20 Hikes within 20 Miles of Birmingham, AL

If you're in Birmingham, you don't have to drive far to see some beautiful natural areas !

1. Aldridge Botanical Gardens http://www.aldridgegardens.com/inthegarden/ 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover, 35216/Free/hours:Monday to Sunday:8:00AM to 5:00PM/Questions 205-682-8019
2. Birmingham Botanical Gardens http://www.bbgardens.org/ 2612 Lane Park Rd., Birmingham ,AL 35223/ Free/ hours : Monday through Friday 9:00AM to 4:00PM, Saturday 10:00Am to 4:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM to 5:00PM/ Questions; 205-414-3900.
3. Boulder Canyon http://keepvestaviagreen.org/trailhead.htm (map of) It is on Roundhill Rd., off the Montgomery Highway/Hwy 31 in Vestavia adjacent to where the new Vestavia Library(1221 Montgomery Hwy) is under construction.
4. Cahaba Lily Park Nature Trail in Helena, length 1.5 miles. http://www.shelbycountyalabama.com/cahabalily.htm
5. Grants Mill Road Bridge Riverwalk, also called the Cahaba Landing http://www.cahabariverwalkfriends.com
6. Homewood Forest Preserve, for more information contact the Homewood Environmental Council 205-877-8600. It is located on South Lakeshore off the Old Montgomery Highway, close to Homewood High School.
7. Homewood Shades Creek Greenway or Lakeshore Trail, the length is 6 miles. For more information check out : http://www.homewoodchamber.org/content.asp?id=81557
8. Jemison Park Nature Trail, for more information check out: http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.asp?trailid=HGD149-024
9. Lakeside Park In Pell City – a 1.3 mile walking trail. http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/alabama-attractions/details.cfm?ID=994
10. Moss Rock Preserve, Hoover, for more information check out: http://www.hooveral.org/Default.asp?ID=485
11. Oak Mountain State Park, for information call 205-620-2520, information about trails is available on the website : http://www.alapark.com/parks/park.cfm?parkid=9
There are basically 6 hikes available to hikers at Oak Mt. State Park. The White Trail, or the Shackleford Point Trail, is 6.4 miles long (one way). You must turn around and come back the way you came or pick up a connector trail to go a different way. It begins at the North Trailhead and follows a path similiar to the Blue Trail but at a lower elevation. The White Trail does climb to the highest point in the park, which is known as Shackleford Point at an elevation of 1,260 feet. The White Trail ends at the Peavine Falls parking lot.
12. The Blue Trail, or the South Rim Trail, is 6.7 miles long (one way). You must turn around and come back the way you came or pick up a connector trail to go a different way. Beginning at the North Trailhead, the Blue Trail makes a steep climb up the ridge, going from an elevation of approximately 620 feet to approximately 1100 feet. Once the ascent is made, the trail follows the ridge to end at the Peavine Falls parking lot.
13. The Yellow Trail, known as the Foothills Trail, is approximately 8 miles long (one way). It begins at the North Trailhead and travels at a low elevation around Lake Tranquility to end at Peavine Road close to the South Trailhead area (off Terrace Drive). The Yellow Trail does make some climbs.
14. Maggie's Glen is a popular spot to hike to. It sits along a stream bank with many species of plants and trees growing there. It is a very quiet place to sit and relax. It can be accessed from the White Trail, the Yellow Trail, and the Red/Yellow connector.
15. The Green Trail, known as the Peavine Falls Trail, begins near the Park Office/Beach area on Terrace Drive. It is the shortest trail at 1.9 miles long, but it is also the steepest. The Green Trail goes from an elevation of approximately 550 feet to approximately 1,100 feet. The Green Trail doesn't lead directly to Peavine Falls (the waterfall) but ends at the Peavine Falls parking lot where you can get on the White or Blue Trail that will take you to the falls. About 1 mile up the trail from Terrace Drive, you begin a climb from approximately 800 feet to approximately 1,020 feet.
16. The Wildlife Center Trail is a short 0.3 mile trail. It leads from the beach parking lot up to the Wildlife Center. It also connects to the Treetop Nature Trail (which is an elevated boardwalk with several cages housing birds of prey that have been rehabilitated after having been injured), the Yellow Trail, and the Orange Trail.
17. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center http://www.bham.net/ruffner/ Trail map available on the internet. http://www.ruffnermountain.org/RMNCTrailMap2007.pdf For information call (205) 833-8264. There are 10 Hiking trails at Ruffner Mt. Nature Center from 0.3 miles to 3.8 miles in length.
18. Shelby County Hiking and Biking Trails: http://www.shelbycountyalabama.com/News_Events/new.pdf/SC_BikingandHiking.pdf
Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area in Helena has a 5 mile trail, for more info check out www.bump.org
19. Tannehill State Park, Tannehill Iron Works Trail is 3 miles. For more information check out : http://www.tannehill.org/
20. Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, Follow these directions to get there:
From Birmingham, exit I 20/59 at Tallapoosa Street (Exit 128); take Tallapoosa Street (Al Hwy 79) to Pinson (about 18 miles). Go past the entrance to Jefferson State Community College. At the intersection of Alabama 79 and Alabama 151, turn left at the traffic light. Ttake the 3rd right into the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. For information: http://www.freshwaterlandtrust.org/turkey-creek.html
21. Vulcan Trail check out this website for more information: http://www.bhamrails.info/vulcan_trail.htm
Also check out: http://www.touralabama.org/things-to-do/alabama-attractions/details.cfm?id=23&type=hiking