Hiking in Birmingham, AL

Moss Rock Preserve is one of Birmingham's favorite suburban gems. It consists of about 350 acres of protected land, largely hidden in the state’s most populous city, with 8 miles of challenging trails. The trails meander along a shallow creek, past many small waterfalls, and through the boulder fields that have become a playground for local climbers.

For a little more of a challenge, hiking in the Walls of Jericho area may be strenuous and feature some steep climbs and descents, but the canyons, caves, and natural rock amphitheaters make it all worth the effort.

 Oak Mountain State Park has a few more miles of trails to choose from—51 miles to be exact—with many route options. Explore a new combination each day and you’ll turn those 51 miles into what feels like hundreds (in a good way). There’s everything from an easy 3-mile loop that winds around a stunning lake, to a 17-mile backcountry loop with over 800 feet of elevation gain. Creeks, waterfalls, hardwood forests, pine-studded ridges, and rocky overlooks, are just some of the highlights along the way.