It’s an exciting time for nature lovers across the Magic City! Birmingham is in the midst of a green space renaissance, with many trails and parks undergoing expansive renovations in just the past year or two. Read on for the latest updates to Birmingham’s many idyllic parks, trails, and greenways.
Railroad Park
More Info: railroadpark.org
There’s no better place to be on a sunny Saturday than Railroad Park. Serving as Birmingham’s own Central Park, this exciting urban green space stretches across 19 acres and connects the community through walkways and a communal plaza.
Take in the views while strolling around the lake, attend a yoga class, roll out the picnic blanket, and bring the kiddos to the playground — all in the city’s heart.
Rotary Trail
More Info: birminghamrotary.org
Just two blocks from Railroad Park, along First Avenue South, is the iconic “Magic City” signage announcing your arrival at the Rotary Trail. Built to commemorate the Rotary Club of Birmingham’s 100th Anniversary, this modern trail is part of the walkable connection between Railroad Park and Sloss Furnaces. It is an anchor of the Red Rock Trail System. (More on that below!)
The park boasts charging stations, creative play areas, picnic tables, a creative landscape design, and convenient exits and entryways at each cross street.
Sloss Furnaces
More Info: slossfurnaces.com
A National Historic Landmark, Sloss Furnaces produced iron for nearly 90 years and was the catalyst for our city’s seemingly magical overnight growth, giving us the name “Magic City.” The furnace’s pipes, towering smokestacks, and rusted web of industrial infrastructure give visitors a glimpse into what used to be while appreciating the tireless work of those who built our city.
To explore this iconic industrial wonderland, you can join a guided tour or opt for a self-guided experience Tuesdays through Sundays.
Hugh Kaul Trail
More Info: freshwaterlandtrust.org
One of the newest completed trails in the heart of the Magic City, the Hugh Kaul Trail, connects the Continental Gin Complex (home of Cahaba Brewing Co.) to Sloss Furnaces and out to Railroad Park via the Rotary Trail.
Along the way, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the Birmingham Brewery Trail, which connects 12 fantastic breweries across the city. The Hugh Kaul Trail is adjacent to Ghost Train Brewing Company and Avondale Brewing Company and is just a stone’s throw from all but three on the trail!
Kiwanis Vulcan Trail
More Info: visitvulcan.com
Guarded by the Steel City’s favorite Iron Man, the Kiwanis Vulcan Trail perfectly combines urban and natural wonders. Bike, jog, or walk as you take in scenic city views and nature paths along this 2.28-mile trail that connects Vulcan Park & Museum with Green Springs Highway.
The trail serves as the center for the Red Rock Trail system and will ultimately connect Red Mountain Park, UAB, and the rest of downtown via greenways.
Red Mountain Park
More Info: redmountainpark.org
Red Mountain Park is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. Its 1,500 acres was the site of an iron ore mining camp dating back to the Civil War, and today, mining remnants are as much a feature of the park as its 16 miles of biking and walking trails.
Make sure to bring your furry friends along to Remy’s Dog Park, embark on the swinging bridges to three treehouses, and take in the views of the city from their two scenic overlooks.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
More Info: bbgardens.org
If taking a long stroll through vast rose gardens, greenhouses, and Japanese gardens is more your speed, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is your spot! “Alabama’s largest living museum” is also the only public horticultural library in the U.S. The Gardens also rank as the fifth-highest native plant collection in the country.
After getting lost in the Asian Glade, Crape Myrtle Garden, or Ireland Old-Fashioned Rose Garden, grab a bite at the café, visit a beautiful shop on the property, or peruse the public library housed in the gardens. The gardens are open 365 days a year, and admission is free.
McCallum Park
More Info: vhparksandrec.com
Located in Vestavia Hills at the end of Rosemary Lane, McCallum Park radiates serenity and relaxation while offering a rejuvenating escape for all. This park features a large, open green space, a playground for the kiddos, covered picnic areas, restroom facilities, and a shaded trail system following a shimmering creek.
Grab your family, friends, or fur babies and take a break from the stress of the world, splashing along the stream or exploring the winding paths!
Oak Mountain State Park
More Info: alapark.com
Oak Mountain State Park is the largest park in the state, featuring nearly 12,000 acres of protected land in Pelham. Over 50 miles of trails meander around lakes, waterfalls, and stunning vistas. The park’s biking trails are known by enthusiasts worldwide and are frequently used for national and international competitions. In fact, the Red Trail was included in the International Mountain Biking Association’s “List of Epic Rides”!
As if that weren’t enough, the park features cable skiing, boat rentals, basketball courts, a BMX track, an 18-hole golf course, a driving range, beach and swimming areas, horseback riding facilities, and more. Oak Mountain Park has everything you need for an adventurous weekend in the great outdoors!
Shades Creek Greenway
More Info: Facebook
Located in the heart of Homewood, this three-mile, multi-use trail follows along the banks of Shades Creek, parallel to Lakeshore Drive. The trail is perfectly paved while providing the opportunity for Birmingham residents to explore floodplain habitats along one of the most important streams in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Expansion plans are underway on either side of the Greenway. To the west, a new section of the trail has opened, with a trailhead across from John Carroll High School. To the east, this lush Greenway will eventually connect to Jemison Park, with plans to connect the trail system all the way to the Flora Johnson Nature Trail in Irondale by 2026!
Jemison Park Nature Trail
More Info: mtnbrook.org
Jemison Park Nature Trail just reopened earlier this year after a six-month renovation. The paved and gravel trail nearly doubled in width for increased functionality and is perfect for the whole family. Surrounded by wildflowers and a towering canopy of trees, you’ll feel deeply connected to nature and the serenity it provides while walking along and hearing the babbling brook in the distance.
Jemison Trail is a Birmingham favorite among walkers, runners, bird-watchers, nature lovers, dogs, and kids of all ages. Plans over the next few years will give the trail a key role in connecting Irondale to Homewood via the Red Rock Trail system.
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
More Info: ruffnermountain.org
Ruffner Mountain is a 1,038-acre nature preserve, and one of the country’s largest privately held nonprofit urban nature preserves. Like Sloss Furnaces and Red Mountain Park, hikers can see iron mines from the late 19th century while they explore.
It’s open Tuesday through Sunday for running, hiking, and exploring Alabama’s nature and wildlife. (Bikes are not allowed!) Ruffner Mountain will take your breath away with its untouched beauty.
Moss Rock Preserve
More Info: hooveral.org
Head to Hoover to explore this stunning 349-acre preserve. Noted as the “perfect balance of nature and community,” the preserve features waterfalls, wildlife, and four rare plant species. It is thought to be one of only 35 occurrences of a rare variant of the Little River Canyon Sandstone Glade.
Rock climbers will enjoy Boulder Field, which includes a number of challenging rock formations for all skill levels. Hikers and nature lovers will love the nearly 12 miles of hiking trails that wind along a cascading stream. It’s hard not to be charmed by this stunning oasis.
Boulder Canyon Nature Trail
More Info: vhparksandrec.com
This serene wooded hike is a hidden gem. The trail starts at The Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest and ends at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, making it ideal for an after-school stroll with the kiddos. The trail is preserved through volunteers of Keep Vestavia Green, and features a nature trail, bridge, and lovely waterfall.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of a busy day by heading to the library for a book, then escape for a rejuvenating stroll in the forests of Vestavia Hills!
Hoover Veteran’s Park
More Info: hooveral.org
Get out and enjoy the sunshine, or get lost deep in a pine forest (or both!) at Veteran’s Park in Hoover. The sprawling park is 82 acres between Spain Park High School and Valleydale Road. Go for a walk, get a workout in at the outdoor gym, or play a match on their sand volleyball courts and brand-new pickleball courts.
The open-air trail loops around a lake and extends the length of the grassy field, cutting under the entry road through an underground walkway to connect to the wooded trail. The wooded portion was recently rerouted and winds through the forest, then up and down a few hills, with an offshoot running alongside Acton Creek.
Aldridge Gardens
More Info: aldridgegardens.com
Enjoy a tranquil stroll through a 30-acre woodland wonderland at Aldridge Gardens. Previous owners Eddie and Kay Aldridge discovered and patented the Snowflake Hydrangea on the property, and hydrangeas remain one of the gardens’ most celebrated features.
The walking trails are intended only for walking, so head over when you’re in the mood for a slower pace surrounded by lush beauty, including Japanese maples, camellias, azaleas, a large lake, and a bonsai tree terrace.
Coming Soon: Altadena Valley Park
More Info: altadenavalleypark.com
The former Altadena Country Club Golf Course is being converted into a passive park, a green space devoted to natural recreation activities that does not host programmed sports.
Right now, you can walk the old golf cart paths through the course, which is undergoing a reclamation effort to allow native grass and wildflowers to thrive. Ultimately, the park aspires to be a natural haven for wildlife and an oasis for the community, with plans including a disc golf course, archery field, and a canoe launch into the Cahaba River.
On the Horizon: The Red Rock Trail System Expansion
More Info: freshwaterlandtrust.org
A common through line (literally) in many of these trails and greenways is the Red Rock Trail Network, a long-range plan to create a 36-mile trail loop around the Greater Birmingham Metro connecting 750 miles of trails across central Alabama.
Spearheaded by the Freshwater Land Trust, the goal is an interconnected network of greenways seamlessly woven into the city’s fabric. The newest venture for the trail system is a plan to forge 19 miles of new trails to connect a 36-mile loop around the Birmingham Metro. Ultimately, this loop will connect downtown Birmingham with Fairfield, Homewood, and Irondale via walkable, bikeable greenways.
Check out the Freshwater Land Trust’s interactive trail map to find a trail near you, and follow them on Instagram to keep up with their progress!
Special thanks to Morgan Bearney of Vulcan Park and Museum, Kasey Moore of Red Mountain Park, and Libba Vaughn of the Freshwater Land Trust for sharing their expertise on their respective parks and trails.
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