• Type:
  • Loops/Out and Backs

  • Difficulty:
  • Easy-Hard

  • Scenery Ranking:
  • 5/5

  • Accessibility:
  • Easily Accessible

  • Trail Maintenance:
  • Well Maintained

  • Facilities:
  • Camping
  • Restrooms
  • Picnic Area
  • Restaurant

Oak Mountain State Park

Intro:

Oak Mountain State Park is located in the southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. With its location in the Alabama Valley and Ridge geographical region of the state you will get in some great scenic hiking on any of the OMSP fifty plus miles of trails.

Trail Head:

All trail heads are located on park property

To access the trail head: The best way to locate each trail head is to purchase a trail map. maps are available for purchase at the entry gate (for $1.00).

Difficulty:

Some sections are pretty easy. There are some harder sections with steep inclines.

NOTE: The Peavine Falls area is very steep and rocky and you need to be extremly careful if you hike in this area.

Another good trail for educational purposes is the tree top trail. It has wooden board walks that take you closer to the tree tops allowing you to get better views of the birds that inhabit these trees.

Hiking the Trail:

For my hike I did two seperate loops. I began at the north trail head on the blue trail. So for a good 6 mile round trip you can start here. Take the blue trail up to the Kings Chair overlook (about 1.8 miles). After getting in an incredible view here you can continue on the blue trail all the way up to the Orange Connector trail. Take the Orange Connector over to the White trail. The White trail will take you on a scenic hike along the ridge. You will eventually end up at the Indian Lookout. It's a great place to stop and take in the view. From here you can continue on to the Yellow trail and take it back to the parking area. The reason I suggest this is because it takes you through Maggies Glenn.

As for Peavine Falls, you can actually hike to Peavine from the north trail head, however it's about a 12 mile round trip. I suggest doing the loop above and then driving to the Peavine Falls trail head. It's about a mile or so round trip taking this trail. Just note that if you hike to the bottom of the falls that it's really steep and rocky.

Scenery:

You will get great views from the top of Double Oak Mountain, of Alabama woodlands, rock formations, waterfalls, wildlife, and more.

Trail Maintenance:

The trails are well maintained.

Facilities:

The park has bathrooms at each trail head. They also have other things you can do there such as a swimming beach, kayaking, canoeing, golf, and camping. For more information on all the amenities the park has to offer you can go to the Alabama State Parks page here: http://www.alapark.com/oak-mountain-state-park