By TVBikerDad.com
Thousands of motorcyclists will roll through North Alabama this weekend for one of the largest and most meaningful motorcycle rides in the region.
The 33rd Annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride gets underway Saturday, Sept. 19, bringing a massive procession of motorcycles through North Alabama as riders follow a route connected to one of the darkest chapters in Native American history. (Rocket City Now)
For riders, it’s an opportunity to be part of a motorcycle tradition that has grown dramatically since the first commemorative ride in 1994, when roughly 100 riders participated.
Today, thousands are expected.
A ride with a purpose
The event commemorates the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
The route follows portions of the historic path used during the forced removal of the Cherokee people, with U.S. 72 playing an important role in the modern-day ride.
Organizers say the event isn’t simply about motorcycles. It’s about remembering the people who endured the forced journey and preserving the history surrounding the Trail of Tears.
The ride begins at the Alabama-Tennessee state line in downtown Bridgeport at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday.
From there, riders will head west on U.S. 72 toward Huntsville before continuing toward the day’s lunch stop.
Thousands of motorcycles will move through Huntsville
Motorists in the Huntsville area should expect significant traffic impacts as the motorcycle procession makes its way through the city.
The riders are expected to reach the Huntsville area around 9 a.m. and travel along U.S. 72 and I-565 before continuing toward Mooresville Road and the Redstone Harley-Davidson area.
The official ride schedule calls for the group to reach Redstone Harley-Davidson in Madison at approximately 10:30 a.m. for a rest and lunch stop.
Riders are scheduled to depart again at noon, continuing west toward Waterloo, with an estimated arrival around 2:30 p.m. (North Alabama)
With thousands of motorcycles traveling together, drivers should expect delays and temporary traffic controls along the route.
For motorcyclists participating in the ride, that also means being prepared for slow-moving traffic, frequent stops and a large number of bikes traveling in close proximity.
It’s more than a one-day ride
The motorcycle procession is just one part of the weekend’s events.
A kickoff rally is scheduled in downtown Bridgeport Friday night, featuring live music, children’s activities and fireworks.
In Waterloo, a free Indian Festival is taking place Sept. 18-19, including a memorial walk, historical exhibits, a living-history encampment, children’s activities and a powwow featuring music and dancing. (North Alabama)
The memorial walk begins Saturday morning at the Waterloo Bridge and continues to Waterloo Landing, a designated Trail of Tears National Historic Site.
For drivers: Give the bikes room
Whether you’re participating in the ride or simply encountering it along the route, patience will be important.
A motorcycle procession of this size can take considerable time to pass, and traffic controls are being used to help keep the group together and reduce conflicts with other traffic.
For motorists, the safest approach is simple: slow down, pay attention and don’t try to cut through the procession.
For the riders making the trip, it’s a chance to experience one of the Southeast’s largest motorcycle traditions while remembering the history behind the route.
The Trail of Tears ride is held rain or shine.
And for one Saturday in September, North Alabama’s roads will once again belong to thousands of motorcycles riding together — not just for the experience, but to remember the people whose journey came long before them.