Duck River

Rode from the main boat launch to the big steel bridge today.There were some trees down but I cleared them . Awesome view if you take the lower trail back to the main boat launch. Very rocky in this section . There are some slippery rocks due to the rain.

Trails have great flow and are very fun to ride, have little climbing (yeah!), and skirt the scenic new reservoir. The Duck River Resevoir project is going to have a great trail system when it is completed.

Nice smooth trail with many rocky creek crossings. Full loop open but hard to navigate around dam, not well marked, lots of trees down/ branches in trail. All the people I've meet while riding have been nice.

Came down from Georgia to check this trail out it has been advertised as open the first time I went but was closed when I got there because it wasn't complete. I decided to give it another try and set off on it I had to stop multiple time and move large limbs out of the way, there was garbage everywhere ! And to top it off there was a man running around Nude!!!! I think it was one of the employees in charge of upkeep as the man I talked to about it who was on a motor bike doing some patrolling I guess he sure wasn't cleaning the mess up looked similar to the man I saw I can't confirm this but do suspect. The man was rude and told me there was nothing he could do about it. Anyway I won't be going back I take my teenage daughter biking with me sometimes this is no family environment! I thank god she wasn't with me when I encountered this pervert!

Duck River Reservoir is a wonderful hike and bike trail in Cullman Co, AL. I have enjoyed it since before the reservoir was filled with water. It is intermediate difficulty (nothing too strenuous) with beautiful lake scenery, plenty of rocks and streams, and a nice view of the new dam. As of 9/2017, they have finished about 3/4 of what will be a 26 mile loop. There are 4 ways to access it. Starting from the Cullman end of the trail and moving to the Holly Pond end of the trail,

1. On Hwy 69 in Fairview, go west toward Cullman past Fairview town limits. Turn left (south) on Co Rd 1534 (on the western edge of the white fences at Haynes farm.) Then turn right on Co Rd 1656. Bear left and drive 2 miles. Turn left on Co Rd 1651. In 1 mile, it dead ends at one end of the trail (as of 9/17). This is being developed as a boat ramp entrance.

2. On Hwy 69 in Fairview, drive west toward Cullman to the second yellow light at Fairview town limits. Turn left (south) on County Road 1662 (at sign for Antioch Missionary Baptist). Go 1.5 miles, dog leg Left-Right at Antioch Church. You are now on Co. Rd. 1660, and it dead ends in 2 miles. Park and it's a short walk down the hill and through the wooden gate. This is less than 2 miles from the end of the trail above (as of 9/2017).

3. From Holly Pond, head west on Hwy 278. Pass the white fences on the right with the sign to the cowboy church at the edge of the fence. Take a right Co Rd 1651 (not the road with the small junk yard, the next road opposite a sign for Duck River Baptist). When the road widens, you will come to the new handicapped accessible pier on the left. Park and this is the other end of the trail (as of 9/2017).

4. Follow directions #3 from Holly Pond but keep going past the pier. A couple of miles farther, the road will end at the main trailhead. This is lessc than 4 miles from the end of the trail (as of 9/2017).

ACCESSING THE TRAIL. There are 4 ways to access it. Starting from the Cullman end of the trail and moving to the Holly Pond end of the trail,
1. On Hwy 69 in Fairview, go west toward Cullman past Fairview town limits. Turn left (south) on Co Rd 1534 (on the western edge of the white fences at Haynes farm.) Then turn right on Co Rd 1656. Bear left and drive 2 miles. Turn left on Co Rd 1651. In 1 mile, it dead ends at one end of the trail (as of 9/17). This is being developed as a boat ramp entrance.
2. On Hwy 69 in Fairview, drive west toward Cullman to the second yellow light at Fairview town limits. Turn left (south) on County Road 1662 (at sign for Antioch Missionary Baptist). Go 1.5 miles, dog leg Left-Right at Antioch Church. You are now on Co. Rd. 1660, and it dead ends in 2 miles. Park and it's a short walk down the hill and through the wooden gate. This is less than 2 miles from the end of the trail above (as of 9/2017).
3. From Holly Pond, head west on Hwy 278. Pass the white fences on the right with the sign to the cowboy church at the edge of the fence. Take a right Co Rd 1651 (not the road with the small junk yard, the next road opposite a sign for Duck River Baptist). When the road widens, you will come to the new handicapped accessible pier on the left. Park and this is the other end of the trail (as of 9/2017).
4. Follow directions #3 from Holly Pond but keep going past the pier. A couple of miles farther, the road will end at the main trailhead. This is lessc than 4 miles from the end of the trail (as of 9/2017).

Duck River Reservoir is a wonderful hike and bike trail in Cullman Co, AL. I have enjoyed it since before the reservoir was filled with water. It is intermediate difficulty (nothing too strenuous) with beautiful lake scenery, plenty of rocks and streams, and a nice view of the new dam. As of 9/2017, they have finished about 3/4 of what will be a 26 mile loop. There are 4 ways to access it. Starting from the Cullman end of the trail and moving to the Holly Pond end of the trail,
1. On Hwy 69 in Fairview, go west toward Cullman past Fairview town limits. Turn left (south) on Co Rd 1534 (on the western edge of the white fences at Haynes farm.) Then turn right on Co Rd 1656. Bear left and drive 2 miles. Turn left on Co Rd 1651. In 1 mile, it dead ends at one end of the trail (as of 9/17). This is being developed as a boat ramp entrance.
2. On Hwy 69 in Fairview, drive west toward Cullman to the second yellow light at Fairview town limits. Turn left (south) on County Road 1662 (at sign for Antioch Missionary Baptist). Go 1.5 miles, dog leg Left-Right at Antioch Church. You are now on Co. Rd. 1660, and it dead ends in 2 miles. Park and it's a short walk down the hill and through the wooden gate. This is less than 2 miles from the end of the trail above (as of 9/2017).
3. From Holly Pond, head west on Hwy 278. Pass the white fences on the right with the sign to the cowboy church at the edge of the fence. Take a right Co Rd 1651 (not the road with the small junk yard, the next road opposite a sign for Duck River Baptist). When the road widens, you will come to the new handicapped accessible pier on the left. Park and this is the other end of the trail (as of 9/2017).
4. Follow directions #3 from Holly Pond but keep going past the pier. A couple of miles farther, the road will end at the main trailhead. This is lessc than 4 miles from the end of the trail (as of 9/2017).

had a very hard time finding the trail head and got lost a few times out there

You have to take HWY 278 East from Cullman to County Road 1651, take a left on 1651 and follow it until it deadends that is the trail head.

This is a very nice trail. Not to difficult but really good rock obstacles and some fun crossings. I really have a good timne riding this trail.

I rarly give 5 stars, it's a 4 1/2 now, and will be a solid 5 when finished. As of now you cannot make a full loop, trail goes to both sides of the dam, but there is no way across (assuming bridge later, as still under construction)
Trail is very well built, and drains well ( all drainage has been armored). Is mostly flowing XC singletrack suitable for beginners, and a blast for faster riders. There are however lots of rocks areas with interesting options, also the yet to be finished expert trail past Wesley Ave (CR 1669) has some serious rock action.
Couple words of caution; this is a new trail, and there is no signage. ( but you are never more than 100 yds from the lake). Trail loops the lake ( when finished) ( so there are no bailouts) . Also some of the armored gullys are deep U's and V's.

Loved the trail! Only got to ride almost 3 miles, but will definitely come back! Nice flow, great for beginners with some intermediate spots.

It's finally open again (after being closed a few months for reservoir construction) and the reservoir is mostly filled now! It's absolutely gorgeous now!

The trail was/is actually closed when you went....and still is as of Feb. 27....the River is now a reservoir....and they have it closed due to construction of the dam.... you can now access the trail via county rd. 1651 although its not technically open....

This is a great new trail....it's really a beginner trail with intermediate rock features...my gps clocked it at 8.15 miles for the entire loop....the map/sign at the trailhead is old and only shows the trail as being partially finished...but it is now an entire loop....when you leave the trailhead on the singletrack yo go about 3.5 miles then you come to an asphalt road turn left and go over bridge...then turn left to get back on the trail...watch for cars on the road as they are not expecting bikes....overall this is a very well laid out loop...with great flow...minimal climbing...and some great rock features...I will be back

I gave this trail and intermediate rating even though the trail is on the beginner side of things with smooth flow and great transitions to obstacles (the builder did a great job) because the obstacles are at that level. There is a great mix of flow and technical section and you won't kill yourself climbing. It is a great place to go to enjoy a day without just killing your legs but you still feel good about the ride because of the technical side of things and the flow that is just fun.... This is one of my favorite trails out there and I have ridden all over this side of the country. We just need it to be bigger lol.

great trail. had a blast on it. will definitely be back