Alabama

We camped in a rooftop tent, but many people used traditional tents and hammocks. After purchasing a camping permit, drive right up to your campsite. There are three general camping areas.First is the more exposed (to the often strong winds) campsites along the tops of the cliffs that are closest...

Lake Nicol has several miles of unofficial trails that circle the west bank of the lake which features up to forty foot cliffs that provide both cliff jumping and an excellent view of the lake. Lake Nicol also has a boat/kayak/canoe launch area right next to the parking area. Nicol is over three ...

Bald Rock is maybe the most easily accessible views I have ever experienced. This is not to lessen the beauty of the location, but to convey that this spot is quite fool-proof, and can be enjoyed by literally anyone. However, I do recommend this view at sunrise during the summer because of how cr...

In many ways, Railroad Park has become a symbol for the revitalization of downtown Birmingham, and it’s helping to ignite a new excitement for the city. Opened in 2010, Railroad Park makes reference to the Steel City’s industrial past, and runs parallel to rail lines that are still used today. Th...

The Smith Mountain Fire Tower is the perfect location to get a glimpse of the vastness of one of the largest man made lakes in the United States. From the parking lot, the stroll up to the base of the fire tower follows a steep pathway for about a half mile. The hike is very easy to follow and th...

Home to one of the largest boulder fields in Southeast, Moss Rock Preserve provides adventure for all types of explorers. Nestled in the rocky, rolling hills of Birmingham, at the end of the Appalachian Mountains, Moss Rock is aptly named after the behemoth boulders littered throughout its charmi...

There are several places you can drop your kayak in. This is one of the more accessible spots. Another popular spot for dropping in your kayak is located on Grants Mill Road. If coming from I459, it will be on your left shortly after passing Church of the Highlands. We opted to drop our kayaks in...

Hurricane Creek Park in Tuscaloosa, Alabama hosts a field of climbable boulders within it's forest. From the parking lot, follow the trail that stems from the cul-de-sac for approximately 1/10 mile. You will encounter the first cluster of boulders on your right. There are several beginner routes ...

Sloss Furnace is a historic industrial site in downtown Birmingham. For nearly a hundred years, this blast furnace produced iron for the “Steel City.” The site is now designated as a National Historic Landmark, and is a fun place to explore, wandering throughout the plant and past old machinery. ...

Located in "the middle of nowhere" the Coon Dog Cemetery is a great picnic spot for your road trip, on a scenic road that will let you bypass a portion of the bland interstate. There are a pair of outhouses but no running water, so bring your owner your picnic lunch. Although there are no Red Fer...

The Cave Creek Trail is a very comfortable, three-mile trail with some amazing views and relatively little elevation gain. At roughly two miles along the trail, you’ll come to a rocky overlook facing the south. This area provides a nice place to stop and rest or even eat a nice picnic lunch. Roug...

As Tumbling Rock Cave is a private property owned and controlled by SCCI, a permit is required to access the cave.  Permits can only be applied for online here, and once granted, SCCI will provide the exact location of the cave.  Caving is not only an inherently dangerous activity due to difficul...

The point on the map takes you to a small pull off on the side of the road. Park here and walk over the small dirt mound blocking vehicles from going down the trail. It is less than half a mile to the top of the falls. This is the easy part of the hike though. There is a small trail that leads do...

Horse Pens 40 is a very well known place for bouldering throughout Alabama. The parking and location arepretty well-marked with signs as you get closer to arriving. Once you arrive and park at Horse Pens, you need to go inside the store to fill out a waiver and pay $6.50 to climb. The bouldering ...

I'll be honest, I've gotten a little caught up (obsessed) in the Overland hype the past few weeks and wanted to get out and explore. I didn't want to start off with anything crazy knowing the kids would lose interest pretty quickly. I sat at my desk and did some research and I'm glad that I did. ...

To my knowledge, this fire tower does not have a name. If you know the name of this fire tower, please leave it in the reviews below! The firetower is located about 20 minutes north of Tuscaloosa. Heading north on AL-69, turn right onto Yellow Creek Road. Continue along Yellow Creek Road for .4 m...