Searching for a fun fall getaway? Check out the myriad outdoor activities awaiting at Alabama’s state parks. From the Mobile Delta in south to the mountains and waterfalls in the northeast corner of the state, there are plenty of fresh-air adventures to be had. Here are a few of our favorites.
Cathedral Caverns State Park, Woodville (photo by Billy Pope)
The caverns’ 125-foot-wide, 25-foot-tall entrance is how this park got its name. Calling to mind a grand cathedral, it’s the starting point for finding geological formations created over eons. Daily cave tours (in the cave’s consistently cool 60-degree weather) allow you to uncover treasures like Mystery River, Big Rock Canyon, The Frozen Waterfall (one of the largest flowstones in the world) and Stalagmite Mountain.
Cheaha State Park, Delta (photo by Catherine Vaughan Helmsing)
Native Americans called our state’s loftiest spot Cheaha, meaning “high place,” and they were right. With its peak at 2,407 feet, Mount Cheaha, the centerpiece of this park, is Alabama’s highest elevation. Take the pretty easy hike up to the summit and enjoy your own mountaintop experience and then explore the park’s other trails. This 2,799-acre park’s seclusion makes it a relaxing hideaway if you’re in the mood to do nothing more than soak up the lovely scenery. If you’re up for a little more activity, in addition to hiking, you can enjoy fishing and horseback riding too.
Buck’s Pocket State Park, Grove Oak
This hidden gem is Alabama’s best-kept secrets, covering over 2,000 acres and hiding an expanse of craggy canyon scenery that’s tucked away in a natural “pocket” of the Appalachian Mountain foothills. Its trails take you through hills and glens dotted with waterfalls, and many are quite steep and rocky, so be prepared. The popular Point Rock Trail leads from the front door of the park office on the canyon floor all the way up to an overlook on a lofty bluff.
Desoto State Park, Fort Payne (photo by Big Dreamz)
Perched on Lookout Mountain beside the Little River in Northeast Alabama, this 3,502-acre park is a nature lover’s dream, with bountiful animal and plant life thriving among its over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails. On the edge of the park, the thundering torrent of Desoto Falls plunges 104 feet into a shimmering pool below.
Meaher State Park, Spanish Fort (photo by Billy Pope)
The Mobile Delta consists of more than 20,000 acres of water, and this park is a great place to access this huge natural wonder whose ecological importance is equally large. Formed by the confluence of the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers, the Delta’s intertwining rivers, creeks, bays, lakes, wetlands and bayous create a productive estuary with more than 120 different species of fresh and saltwater fish as well as 40 species of mammals (including black bears, wild pigs and deer), reptiles like alligators and the rare red-bellied turtle, over 500 species of plants and 300 species of birds, including eagles, ospreys, pelicans, herons and more. Boardwalk trails wind throughout the 1,327-acre park and provide an up-close look at the Delta. Just across the road from the park is the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center, which features an exhibit hall, theater and canoe rentals.
Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores (photos by Big Dreamz)
Occupying 6,150 acres (including more than 3 miles of beachfront) between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park is one of the last un-over-run places on Alabama’s coastline. Wander through miles of live oaks, marsh lands and wild muscadines using its extensive trails (where only the chirps and songs of birds break the silence); paddle board, boat and fish on the lovely 900-acre Lake Shelby; cool off in the swimming pool and splash pad; learn all about the area’s ecosystem at the Nature Center; relax on the Park’s pristine stretch of beach; or fish from the 1,540-foot-long pier Gulf State Pier, the largest in the Gulf of Mexico.