Why the Tammany Trace Is One of the Best Bike Trails in Louisiana
When I first heard about Louisiana’s Northshore, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew all about New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but I hadn’t explored the communities just across Lake Pontchartrain. After spending a couple of days with Visit the Northshore, I quickly found that this area has a completely different vibe. It feels relaxed, welcoming, and surprisingly outdoorsy.
Over the course of a couple of days exploring towns of Mandeville, Covington, and Abita Springs, I discovered that the Northshore is a place where locals and visitors both slow down and enjoy being outside. There are shaded bike trails, charming town streets filled with great restaurants and coffee shops, and beautiful views along Lake Pontchartrain.
With art, shopping, and more, you’ll quickly realize why this area is “Louisiana’s Easy Escape”.
One of my favorite experiences during the trip was renting a bike in Mandeville and heading out onto the Tammany Trace. What I thought was just a simple bike ride turned into one of the best ways to explore the Northshore. You get to combine some time along peaceful wooded stretches with quick passes through the small towns.
If you’re looking for an outdoor activity that lets you experience both the natural beauty and the local flavor, biking the Tammany Trace is the best way to explore the Northshore, Louisiana.
Renting a Bike in Mandeville and Getting Started
Don’t worry if you aren’t bringing your own bike. There are shops in the area where you can rent both traditional and e-bikes. We rented ours from O’Wheelies in Mandeville, and the process was seamless. They also sell cruiser bikes and host skateboard-building birthday parties.
You can head straight out onto the Tammany Trace because the bike shop is located right across the street from the Mandeville Trailhead.
Mandeville is a great place to start your ride because you’re already right near the lakefront and close to several easy access points to the trail. After picking up a bike, or parking and unloading your own, it’s simple to hop onto the Trace and start riding under the trees out of town.
There are also trailheads located in Covington, Abita Springs, Lacombe and Slidell.
What It’s Like to Ride the Tammany Trace
The Tammany Trace is a bike trail that feels enjoyable, even if you’re not a hardcore cyclist.
The mostly paved path travels through quiet green spaces, beneath shaded tree tunnels, and across occasional wooden bridges. Some sections feel peaceful and secluded, while others lead you straight through the center of the small towns scattered throughout the Northshore.
What makes this ride so unique is how it seamlessly blends nature with small-town charm. One minute you’re cruising through beautiful scenery surrounded by trees or stopping on a bridge to watch turtles swim in the water below (yes, that really happened!), and the next you’re rolling into a lively town center with cafés, shops, and patios filled with people.
The Best Stops Along the Tammany Trace
One of the best things about biking the Trace is that it connects several small towns on Louisiana’s Northshore, which means you can easily hop off the path and wander into town for coffee, lunch, shopping, or a drink before continuing your ride.
In Mandeville, there are several great places to grab a drink or bite before or after your ride, including Tandem Coffee & Cocktails (carrot cake iced latte, anyone?) and The Barley Oak (I’d recommend the chicken quesadilla!), which sits right along the lakefront.
As you ride farther along the Trace, the trail also takes you into Abita Springs, where you’ll find the well-known Abita Brewing Company and Abita Brew Pub.
If you ride through Covington, make sure you stop at Haven Coffee & Cocktails. It’s only about a block from the Covington Trailhead. The space feels fresh with live plants tucked around, and they have a cute little book nook in the corner where you can settle in and read a few chapters.
Riding the Trace from Covington to Fontainebleau State Park
The Tammany Trace stretches for about 31 miles across St. Tammany Parish. Depending on how far you want to ride, you can explore different sections of the trail.
It’s possible to ride between Covington, Abita Springs, and Mandeville, with scenic stretches of trail between each town.
Another great option is riding toward Fontainebleau State Park, where the trail eventually connects to one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces on the Northshore.
Fontainebleau sits right along Lake Pontchartrain and offers a surprising mix of outdoor experiences, including hiking trails, waterfront views, and a sandy beach area where you can relax during a ride.
Why Biking the Tammany Trace Is the Best Way to Explore the Northshore
One of the things that makes the Tammany Trace so special is how perfectly it captures the overall vibe of Louisiana’s Northshore. Instead of just passing through in your car, biking the trail lets you actually experience the towns, scenery, and atmosphere that make this area such a great getaway.
It also makes the Northshore feel incredibly accessible for a quick trip. Since the area sits just across the lake from New Orleans, it’s easy to plan a day trip or even turn the experience into a relaxed overnight getaway.
One place that makes a perfect home base is The Southern Hotel. Located right in downtown Covington, the historic hotel offers a stylish, thoughtfully designed, and comfortable place to stay while remaining close to the trail and the town’s restaurants, shops, and outdoor areas.
You can also easily clean up and enjoy an upscale dinner and cocktails at The Gloriette, the hotel’s French-style restaurant. You’ll feel transported across the Atlantic, and you won’t be sorry.
Why the Northshore Is Louisiana’s Easy Escape
The region is known as Louisiana’s Easy Escape, and that description really fits well. The Northshore sits just across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway from New Orleans and east of Baton Rouge, making it a quick and simple getaway.
Approximate Drive Times to the Northshore:
New Orleans: 50 minutes
Baton Rouge: 1 hour 15 minutes
In a short drive, you go from the energy of those larger cities to a much more relaxed, almost coastal, atmosphere filled with trees, lake views, and small-town main streets.
It’s a place where you can spend the day biking, exploring, and enjoying great food, without feeling like you’ve had to go far or “rough it” to enjoy the outdoors.
That balance between outdoor adventure and comfort is part of what makes the Northshore such a great weekend destination.
Other Outdoor Things to Do on Louisiana’s Northshore
While biking the Trace was one of my favorite activities in the area, it’s far from the only outdoor option.
The Northshore is full of easy ways to spend time outside. Kayaking on the lakes and bayous is popular, giving you a chance to see the area and its wildlife from the water.
If you’re looking for a place to relax, Fontainebleau State Park has a beach area along the lake where you can enjoy the view, which includes some epic sunsets.
Back in Mandeville, the lakefront park is another beautiful place to get outside. A walking path runs along the shoreline, and it’s also a great spot to sit on a swing and watch the sunset over Lake Pontchartrain.
Why Biking the Tammany Trace Is the Best Way to Experience the Northshore
After spending time on the trail, it’s easy to see why the Tammany Trace is one of the best ways to explore Louisiana’s Northshore.
The ride seamlessly connects outdoor spaces, welcoming small towns, and plenty of great places to stop along the way. You can spend the day biking under the trees, grabbing coffee or lunch in town, and enjoying lake views, all at your own relaxed pace.
For me, it perfectly captured the spirit of the Northshore. It’s active without being intense and scenic without being remote.
If you’re visiting the area, or even just looking for an easy scenic getaway from New Orleans or Baton Rouge, I’d absolutely recommend hopping on a bike and exploring the Tammany Trace.
