If you’re looking for a great outdoor activity to do in Alabama, look no further than Oak Mountain State Park bike trails. With 9,940 acres of land, the park is home to various activities, including biking. The bike trails are top-rated and offer something for everyone, from beginner to experienced cyclists. Here’s what you need to know about biking at Oak Mountain State Park.
- The park has a variety of trails to choose from, so you can find one that’s right for your skill level.
- The scenery is stunning, and you will surely have an unforgettable experience.
- The park is conveniently located near Birmingham, so it’s easy to get to.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your bike and head to Oak Mountain State Park for a great day of biking!
ACTIVITIES
Oak Mountain State Park is a great place for mountain biking and hiking. There is something for everyone with more than 50 miles of trails to choose from. The Red Trail has even been included on the International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA) list of EPIC rides. So if you are looking for a challenging ride or a stroll, Oak Mountain State Park is the place for you. The park has a great trail, but it also has:
- A pump track and BMX course (This makes it perfect for anyone who loves to bike)
- Flipside Watersports cable skiing
- Boat rentals
- Basketball courts
- Nature programs
- Peavine Falls
- Oak Mountain Interpretive Center
- An 18-hole golf course and driving range
- Beach and swimming area
- Fishing lakes
- Jet ski rentals
- Picnic areas
- Demonstration farms
- And horseback riding facilities
This makes it the perfect place for a day trip or even a weekend getaway. So make sure to pack your bags and head to Oak Mountain State Park for a fantastic biking experience.
The park is home to miles of biking trails that wind through the forests and valleys of the park. Naturalist programs, educational opportunities, and avian rehabilitation are significant components of the park, making it an excellent place for tourists and nature lovers alike. The Alabama Wildlife Center provides rehabilitation services to injured native birds each year, so you can be sure to see some beautiful wildlife while you’re there. If you’re looking for a place to learn about the local environment and get some exercise, Oak Mountain State Park is the perfect destination.
AREA ATTRACTIONS
Oak Mountain State Park has the longest bike trails in Alabama and is one of the most popular places for bikers to go.
There are other attractions close by like:
- Mountain biking at the Coldwater Mountain Forever Wild tract near Anniston, Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
- Forever Wild Turkey Creek Nature Preserve and many more
- Birmingham Barons minor league baseball team
- Shopping and dining downtown Birmingham
- Sloss Furnace National Historic Landmark
- Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Where to stay
Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Pelham
232 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham, AL 35124
The Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Pelham I-65 is a great place to stay when you’re visiting Oak Mountain State Park. The hotel is just minutes from the park, so you can quickly get to the trails. The hotel also offers free hot breakfast, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center. If you want to be close to the action and have all your amenities, this is the perfect place to stay.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Birmingham-SW-Riverchase-Galleria
121 Riverchase Pkwy E, Hoover, AL 35244
The Homewood Suites by Hilton Birmingham-SW-Riverchase-Galleria is another great option for your stay. The hotel is just a short drive from the park and offers a free hot breakfast, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center. This is a great place to stay if you want to be close to the park and have all your amenities.
Best Western Plus Oak Mountain Inn
100 Bishop Cir, Pelham, AL 35124
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Best Western Plus Oak Mountain Inn is great.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham Hoover
2960 John Hawkins Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35244
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham Hoover is another great option for your stay. The hotel is just a short drive from the park.
Where to eat
Ragtime Cafe
2080 Valleydale Rd #4, Birmingham, AL 35244
The Craft Burger
5184 Caldwell Mill Rd, Birmingham, AL 35244
Iguana Grill
2085 Colonial Dr #101, Birmingham, AL 35216
Twin Peaks Hoover
4330 Creekside Ave, Birmingham, AL 35244
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
191 Main St, Hoover, AL 35244
Bike Trails
If you’re looking for a challenging mountain biking trail, look no further than Oak Mountain State Park. With over 30 miles of trails to explore, you’re sure to find a route that fits your skill level. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, there’s something for everyone at Oak Mountain.
The trails are mostly single-track with some double-track, and there’s a combined 1600 feet of climbing if you ride the main loop. Oak Mountain is known for its world-class mountain biking, so come and see what all the fuss is about! You won’t be disappointed.
Oak Mountain State Park has something for everyone regarding biking trails. There are smooth, fast trails for more experienced riders and tight, twisty trails for those who prefer a more technical experience. There are also plenty of hills and challenging climbs for those who want a bit of a workout and fast downhill sections with air-inducing dips and rolls.
Most of the trails are classified as intermediate, but more advanced riders will find challenges in some of the park’s more difficult trails. Beginners can enjoy a relatively easy ride on the Lake trail around Double Oak Lake. So if you’re looking for a great place to bike, Oak Mountain State Park is worth a visit.
Well Maintained Trails
Oak Mountain State Park is a great place for mountain biking, with trails of varying difficulty to accommodate riders of all skill levels.
The trails are maintained by a local non-profit group, Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers, which hosts an annual cross-country mountain bike race.
This is a great opportunity to check out the trails and see what they have to offer. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s something for everyone at Oak Mountain State Park.
This is also a great place for a leisurely bike ride. The trail is also open to hikers and can be ridden in either direction, so please be prepared to yield to climbers and walkers. Please ride only on trails marked for cycling, as other trails are off-limits to bicycles. Helmets are required by state law for all riders aged 16 and under and are strongly recommended for everyone else. Visit BUMP’s website for more information on the trail and each uniquely named trail segment. You can also download the trail map. With so much to see and do at Oak Mountain State Park, we hope you’ll take some time to experience this wonderful bike trail.
Bike rentals in this area
Cahaba Cycles
2271 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, AL 35124
Bike Link of Hoover
2766 John Hawkins Pkwy #104, Hoover, AL 35244
Park Hours: 7 a.m. to sundown
Park Fee: $5 (2018)
Many trails range from smooth singletrack with minimal texture to those requiring a hiking-a bike for some riders. With close access to Birmingham, expect the park’s trail systems will be heavily utilized by all ages and abilities and other users like hikers or backpackers who frequent this area as well!
Trails Overview
Double Oak Mountain is located in the heart of Oak mountain state park. It’s home to nearly 10,000 acres and offers amazing trails that are great for all levels of riders! One trail on this 22-mile loop takes you up over one ridgeline while other parts meander through valleys below or crawl across lower slopes, feeling every pebble under your tires as if it were dollar bill-lined pavement back home.
The views from here would be stunning during any season, especially when fall colors blanket these mountainsides after a hard freeze/thaw cycle has occurred at higher elevations throughout Alabama, where flowers blossom before our very eyes.
Trails Description
You’ll start your workout on the Lake Trail, a 4-5 foot wide path. It has some of the double oak’s best views, and it will lead you to one entire side with plenty more opportunities for picturesque scenery!
The Seven Bridges segment of the trail is an easy ride through woods that will make you feel like you are on a magical mystery tour. This part also includes optional gap jumps, so if cycling isn’t really what comes to mind when thinking about a great outdoor experience, don’t worry! There’s plenty more where that came from, too; keep pedaling towards our next challenge – Lake Trail runners, beware: this section gets difficult.
This is the part where you’ll have an adventure. You are now in Garrett’s Gulch, which turns into Cat Dog Snake before reaching The Chimneys and finally ending at Cataract Lake. All three trails were more difficult than Seven Bridges, with roots, rock gardens, narrow tree passages, and some technical features that only add to their appeal!
When you first reach the top of your climb, two trails will take Cat Dog Snake in different directions. We recommend taking an eastward path toward Lake Mountains National Forest and eventually Grand Canyon National Park while providing great views along Bear River Mountain’s ridgeline before reaching its highest point at 12K feet!
For those who want less hiking but still appreciate nature’s beauty- go north instead onto Red Road, which leads down into beautiful forested slopes bustling with wildlife, including bears (rare nowadays thanks to human development).
The top of the climb will bring you to some fencing denoted by Boulder Ridge. This is an expert trail with big rocks, tight chokes, and obstacles like drops up 6 feet which test bike handling skills even more so than other trails on this route (more about those later). If riding cross-country sounds like your thing, continue straight ahead into Red Road; if not, there’s also access via GPS coordinates near the start line for GPX users!
When the GPX takes you down a side road to West Ridge, it can be seen as an awesome technical trail that follows along with rocks and vegetation. However, this might not suit everyone because there are some steep slopes on top of these beautiful mountains during your journey! To make sure every level is satisfied, try taking Red Road instead, which has much smoother terrain but still provides breathtaking views from up high at least once per mile, if not more often. But keep going slowly enough so no one falls injured into crevices below or gets carried away by strong currents near waterfall drop-offs around each bend in unpredictable places.
West Ridge is a challenging hike with breathtaking views, but Jekyll’ n Hyde has even more interesting and dangerous obstacles. The top section (Jeksy) starts as tight rolling singletrack along cliffs before transitioning into a half-mile downhill made up mostly of roots/rock gardens that can instantly slow down due to their depth; there are also 3 feet worth of rolling drop!
With an intimidating landscape of rocks and obstacles, you will pass the Big Rock into some fast singletrack. The bottom section (Hyde) has a series of white knuckle berm that’ll have you on your toes in no time at all! There are also dips mixed with short climbs through beautiful pine trees as well as hardwood groves- not to mention it’s home for our fastest trails here at maple_ridge
The ride is not over yet! After Jekyll’ n Hyde, the path becomes easier again. First up is Mr. Toad’s, which features tight turns and a couple of narrow tree passages. This will be followed by an easy Family Trail with no major obstacles until Rattlesnake Ridge connects you back to where we started – Lake trail has more speed options but also includes roots/ narrowed paths, so make sure your bike can handle it before turning right on this last part if going forward.
For those looking for even less difficult terrain, there is always the “Lake” trail named after its most famous landmark- a beautiful body of water we’ll get to in a second. This is great for all levels, but be aware of other park visitors since it’s also one of our most popular walking/jogging trails!
And now we come to the end of our journey, or rather- the beginning. The loop is only 0.7 miles long, but it’s a great place to start if you’re not too adventurous or with children. There’s a playground, restrooms, and plenty of parking nearby so that you can make a day out of it!
Conclusion
Oak Mountain State Park is home to some of the best mountain biking trails in the state! With routes for all levels of experience, there’s something for everyone.
If you are looking for a great place to go biking, I would definitely recommend Oak Mountain State Park. The trails are well-maintained and provide plenty of challenges for riders of all skill levels. And if you get tired, you can always take a break and enjoy the scenery. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have as much fun on the trails as I did!