Alabama

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...

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 ...

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...

Moss Rock has abundant parking, and easy access to all climbing areas. There is no fee for use or facilities, however there are several small local restaurants and often times a food truck within walking distance of the parking lot.There are two major bouldering areas as well as hiking trails and...

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 ...

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...

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. ...

Stephen's Gap is a 150 foot cave in North Alabama protected by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy. It is important note that a free permit is required to visit Stephen's Gap. Directions, parking instructions, and safety tips are distributed after your permit request is granted, but the Google addr...

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...

There are two access points to the park from the Parking lot area. The first is just up the road to the east of the top of the parking area, this is the trailhead to the exit portal trail, which is about .2 miles to reach the central hub. From the hub, there are two separate loops that wind throu...

Few places in the southeast have as wide a range of mountain biking as CSP, which includes standard XC trails, a well groomed and extensive dirt jump area, flow trails, and a wicked feature area complete with a massive wall ride and Oregon-downhill-style 2x4 ramp features. Everything is ridable o...

Lake Harris opens one hour prior to sunrise and closes one hour after sunset. No camping is allowed nor are motor vehicles allowed on this serene lake. From Lake Nicol Road, turn onto the dirt trail, Lake Harris Road. Follow Lake Harris Road for approximately three miles until you encounter the l...

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...

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...