Adventure Outdoors Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 70

Auburn-Opelika, AL Auburn-Opelika is the coolest col- lege town in the South, according to us, and one of the top cities in Amer- ica to live, according to CNN. Easy to get to and easy to love, it’s a perfect choice for a weekend getaway in the great outdoors. Load up the family bikes and check out Chewacla State Park. With over 30 miles of versatile track, Chewacla offers world-class trail systems designed for both mountain biking beginners and sea- soned pros. Located in the last foothills of the one-billion-year-old chain of Appalachian mountains, the network’s lower system is where you'll find some of the park's earliest trails, with a decidedly rough and rugged feel geared towards the cross country crowd. The upper system features a variety of flow and gravity offerings, utilizing every inch of the park's 200 vertical feet of relief . It features a jump line with over 25 jumps and features, including a 20'X8' stepdown, numerous 20'+ doubles and tables, one of the best hips you'll find anywhere on the east coast, and a 35' road gap. That doesn't include the scores of other features found through- out the upper system, which utilizes quite a bit of lumber, as well as the final, rocky whispers of Appalachia before the region's transition towards a sandy coastal plain takes over. And don’t miss the Great Wall of Chewacla and the Loch Ness Cobra nestled among the miles of well-groomed flow trails. We offer a suitable option for every age and skill level – you can even test out one of our pedal-less “strider” bikes for the little ones! Rentals are available for mountain biking as well as street riding.