Ruffner Mountain was a great stop during our four‑day girls hiking trip in Alabama. Since we…read moreplanned to tackle a big 23‑mile hike the following day, we decided not to hike the entire park and instead kept it to about three miles. Even with a shorter hike, we were still able to experience and enjoy the park and its trails. My favorite part was Cambrian Overlook. Even though I'm scared of heights, I knew I had to push myself to the edge of the cliff to take in the view--and I'm so glad I did. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous and worth every bit of bravery it took to snap a photo. If I find myself back in the area, I would definitely be open to returning and exploring more of what the park has to offer. It's a beautiful spot and a great option for hikers of all levels.

Ample parking close by trail ($5; can pay by Park Mobile app). The there multiple trails to choose…read morefrom that are well marked and well maintained. There are restrooms on site.

The best trail ever. Follows Yellowleaf Creak for nearly 2 miles. Mostly level and now accessible…read morefrom a new park as well as the small trailhead parking area. My favorite trail in Alabama!

This was my first time at this park. I was recently here for my nephew's soccer game versus a team…read morefrom Tennessee. The soccer field we played on was oddly designed. Parking was a little tricky but we made our own parking spot. Overall, a decent park with several fields.

Red Mountain Park is a fantastic place to spend an afternoon hiking, with so much to explore. While…read morevisiting Alabama, my friends and I decided to spend a couple of hours here and ended up hiking about 5-6 miles. There's truly no shortage of trails, and the variety keeps things interesting the entire time. The park definitely offers some challenging uphill climbs--especially for us Florida girls who aren't used to elevation--but we powered through and felt very accomplished. One of my favorite highlights was Rushing Rendezvous; the idea of a suspension bridge tucked up in the treetops always excites me, and this one did not disappoint. Of course, when we saw Trail 5 marked as most difficult, it was a no‑brainer--we had to take it. I really enjoyed reading about the history along the way, especially learning more about the Birmingham Mineral Railroad site. I do wish there had been a bit more signage around some of the remaining structures so we could soak up even more history, but honestly, guessing their original purpose became part of the fun. Hands down, I would absolutely come back to explore more of Red Mountain Park. It's a great mix of challenge, scenery, and history--and well worth the visit.

My favorite place to go walking! Amazing sights to see! Very nice atmosphere! I'm so happy they…read moreadding restrooms and water fountains! Absolutely nice views! Very peaceful!

I went climbing at Horse Pens 40 this past Friday and Saturday and had an absolutely incredible…read moreexperience. The guy at the front desk, Troy, was so friendly and kind -- we ended up talking about music for a while, and he helped us find the perfect rental gear to get started. The whole area was beautiful and easy to navigate thanks to the Kaya app, which made finding the boulders super straightforward. It was a little difficult to determine which were the start holds on some of the climbs but by following the chalky holds of previous climbers we were able to make sense of it for the most part. Between the great climbing, welcoming atmosphere, and amazing people, HP40 definitely became one of my favorite spots. Can't wait to come back!

So, what is Horse Pens 40? Well, the simple breakdown, it is a privately owned outdoor nature park…read morelocated in near Steele, Alabama. The park is situated on top of Chandler Mountain (Chandler is a mountain .... Friends reverence for anyone keeping track), in the foothills of The Appalachian Mountains. The park is known among the rock climbing community as a premier bouldering site. The site is also home to a "Bluegrass Park" where it hosts festivals showcasing the genre several times per year. The biggest of these festivals occurs on the Fourth of July. The park features both RV and primitive camping. So, we were coming out to explore and play on the boulders, when a massive downpour hit. We were literally the only ones at the park (just driving in as the rain hit). We parked in the lot and sat there a few minutes. Now, here is where they get the 5 stars .... an employee came out in the downpour to make sure we were ok and didn't need anything. We felt so bad! Any place that treats customers like this is worthy of 5 stars. Thank you Horse Pens staff for caring about the people that come to visit and making sure they are safe and don't need anything. He even offered us a place to get out of the storm while it passed. Looking forward to a time we can return and properly explore this cool site.

The 3.4 mile Rails to Trails greenway is definitely one of most enjoyable trails I've trained on…read more You can easily start this trail at Black Creek Park (or cut off .4 miles and start at Fultondale's Bark Park), both with plenty of parking and bathroom facilities. The trail was completed as part of a city project, turning an old rail bed, from which the ties and rails have been pulled up, into a fully operational walking/running/biking and hiking trail, which leads to a flat, albeit curvy trail. Also, be aware of the ravines, if you're not a strong biker or have a fear of heights, this might not be the path for you. If you went over the edge of this trail, you wouldn't be unscathed. But, on the plus side, it is an absolutely beautiful path, gravel and running all along Black Creek. Mostly shaded with large trees and rock walls throughout. The trail is dog friendly, and although you won't find doggie bags, you will find trashcans at every .5 mile. Also, you'll find mile markers every 1/2 mile as well as benches (and even an old blue shed at mile 1.5). The trail has no accessibility once you're past the Bark Park and no bathrooms or water fountains. I ran all the way to Shady Grove Road, which was .4 miles past the last mile marker (mile 3). When you reach the end, there's no signage and only a tiny area that has been cleared for parking. You could access the trail from here as well, but you'd have to know where it is to find it. I did notice that A "trail" continues on the other side of Shady Grove Road, but it's dirt path and technically isn't part of the Rails to Trails path. Maybe the city will continue to improve upon this in the future? Regardless, this is a very pleasant trail: gravel, miles labeled, safe, mostly shaded and with bathroom facilities at the start.

Check in was really easy. The office is open later than most camp grounds we've visited…read more They are renovating the park. The camp ground renovations are complete. The hotel is still under construction. We had a pull through full hookup site. Packed gravel and dirt site that was partially separated by trees and plants. Joined to Cheaha Falls and Pulpit Rock. Both were absolutely gorgeous views. It was a great weekend getaway!

DO NOT STAY IN THE CABINS!!…read more Last night my wife and I swept the walls and floors of lady beetles flushing them down the toilet, since they are invasive. Around two we got to sleep. A few times we got woke up by a bite of two but most were gone or so we thought. We woke up to find the windows covered with them. We called again to ask for help and they sent down a housekeeper. After talking to a few employees we found out this has been an ongoing problem and that many people have cut their stay short. As I understand from what was said to me the management here is fully aware and wants to ignore the problem hoping it goes away instead of addressing it. This is a bad look for Alabama. If I travelled all the way here to stay in these lovely cabins and paid what we paid only to be swarmed by Asian Lady Beetles I would not recommend this beautiful park to anyone. It's not the bugs that give this a two. It's the attitude and lack of action by the management that got them that. The only reason the got a two is the cabin and park are beautiful.

We loved hiking in this nature preserve. It is definitely off the beaten path (literally a drive…read moredown a gravel road). There are beautiful wooded trails and a pretty overlook. Our hike was a loop that took us through a waterfall, woods and an overlook. The hours are limited: weekend hours only and it closes at 5 pm. It is part of a land trust. I recommend this preserve for hikers, nature lovers and those that love exploring trails off the beaten path.

Such a lovely private preserve! Clean, well managed, clear signage & maps. We went when there was a…read moredrought, but would love to go back k when we can see the waterfalls.

USE GOOGLE MAPS FOR THE RIGHT ADDRESS. The one listed in the closest I could find. Search Sipsey…read moreRiver Trail. We found this one day googling "best day hikes in Alabama". Every blog and site that we found made it sound like a dream.. They they couldn't have been more true! This is such a beautiful hiking/camping spot! We went on a raining day in early December and it was still AMAZING. We only hiked around for an hour or so but it was so beautiful and there is so much to see. This trail cost $3 a car. It's also pet friendly! I have been told that people swim in the beautiful river in the summer. I'm in awe of the beauty of Bankhead National Forest. I can't wait to explore more of it!

I did a thing, I did a thing! Are you looking for some local beauty while getting some steps?…read morePlease go visit the Moss Rock Preserve. First, getting to the Preserve is relatively easy. It's located within a community, which eases the mind when you solo trek. The trails are laid out nicely with clear paths. The natural stepping paths are quite easy to maneuver for beginners like me. The beauty of the rocks and boulders are amazing. Bring your kids to see all the natural beauty of the caverns and waterfalls. I love this place! Alabama is such a beautiful place. Take the time to experience this natural beauty in your own backyard. Yes, it is a true workout. Skip the gym and come outside. We outside, we outside!

Moss Rock Preserve offers beautiful walking trails, streams, waterfalls, and giant rock formations…read more It provides a great outdoor experience within minutes of downtown Hoover. We've had a great time hiking here, and it's pet friendly so our fur-babies have been able to enjoy the trails with us too. If you love the outdoors, Moss Rock Preserve is a must-visit.