Tammany Trace - Covington Trailhead

The Tammany Trace is a hiking trail through the pine forests of northern Covington and southern Independence, Louisiana. It is located at 419 N New Hampshire St, Covington, LA 70433. It follows the right-of-way of the old railroad and is a great place to see history, hike, birdwatch and explore. The Tammany Trace is only accessible by foot or horseback. The Tammany Trace was originally built as an extension of the New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad in 1881 through northern Covington and southern Independence, Louisiana. It was completed from New Orleans to Covington by 1893. During its construction, the railroad line that it follows was known as the “Covington Branch” because it connected with an existing branch at Covington which ran south to Alexandria. Today this branch has long since been abandoned by other railroads. The entire line from New Orleans to Baton Rouge is now operated by the broad gauge Norfolk Southern Railway Company as part of their major mainline between those cities known as “the Crescent” which runs along the bottom edge of Lake Pontchartrain (more info here).

A Brief History of the Tammany Trace

The Tammany Trace follows the right-of-way of the old New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad that was built in the late 1870s-early 1880s as a major regional transportation corridor linking New Orleans and Baton Rouge with the Gulf of Mexico. It was later taken over by the Southern Pacific and then the Southern Railway (who later became part of Norfolk Southern). The line was eventually abandoned by the Southern Pacific in the late 1970s and by Norfolk Southern in 2013. The Tammany Trace is still accessible to the public, although most of the rail line and all of the old trestle across Lake Pontchartrain were removed during the last two decades. The Trace follows the old right-of-way of the New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad as far west as Covington, Louisiana. It then goes under the Interstate 55 bridge over North Broad Street and continues westward into the town of Independence. The Trace goes west of the old Southern Pacific Railroad branch to the west that was abandoned in the 1970s and the remaining rail trestle across Lake Pontchartrain. The Trace ends near the remnant of the old Incline Railway depot in downtown Independence, Louisiana.

How To Get to the Trailhead

You can find directions and more information about parking, hiking, and camping in Covington here and about hiking, camping and diving in Independence here. Additional recreational opportunities are available here.

Description of The Route

The old railroad bed of the Tammany Trace from the trailhead in Covington, Louisiana to the end in Independence, Louisiana is now a multi-use path that is open to hikers, bikers and equestrians. It is a very remote path. However, there are two public access points near Covington and one in Independence. The Trace is open to the public and is not owned by any city or state agency. It is maintained by a volunteer trail maintenance organization. The trailhead in Covington is at the former Covington Southern Railway Depot, located one mile east of the intersection of Main and Tulane Streets. From there the Trace follows the old right-of-way of the New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad. The trail passes through a dense old-growth forest of longleaf pines that are over 500 years old and is maintained by the Southern Pine Trail Association. From Covington to the eastern city limits of Independence, the Trace follows the old railroad bed of the New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad. The Trace is open to the public and is not owned by any city or state agency. It is maintained by a volunteer trail maintenance organization.

Tips for hiking the Tammany Trace in Covington, Louisiana

If you are going to Covington, try to get an early start. The Trace is remote and you will have to drive back to the trailhead. - Bring plenty of water. You will be hiking through dense woodlands and the humidity can be high. - Bring some insect repellent. There are no services along the Trace. You will need to fend off the periodic swarms of mosquitoes. - Bring a map. You will be hiking through dense woods and it is easy to get disoriented. A good map is essential. - Bring a camera. You will have many opportunities to view wildlife and you can take some great photos. - Bring a cell phone. The Trace is very remote and you will need a way to call for help in case of emergency.

BONUCLE: Final Words

You may notice that this trail is not maintained. The trail may have fallen into disrepair or it may have been removed. You may find sections of the Trace that have been washed away or that are now covered by undergrowth or trees. A few sections of the Trace have been removed or have been completely covered by new development. In recent years, a group of volunteers has been working to maintain sections of the Tammany Trace that have fallen into disrepair or have been removed. They work in shifts and spend a few days maintaining a section of the Trace. The Tammany Trace Foundation is a non-profit organization that is working to protect the old railroad right-of-way and to restore sections of the Trace. You can learn more about the Tammany Trace Foundation by visiting their website. You may also be interested in...