forever Wild Trail and the Cherokee Bluffs Railroad Trail both start about 0.1 mile away. Climbers can head to Cherokee Bluffs, roughly 0.9 mile off, and Lake Martin, about 9.4 miles away, offers fishing.
Best time to go · Oct–May
Best time to visit Lowline Railroad Trail
Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
57° / 34°
10 wet
Feb
61° / 36°
9 wet
Mar
68° / 42°
9 wet
Apr
75° / 49°
7 wet
May
83° / 59°
8 wet
Jun
88° / 66°
10 wet
Jul
90° / 70°
11 wet
Aug
90° / 69°
10 wet
Sep
86° / 64°
7 wet
Oct
77° / 52°
6 wet
Nov
67° / 41°
7 wet
Dec
59° / 36°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Milstead, AL, 15.3 mi away at 215 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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