Happy trails

MUSCLE SHOALS - When Shirley Bowen takes a walk along one of her favorite trails, she often sees bobcats, deer and other animals on the path.

“Seeing all the animals is really neat,” she said. “It’s a beautiful trail.”

The trail is not a remote path deep in some forest far from town. Visitors to the trail don’t even have to leave town to get there.

The trail where Bowen enjoys morning walks is the Tennessee Valley Authority’s jogging trail. The 2.6-mile paved trail winds around the southern end of TVA’s Muscle Shoals Reservation. It’s one of eight trails spanning more than 15 miles on the reservation. A map of the trails is displayed at a kiosk at the nature trails parking lot on Reservation Road.

Bowen’s favorite paths are the jogging trail and the Reservation Road Trail, which stretches 2.7 miles from the nature trail’s parking lot to Wilson Dam. She says the Reservation Road Trail is perfect for riding bicycles or taking a leisurely walk.

Shelton Cotner, of Muscle Shoals, said he enjoys riding his bicycle there because he does not have to contend with the traffic he would face on roads.

“You can bring kids out here to ride bikes and not have to worry about them getting hit by a car,” he said.

William and Mayzola Vaughn, of Killen, like to take walks along the Reservation Road Trail. Mayzola Vaughn said the variety of animals, wildflowers and trees make for a relaxing walk.

Karen Lowery, manager of Alabama Outdoors in Florence, calls the TVA trails a jewel of the Shoals.

Alabama Outdoors customers are often surprised when they ask where they can take a hike to see wildlife, wildflowers and trees and she recommends the TVA trails.

She said customers expect her to recommend taking a long drive to find a secluded trail.

“They don’t expect to find trails like that right in the middle of the cities,” she said.

Bowen likes the convenience of the TVA trails. “I come here just about every day.”

The jogging, Reservation Road and native plant trails, all of which are paved, are the most heavily used.

For more adventurous hikers, the Old First Quarters and Rockpile trails wind through heavily wooded areas teeming with wildlife and wildflowers.

Lowery said walking along the more rustic path is more like taking a hike through a forest than going for a walk in the center of a busy metropolitan area.

She said exploring the TVA trail is a great way to unwind after a busy day, connect with nature and get some exercise.

Randolph Gober, of Muscle Shoals, likes taking walks on the jogging trail because of the health benefits.

In addition to getting some exercise when he goes for a walk, Gober enjoys watching wildlife. And for Shoals residents, it’s just a short drive away.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.