Central Alabama’s high July and August temps can often be oppressive, especially if you’re engaging in outdoor activities. One way to keep your cool is to stay in the shade. Check out these beat-the-heat hike options that beckon with woodland wonderlands. (Perry Lakes Park & Wildlife Sanctuary pictured above.)
This trail system runs through the Tallapoosa River Valley along the shores of the 40,000-acre Lake Martin. It’s one of the state’s most scenic hikes and offers lots of choices. Do a much or as little of the connected system as you like; some sections are as short as 1 mile, while heartier hikers can follow 11 miles of looping trails through diverse terrain, much of it near the lake’s banks and including rocky bluffs and clear-flowing creeks, all tucked under the shadows of big leaf magnolia, dogwood and pine trees. Maintained by the non-profit Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA), all of its trails are well groomed and plainly marked with maps.
In Wetumpka, this system of 12 miles of trails is covered in leafy canopy, and hikers and bikers here often feel the cooling effect of breezes blowing off nearby Lake Jordan. The well-maintained paths are hilly and twisty, but you can trail maps available on the website make it easy to do 1-, 2.5 and 7-mile sections instead of the full 12. The trails are managed by the non-profit Trail of Legends Association, which has made it its goal to double the system’s current size.
Perry Lakes Park & Wildlife Sanctuary
Four lakes surrounded by old growth hardwood forest, including moss-bearded cypress trees, were formed more than a century ago when the Cahaba River’s channel changed, and today, this 600-acre preserve near Marion begs exploration with its 7 miles of interpretive trails that lead you through a natural river bottomland and around the lakes. The habitat attracts varied feathered friends, making it a popular site with birders. Auburn University’s Rural Studio, a program of its architecture school, has added some amazing structures to the Park, in recent years, including restrooms, a pavilion and a bird-watching tower, all built using recycled and repurposed materials.
Bartram National Recreation Trail
While a 15-mile out and back hike may not sound like a refreshing outing for a hot day, the Bartram Trail near Tuskegee winds its way through the protection of thousands of trees — pines, birch, magnolias, dogwoods and more in the Tuskegee National Forest following a relatively flat, moderate path. Keep your eyes open for wildflowers and animals, and stop for a rest at one of the many benches sitting trailside, each outfitted with a saying from famed botanist William Bartram, for whom the trail is named.