When it comes to outdoor adventure, Alabama doesn’t disappoint! From hiking and camping, to fishing and swimming, there’s such a variety of outdoor adventures offered here in the Yellowhammer State. Listed below are 11 of Alabama’s greatest outdoor adventures to have this year. You’ll want to experience them all!
- Take in the beautiful views from Cheaha Mountain.
flickr/Brian Collins Cheaha Mountain is home to Cheaha State Park, which is Alabama’s oldest state park. Because this mountain is the state’s highest natural point, it offers some pretty amazing views.
- Go birdwatching at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.
google/Hank Allen The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, which covers approximately 35,000 acres, is located along the Tennessee River in Decatur, Alabama. It serves as a breeding spot for migratory birds. Each winter, thousands of sandhill cranes invade this wildlife refuge. They begin to arrive in late November and peak in early January.
- Discover a real bamboo forest.
tripadvisor/Rae Jean W Prattville’s Wilderness Park is home to a real bamboo forest. In fact, many of the bamboo stalks measure more than 60 feet tall. Without a doubt, this bamboo forest is one of Alabama’s best-kept secrets!
- Take a swim at Devil’s Den Falls.
google/Ben Roussel Devil’s Den Falls is tucked away inside Alabama’s Cheaha State Park. It’s one of the state’s most popular swimming holes and can be reached via the Chinnabee Silent Trail.
- Spend a day fishing on Lake Eufaula.
facebook/Lakepoint State Park-Alabama Lake Eufaula, which is situated on the Chattahoochee River and covers a little more than 45,000 acres, is best known for it bass fishing opportunities. If fact, it’s nicknamed the “Bass Fishing Capital of the World.” Each year, people from all over the world fish from this beautiful lake.
- Discover beautiful Cahaba lilies on the Cahaba River.
flickr/Andy Montgomery Located along the Cahaba River in West Blocton is the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. From early May to late June each year, you’ll witness thousands of Cahaba lilies blooming. This is also the world’s largest stand of Cahaba lilies.
- Explore the one and only Dismals Canyon.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM Dismals Canyon is a beautiful sandstone gorge that’s located off the beaten path in the small town of Phil Campbell. What makes this canyon truly unique is the fact that it’s one of the few places in the world where you’ll discover dismalites, which happen to be rare insects that resemble glowworms.
- Go horseback riding at the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve.
facebook/Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve The Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve in Atmore is a great place for anyone who loves the outdoors. It offers a variety of activities, including horseback riding. If you enjoy horseback riding, you’ll enjoy this reserve’s 7-mile horse trail.
- Visit the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies.
tripadvisor/LADYJET North Alabama’s Natural Bridge is one of the state’s greatest natural wonders. Measuring 148 feet long, it’s also the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies. Interestingly, experts believe this natural bridge is more than 200 million years old.
- Go hiking in the William B. Bankhead National Forest.
flickr/Michael Hicks The William B. Bankhead National Forest, which is also located in North Alabama, covers more than 181,000 acres and offers more than 90 miles of scenic trails. Over the years, it’s become one of the Southeast’s top hiking spots.
- Spend a day exploring Little River Canyon National Preserve.
flickr/David Brossard Fort Payne’s Little River Canyon National Preserve covers more than 15,000 acres and is one of Alabama’s most beautiful nature spots. It offers a variety of recreational activities for all ages, including hiking, fishing, swimming, etc. It’s also home to one of the Southeast’s most beautiful waterfalls, Little River Falls (pictured).
Have you ever taken part in any of these 11 adventures? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments below.
flickr/Brian Collins
Cheaha Mountain is home to Cheaha State Park, which is Alabama’s oldest state park. Because this mountain is the state’s highest natural point, it offers some pretty amazing views.
google/Hank Allen
The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, which covers approximately 35,000 acres, is located along the Tennessee River in Decatur, Alabama. It serves as a breeding spot for migratory birds. Each winter, thousands of sandhill cranes invade this wildlife refuge. They begin to arrive in late November and peak in early January.
tripadvisor/Rae Jean W
Prattville’s Wilderness Park is home to a real bamboo forest. In fact, many of the bamboo stalks measure more than 60 feet tall. Without a doubt, this bamboo forest is one of Alabama’s best-kept secrets!
google/Ben Roussel
Devil’s Den Falls is tucked away inside Alabama’s Cheaha State Park. It’s one of the state’s most popular swimming holes and can be reached via the Chinnabee Silent Trail.
facebook/Lakepoint State Park-Alabama
Lake Eufaula, which is situated on the Chattahoochee River and covers a little more than 45,000 acres, is best known for it bass fishing opportunities. If fact, it’s nicknamed the “Bass Fishing Capital of the World.” Each year, people from all over the world fish from this beautiful lake.
flickr/Andy Montgomery
Located along the Cahaba River in West Blocton is the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. From early May to late June each year, you’ll witness thousands of Cahaba lilies blooming. This is also the world’s largest stand of Cahaba lilies.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Dismals Canyon is a beautiful sandstone gorge that’s located off the beaten path in the small town of Phil Campbell. What makes this canyon truly unique is the fact that it’s one of the few places in the world where you’ll discover dismalites, which happen to be rare insects that resemble glowworms.
facebook/Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve
The Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve in Atmore is a great place for anyone who loves the outdoors. It offers a variety of activities, including horseback riding. If you enjoy horseback riding, you’ll enjoy this reserve’s 7-mile horse trail.
tripadvisor/LADYJET
North Alabama’s Natural Bridge is one of the state’s greatest natural wonders. Measuring 148 feet long, it’s also the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies. Interestingly, experts believe this natural bridge is more than 200 million years old.
flickr/Michael Hicks
The William B. Bankhead National Forest, which is also located in North Alabama, covers more than 181,000 acres and offers more than 90 miles of scenic trails. Over the years, it’s become one of the Southeast’s top hiking spots.
flickr/David Brossard
Fort Payne’s Little River Canyon National Preserve covers more than 15,000 acres and is one of Alabama’s most beautiful nature spots. It offers a variety of recreational activities for all ages, including hiking, fishing, swimming, etc. It’s also home to one of the Southeast’s most beautiful waterfalls, Little River Falls (pictured).
For more information about Alabama’s Little River Canyon National Preserve, be sure to take a look at the following article: A Trip To This Alabama Canyon Is Sure To Bring Out Your Adventurous Side.
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Address: Cheaha Mountain, Alabama 36258, USAAddress: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 3121 Visitor Center Road, Decatur, AL 35603, USAAddress: Wilderness Park/Bamboo Forest, 800 Upper Kingston Rd, Prattville, AL 36067, USAAddress: Devil’s Den Falls, Lineville, AL 36266, USAAddress: Lake Eufaula, United StatesAddress: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, 3WXQ+6MJ, West Blocton, AL 35184, USAAddress: 901 County Rd 8, Phil Campbell, AL 35581, USAAddress: Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve, 24 Big Creek Rd, Atmore, AL 36502, USAAddress: Natural Bridge Park, Co Rd 3500, Haleyville, AL 35565, USAAddress: William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama 35572, USAAddress: Little River Canyon National Preserve, 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, AL 35967, USA
