Happy trails State parks offer trails for beginners to experienced hikers and cyclers By Lenore Vickrey
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f you’re looking for a trail to walk, hike or cycle, Alabama’s state Gulf State Park, including seven trails of the Hugh S. Branyon parks offer the largest variety to choose from, with 21 state Backcountry Trail complex, featuring nine distinct ecosystems. parks and 48,000 acres of land, which includes 250 miles of “When the pandemic hit, the parks were one of the few outlets trails. that were open to people, to get out in nature,” Pendergrass says. Usage of the parks jumped 32 percent in 2020, with 1.5 mil“Our trail system interconnects, and you can turn a one and a lion more visitors than the year before, mainly due to the panhalf-mile walk into a three-mile walk if you want. Not only are demic. “We made the active decision to keep our parks open for these trails accessible to walking, but also to bicycles.” Raney reports she saw a lot our guests and the state of Alof “newbies,” first-time visitors abama,” says Jerry Weisenfeld, to Cheaha State Park who’d director of advertising and never thought about visiting marketing for the state parks a state park before. “But with system. “We were pleasantly COVID and feeling safer outsurprised that the parks were side, now they’re hooked!” viewed as safe, reliable healthy she says. For many, it was the alternative to staying indoors. first time they’d ever hiked or It shows that people wanted to camped. The park saw a lot of get outside.” visitors from Atlanta, BirmingAt Cheaha State Park in ham and other urban areas, northeast Alabama, superinfrom families to couples to solo tendent Renee Rainey estihikers. mates there was at least a 60 “The main thing,” Raney percent increase in use of its 17 says, “is for anyone who hadn’t different trails in 2020. “Our visited a state park, there is highest increase was in day vissomething for everyone, and itors, but we also saw increases Gulf State Park has 28 miles of trails or boardwalks for walkers and hikers. it’s not a difficult journey from in camping,” she says. “People PHOTO COURTESY GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH TOURISM anywhere in the state. It will realized it was safer to be outbe a memory-making experience and so good for you! Whether side, where they were in charge and bringing their own supplies.” you’re walking or hiking, it decreases depression, reduces your “People felt safe in the outdoors and really hit the rails and blood pressure and boosts your immune system.” campgrounds all over north Alabama,” agrees Tami Reist, presiAs the highest point in Alabama at 2,407 feet above sea level, dent and CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association. “Our Cheaha is famous for its scenic views, especially on Bald Rock areas where there are more opportunities for outdoor recreation Nature Trail. The trail itself is only .3 miles long, “but winds its like hiking and camping have definitely seen an uptick in visitors way to one of the most beautiful outlooks in the park,” says Raney. since (the pandemic).” “You can see all the way to Flagg Mountain, the sister mountain Lamar Pendergrass, operations supervisor for the parks’ South to Cheaha.” region, reports similar increased activity in that area, which inThe park is called an “island in the sky,” she adds, “because we are cludes all state parks south of Montgomery from Chewacla near consistently surrounded by clouds and the sunsets are incredible.” Auburn, known for its For more information: diverse mountain bike • On Alabama’s state parks, alapark.com and go to the specific trail system, to Gulf State park you’re interested in. Park on the coastline. • On trails in Alabama’s state parks, alapark.com/trails/trailsTrail walkers, hikers alabama-state-parks. Each park also has its own Facebook and cyclers have 28 miles page. of paved trails or boardThe view from Pulpit Rock • On Trails in north Alabama, northalabama.org/trails/ walks to choose from at at Cheaha State Park. • Trails for walking and hiking are also plentiful in Alabama’s four national forests, Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega and Tuskegee. See fs.usda.gov/main/alabama/home
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