Sweet home Alabama is a haven for hiking locales. Here are three trails in the Yellowhammer state.
This somewhat rigorous trail, totaling 2.8 miles, zig zags near Tohopeka Village, a former Creek Native American camp from the 1800s. Recommended gear: proper shoes, sunscreen, water and jacket for brisk weather. Other outdoor activities at Horseshoe Bend — fishing, hunting, horseback riding, bicycling. Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. 11288 Horseshoe Bend Road, Daviston. 256-234-7111. www.nps.gov
More than 50 miles of hiking trails are within this park which was only a quarter of its current size in the 1920s. Visitors to this park also frequent Oak Mountain for mountain biking. Cable sking, basketball courts, nature programs, an 18-hole golf course and boat rentals are other popular activities. Oak Mountain State Park. 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham. 205-620-2524. www.alapark.com.
Following the route of the Sipsey River for 17.4 miles total, scenic river views make this long hike a peaceful and tranquil outdoorsy adventure. Near the end of the hiking route, hikers must cross over the river. Due to the length of the hike, many hikers camp out along the route and finish the hike after a good night's rest. Sipsey River and the hiking trail are a part of the The Sipsey Wilderness, an area of more than 25,000 acres within the Bankhead National Forest and the largest wilderness area east of Mississippi. Cliffs, canyons and many waterfalls are also found near where hikers come to hit the trail. Sipsey River Trail 209. 1070 Highway 33, Double Springs. 205-489-5111. www.fs.fed.us.
