The Eastern Shore Trail

The Eastern Shore Trail is a connector between North Daphne and South Fairhope. It consists of sidewalks and paving that start at I-10 at the north end, extend down US 98 and Scenic 98 through Daphne, Montrose, Fairhope and Point Clear, and end at Weeks Bay.

A popular point to start your ride is in Village Point Park Preserve in Daphne and head South. Most segments are suitable for riders of all ages and abilities.  To follow the trail, users must cross streets carefully at marked locations. The trail is shared by runners, walkers, and casual cyclists.

The 22-mile varied-surface trail consists of concrete sidewalks and asphalt, elevated boardwalks and low bridges, and is shared by runners, pedestrians, and casual cyclists.  (Should I ride on the road or the sidewalk? It depends…)

From the Gator Boardwalk in North Daphne, the trail runs along North Main Street/ Route 11 and crosses US Hwy 98 to continue along Scenic 98 into Olde Towne Daphne and scenic Montrose.

The Trail passes Fairhope Flower Clock and winds toward downtown Fairhope. It passes Fairhope Colony Cemetery and Fairhope Pier, and weaves through Battles Wharf toward The Grand Hotel in Point Clear.

The Trail extends five more miles along Scenic Hwy 98 and crosses the highway at the County Road 1 curve. There, turn right toward Mullet Point Park on Mobile Bay or turn left to reach the trail’s terminus under the Weeks Bay Bridge.

Terrain: North of Fairhope, in the Montrose area, the Trail is hilly in places. South of Fairhope Municipal Pier, the Trail is mostly flat.

Parking options:

Daphne: Gator Boardwalk

Fairhope: Public parking at Fairhope Pier and Parking Deck (located behind Hampton Inn on Section Street)

Mullet Point: South of Fairhope at Mullet Point Park (located at 13201 County Road 1 in Barnwell)

“I walked the entire length on my birthday last week. Thanks Trailblazers.”
“We biked the trails along the coast from Fairhope and loved it. We’re from Indiana.”
“We enjoy the trail between the Fairhope Pier and the Grand Hotel.”

Grants Awarded

  • 1998: Alabama Congressman Herbert Leon “Sonny” Callahan earmarks $1,016,250 “federal demonstration project funds” for what would later become known as the Eastern Shore Trail (EST). Monies were distributed over 5 years with a $203,250 match over 5 years.

  • 1998: Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) awards $200,000 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) grant for Main Street trail in Olde Towne Daphne with $50,000 match by City of Daphne.

  • 1999: The City of Fairhope is awarded $200,000 ISTEA grant for US 98 with a 20% ($50,000) local match; $10,000 of the local match was provided by a Trailblazers’ donation to City of Fairhope. Funding was used to support Trail construction with a starting point of US 98 from Gayfer Court to Middle Street, and on both sides of US 98.

  • 1999: The City of Fairhope is awarded Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) grant of $100,000 for use on Section Street with a $25,000 match from the City of Fairhope. This funding provided for the extension of the Trail beginning at Section Street from CR 104 to Gayfer Avenue.

  • 2001: EST Gator Alley (Interstate 10 underpass) connecting Daphne and Spanish Fort is funded with $198,000 Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant, with a 20% match from the City of Daphne.

  • 2002: Congressman Sonny Callahan delivers $1,486,961 grant for Montrose segment of the EST with Baldwin County Commission to administer the grant. No matching funds were required.

  • 2005: Jill Hall Trail (EST, Scenic 98 from Fairhope to The Grand Hotel) asphalt repair project begins, funded with $100,000 from ADECA with a 20% ($20,000) matching contribution from the Trailblazers.

  • 2006: Trailblazers plant 50 crepe myrtles along the Point Clear segment of the EST and shrubs along the Montrose trail, funded by the Alabama Power Co. “Plant a Tree in Alabama” grant of $1,750.

  • 2006: Trailblazers and the City of Spanish Fort awarded TE grant of $278,640, with a local match of $69,660, to connect Gator Alley in Daphne US 98 to US 31 to Spanish Fort Elementary School – 1.5 miles

  • 2007: EST Scenic 98 from The Grand Hotel to CR 32 funded with $539,452 TE grant, and a 20% local (Baldwin County) match. – 1 mile

  • 2008: EST Scenic 98 from Mullet Point to CR 13 received TE funds totaling $313,820 with a local (Baldwin County) match of $28,450 and a Trailblazers match of $50,000. – 2.25 miles

  • 2008: EST received a $20,000 grant from ADECA to print brochures and install 9 kiosks along the Trail designed by landscape architect Will Mastin. The Trailblazers provided an additional $3,200 in funding.

  • 2008: EST Scenic 98 from AL 181 to Weeks Bay Education Resource Center funded with a TE grant in the amount of $110,060 with a local (Baldwin County) match of $27,515. – .85 mile asphalt trail

  • 2009: Trailblazers and the City of Daphne awarded Safe Routes to School (SRTS) ALDOT sidewalk grant for CR 13 in front of Daphne Middle School and Daphne East Elementary School for a total of $148,250.

  • 2013: Trailblazers and Baldwin County Commission awarded Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant to complete the last segment of the EST on Scenic 98 from CR 13 to AL 181. Grant awarded $308,324, with a local (Baldwin County) match of $77,081.