• Type:
  • Loop

  • Difficulty:
  • Easy

  • Scenery Ranking:
  • 4/5

  • Accessibility:
  • Easily Accessible

  • Trail Maintenance:
  • Well Maintained

  • Facilities:
  • Horse Trail

Shoal Creek Preserve Trail

Intro:

The Shoal Preserve is a 298 acre tract of land located in a small town called Saint Florian,AL which is just north of Florence. It will take you through fields, woodland, and a scenic view of Shoals Creek.

Trail Head:

The parking area where the trail head is, is located just off Butler Creek Road/Co. Rd 61 West of St. Florian.

To access the trail heads: The trail head is right there at the parking area. You can't miss it.

Difficulty:

The trail is easy to hike. The terrain is easy to tackle. I can't think of anything that will make it difficult other than the possibility of some tall grass in the open fields during the summer time.

Hiking the Trail:

I feel like the best way to get an enjoyable hike here is to be sure and hike both the Lawsons and Jones Branch Loops. The last time I hiked it I started on the trail to the far left. After a few minutes you will end up at a foot bridge that crosses over to the Lawsons Branch loop, which is a 1.8 mile loop. Cross over the foot bridge and take a left. As you hike the loop you will get good views of Shoal Creek and Lawsons Creek, and also good views of some awesome small water falls at Jones Branch. The loop will loop back around to the same footbridge. Just cross back over it and hang a left. From here you can finish the 2.5 mile Jones Branch loop. This will also take you around and give you awesome views of shoals creek. Just finish the loop and the trail will take you back around to the parking area. In all you can get in around 4.3 miles of hiking. If a shorter hike is what you are looking for then I suggest just doing the Lawsons Branch loop. However, I still think it's best if you can do both.

Scenery:

You will see great views of Shoal Creek, small water falls, open fields, and branches.

Trail Maintenance:

The trail is very well maintained

Facilities:

There is also a horse trail located on the preserve. There are no bathrooms. Plenty of parking for trucks with horse trailers.