We had a great time visiting the Cahaba River wildlife area! We parked and walked down the road…read morerunning along the river and enjoyed the Cahaba Lillies in blossom. There were a lot of people in the area and I felt completely safe traveling by myself. Enjoy the beautiful flowers!

We love this park!…read more We come during the summer to swim and river walk. We watch people kayaking in the river and tubing too. It is all free and refreshing! Parking is not simple, but we always mange to find somewhere. Wear river shoes though because the river bottom is rocky and slippery. It is a great place to walk for exercise too.

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.

"You want to leave the coast to come to Birmingham... for watersports?"…read moreWhen my brother, who's the president of his college wakeboarding club, asked if he could come visit, I was a bit surprised. Clearly, I had no idea what a gem of a wake park our new city has to offer. Nestled in the beautiful Oak Mountain State Park, just a few hundred yards from the Highway 119 entrance, Flipside has two cables, super welcoming staff, and an impressive set of features for a small operation tucked into a state park (FYI: they also rent SUPs, kayaks, and canoes for the more leisurely inclined). Out of our group, my brother has been to the most places, and said Flip Side exceeded the places he'd ridden in the Carolinas and compared favorably to cables he'd ridden in Florida. Obviously, this isn't a massive compound like Valdosta, but there's a nice variety of jumps, rails, etc. for the size. When we visited in late fall, the lake was a bit low, which made the rails a bit more challenging (but a challenge several in our group enjoyed). Do be sure to check the hours, as they are seasonal and weather-dependent.

I visited Oak Mountain State Park as part of the Mammoth March Hike, fully aware it was going to be…read morea major undertaking--but it still managed to shock me. The steep climbs up and down the mountain were incredibly challenging. At one point, I even slipped and slid down part of the trail but thankfully managed to do so gracefully without hurting myself. Being from Florida, I was definitely not accustomed to the elevation gain I was about to face. There were plenty of moments throughout the hike where I questioned why I signed up for this challenge, but pushing through and ultimately finishing made it all worth it. Having the bragging rights to say I conquered this terrain feels incredibly rewarding. That day, I didn't notice much floral life, and most of the critters seemed to be hiding--likely due to the large number of people participating in the hike. That said, I was still lucky enough to spot a rattlesnake and a black racer, which made the experience even more memorable. There were a few noteworthy areas worth stopping for, including an open area near a dam‑like structure and several peaceful river and creek spots along the route. While the park is absolutely massive and I know there was so much left unexplored, the 23 miles I trekked over 9 hours was more than enough for one day. If I find myself back in the area, I might just dare to return and explore some of the parts of the park I didn't get to see. Truly a beautiful park and an incredible asset for those who live nearby and get to enjoy it regularly.

I absolutely love going out to Oak Mountain. I have been several times with my sister and on my…read moreown. There's plenty to keep you busy no matter your interest or the season. I personally love going for a hike and bringing my pup along. Plus, there's so many great spots to stop and enjoy a picnic My husband and I plan to come and visit the golf course soon. As well as pack our bows to practice at the archery course.

Friends and I were looking for a super-simple, laid-back way to kayak/canoe down the Cahaba one…read moreSaturday afternoon (minimal fuss with coordinating boats/rides, etc but maximal river time) . Canoe the Cahaba was the closest option to downtown Birmingham and offered two routes- 5.0 and 9.9 miles. We elected to do the longer 9.9 mile trip and were not disappointed. Their business model is pretty simple: they offer parking and a shuttle -boats in tow- to the appropriate put-in for your trip. Life vests, paddles and boats are all included and are in good working order. The paddle is easy, rapid-free so even novice outdoors-people will feel comfortable. Our 9.9 mile trip took about 6.5 hours with copious down time picnicking, swimming and rock skipping. We had a really brilliant time and look forward to using this outfitter again. The only caveat keeping this place from 5-stars is the too-casual way in which appointments are made. The number provided is someone's cell phone number and the communication is super casual. We ended up waiting over an hour past our reservation time on the day-of because the guy (possibly the only employee) was held up with a larger group... it would have been nice to sleep in or snag some breakfast if we had known he was going to be behind but 15 minutes turned into 60 without any fanfare. Nonetheless, a great opportunity for canoeing/kayaking in relatively close proximity to downtown.

A great place to go for some nature time. The falls only had a small flow when I was there but in…read morethe spring there would be a heavier stream.

Sunday, March 9th, Tony and I drove the 20 miles north to Oak Mountain State Park to see the…read morePeavine Falls. We had to hike out and even do a little rock mountain climbing to lower ourselves down to the top of the falls. I even had to lean out on some rocks to take pictures.. This was a very hard climb and my heart was really pumping on this hike but it felt good. The falls were lovely.

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.

So much fun! It was very easy to rent the slingshot, but I wasn't prepared for how much fun I'd…read morehave. I'll definitely rent again and again. Highly recommend!