A rocky trail winding through a dense, green forest, with moss-covered stones and trees surrounding the path. Small cairns are visible on the rocks, and the ground is made up of various sized pebbles and stones. The atmosphere appears misty and serene, suggesting a tranquil, natural setting. Coldwater Mountain mountain bike trail.
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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 30 mi (48.3 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Network
Elevation: +1,177/ -1,112 ft
Total: 406 riders
 

Mountain Biking Coldwater Mountain

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#1 of 112 mountain bike trails in Alabama
#11 in the world

Coldwater Mountain, located in Anniston, Alabama, is a high quality trail system offering an extensive network of trails. With about 30 miles of singletrack, the Coldwater system features a variety of trail options designed for intermediate riders, with some easier loops catering to beginners. The terrain includes a mix of flow trails with elevation changes, rocky sections, and dense forest paths. Notable highlights include the "Bomb Dog" trail with incredible flow and iconic views, and "Gazza," a rocky, technical descent that is one of the most difficult trails in the system.

Ranked as the top trail in Alabama and one of the best globally, Coldwater Mountain combines well-designed paths with scenic landscapes. The trail system has been expanded with contributions from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), with plans calling for up to 60 miles of trails in the future.

First added by GoldenGoose on May 30, 2012. Last updated Dec 9, 2024. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: no
  • Lift service: no
  • Night riding: yes
  • Pump track: no
  • Restrooms: no
  • Fat bike grooming: no
  • E-bikes allowed: unknown
  • Fee required: no
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
See map.
System trails (15)
Advanced difficultyBomb Dog*****4.9 mi
 difficultyBullwinkle0.8 mi
Intermediate difficultyChilhowee****4.7 mi
 difficultyGazza1.4 mi
 difficultyHare1.8 mi
Beginner difficultyMomma Bear*****1.5 mi
 difficultyOval Office2.5 mi
 difficultyPapa Bear1.5 mi
Beginner difficultyRadio Gaga****0.5 mi
 difficultyRock Slot1 mi
 difficultyRocky0.5 mi
Intermediate difficultyTalladega*****1.5 mi
 difficultyThe Pip1 mi
 difficultyTortoise2.7 mi
Intermediate difficultyTrillium*****0.7 mi
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Coldwater Mountain Trail map

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Local Info

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Trail conditions

Open (3 weeks ago)
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Coldwater Mountain videos

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Trail Heads | Coldwater Mountain Alabama
 
 
 
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Mountain Bike Trails Near Anniston, Alabama

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| 2.7 mi
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Reviews

  • Jeff Barber
    Reviewing Trillium:
    *****

    Fast and fun descent with jumps you can either roll or send!

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  • Jeff Barber
    Reviewing Chilhowee:
    ****

    Varies between flowy and rocky. Most will ride this trail to connect various sections of the trail system. Not all uphill or downhill.

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  • Jeff Barber
    Reviewing Talladega:
    *****

    The climb can be tough with some fun technical rock stuff to session on the way up. The descent is a blast and well worth it!

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  • Jeff Barber
    Reviewing Momma Bear:
    *****

    My new favorite trail at Coldwater. Recently reworked and flows really well. Nice wide turns and jumps is fun for everyone.

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  • eddttt2
    *****

    These trails are phenomenal!

    I've taken several weeks-long, car camping, trips across the country to mountain biking "destinations". Based on TRAILS alone, Coldwater Trails are, by far, my fav trail system. I'd categorize them as extremely flowy, x-country trails with a very high ratio of features per mile. Excellent design. Even the climbs are flowy & fun!😯 I love, love, LOVE 1-way trails and Coldwater is mostly(?) 1-way trails.

    Sure, Sedona, Moab, etc. are better mountainbiking destination CITIES, but that is 80% because of the incredible scenery, not the actual mtb trails.

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  • jjadventure
    Reviewing Bomb Dog:
    *****

    Wow, what a ride. You won't be dissappointed. It's fast, technical, flows, and just rocks! I grinned from ear to ear the entire way down this run. You'll climb up Cassidy to get there from the lot we used, but your downhill reward will more than justfy the effort. If you have the time and the legs, hit Goldilocks when you're at Coldwater. We hit that sections twice.

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  • LStadelmeier   ✓ supporter
    *****

    Absolutely fantastic trail system. The trails are very well marked and maintained. This should be on the epic list of trails. There is enough terrain out there that will challenge the most accomplished rider, you can even bite off more than you can chew. Hard climbs, fast down hills, awesome rock gardens! Love this place...must ride

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  • Uphillrun
    *****

    We decided to stop by this trail on our way through the area on our way back to Dothan, AL since it is only a few miles off the interstate. This was the first time riding these trails and we really enjoyed the ride. The intermediate trails have a lot of loose rocks which makes the trails a challenge when riding here for the first time. We have come to appreciate all the "For Ever Wild" hiking and biking trails here in Alabama.

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  • FarmerDobes
    Reviewing Bomb Dog:
    *****

    I've only been mountain biking for a little under a year, but this is hands down the best downhill run I've found. It just keeps on giving. And if the speed and flow isn't enough how about a heaping helping of rocks to keep things interesting? The climb at the end back up to the Coldwater springs trailhead is really demoralizing though. It's like the bomb dog is giving you the middle finger at the end of the ride.

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  • FarmerDobes
    *****

    Hands down my favorite place to ride. I did 28 miles yesterday and was grinning a real big grin the whole time. Coldwater offers up the best of modern trail design while maintaining a rugged and out there feel. Rocks are more or less your constant companion with numerous chunky sections spread all over the mountain, the chunkiest is Gazza and is not for the faint of heart. The flowy sections on talladega, trillium, hare, Oval Office and bomb dog are exquisite and allow for absolutely ludicrous levels of speed if you stay off the brakes. Air time is real easy to find here if you're feeling bold. I'm not sure how up to date the trail maps posted everywhere are, I found a bunch of new stuff I didn't know about down by the Anniston trailhead yesterday. There seems to be more and more getting added to this thing all the time. It's worth visiting if you're anywhere in the Deep South. Tons and tons of miles to chew up and Anniston is a great little town with plenty to do when you finish up. If it was possible to give more than 5 stars to Coldwater I would.

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  • yuk22319
    *****

    Did the tortoise trail going up and the hair trail going down. Beautiful day and not to tuff. 5 miles total.

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  • FollowingBilly
    *****

    Awesome system - Gaza was both artwork and incredibly challenging. Trail Builder Oscar for the Gaza crew!

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  • oldsetter
    ****

    It was a beautiful day. Well marked trail, plenty of maps. Lots of diversity to keep you interested. I meet several nice people. Lots of climbing, rock gardens and great views!

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  • HoneyHam
    *****

    Mrs, and myself rode up to Rock slot and down Bombdog - we really enjoyed the trail system
    like to hit up the other side - it is repeat trail for myself:)

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  • Louis Harris
    *****

    I just rode out here today. i rode the Baby and Mama Bear trails. I wouldn't call these beginner trails; more like novice. Still a beginner could ride these particular trails. The Baby Bear connects to Mama Bear. Mama Bear is downhill for probably the first 2 miles. The next 1.5 is mostly switchbacks uphill. Then there's a relatively flat but very fast section towards the end. Overall I clocked 3.7 miles which was great for the short ride I was looking for(due to time). I am going to get out here earlier next time and try to do all the beginner trails. Someone told me it's about 8 miles of beginner trails. Anyhow, I saw enough of these trails to realize these are awesome trails. I'm in West Cobb/Atlanta, but I will most definitely be heading out here again.

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  • spc7669
    *****

    Good parking, good signage, nicely maintained. Very nice trail

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  • Aaron Chamberlain   ✓ supporter
    *****

    Rode this weekend after Irma came through. There are a few large trees down, blocking the trail. For sure one on Oval Office, but can't remember the locations of the others.

    Tons of huge acorns down as well right now, which can make some of the corners... interesting.

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Rider questions

Q: would this be a good place for a begginer to come ride?
A: It's definitely a good place to start. The Baby Bear and Mama Bear trails are a fairly easy beginners trail. As you get better, there are some great challenges further up the mountain!

Q: do they have water and do they have camping on site?
A: No water or camping. :(