Born in Birmingham, Thomas Spencer grew up hiking and camping in his native state, and for two decades he crisscrossed Alabama as a reporter for The Anniston Star and The Birmingham News, specializing in coverage of the outdoors and the environment. During his reporting career, he covered the acquisition of the Walls of Jericho, the protection of endangered species, the development of recreational assets such as the Alabama Scenic River Trail and the Pinhoti Trail, and the movement to expand green space and trails in the Birmingham metro area. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Tom is now the senior research associate at the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, based at Samford University. An Eagle Scout, he is a founder of The Friends of Red Mountain Park and serves on the board of the Cahaba River Society.

OVERVIEW MAP

OVERVIEW-MAP KEY

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PREFACE

HIKING RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION

City Center

• Civil Rights Heritage Trail: Birmingham's Walk to Freedom


• Oak Hill Cemetery


• Railroad Park


• Vulcan Trail-Southside Loop

Suburbs

• Aldridge Gardens


• Irondale Furnace & Mountain Brook Trails


• Shades Creek Greenway & Homewood Forest Preserve


• Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest

Moss Rock Preserve

• Moss Rock Preserve: Boulder Field


• Moss Rock Preserve: Boulder Gorge Loop


• Moss Rock Preserve: Waterfall Loop from Sulphur Springs Road

Oak Mountain State Park

• Oak Mountain State Park: King's Chair Loop


• Oak Mountain State Park: Lake Tranquility Loop


• Oak Mountain State Park: Peavine Falls


• Oak Mountain State Park: Shackleford High Points Hike

Red Mountain Park

• Red Mountain Park: Birmingham Mineral Railroad Loop


• Red Mountain Park: Grace's Gap


• Red Mountain Park: Mine History Hike

Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve

• Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve: Ridge & Valley Loop


• Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve: Tree House to Hawk's View


• Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve: Wetlands Retreat

The Cahaba River & Points South

• Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge


• Perry Lakes Park & Barton's Beach


• Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

Cheaha & Points East

• Cheaha-Cave Creek-Pinhoti Trail Loop


• Cheaha State Park: Bald Rock & Pulpit Rock


• Chinnabee Silent Trail


• Flagg Mountain: The Southernmost Appalachian


• Pinhoti Trail: Lower Shoal Shelter Section

The Sipsey Wilderness & Points Northwest

• Big Tree Loop


• Hurricane Creek Park


• Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Little River Canyon & Points Northeast

• Little River Canyon National Preserve: Eberhart Trail


• Palisades Park & the Bridges of Blount County


• Turkey Creek Falls

APPENDIX A: SUGGESTED READING & REFERENCE

APPENDIX B: OUTDOOR RETAILERS

APPENDIX C: HIKING & OUTDOOR CLUBS

APPENDIX D: ADVOCACY & VOLUNTEER GROUPS

INDEX

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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