3 Reasons to Visit Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama

~Carmen

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park with almost 10,000 acres of land and 230 acres of water. The park is located just 20 minutes southeast of Birmingham making it an ideal and convenient location. With its abundance of hiking, mountain bike trails, variety of water activities, golfing, cabins and camping lodging options, there is a multitude of reasons to visit Oak Mountain State Park in Alabama!

Ada Overlook at the top of Double Oak Mountain is accessible by car, bike, or if you have the stamina, by foot!

3 Reasons to Visit Oak Mountain State Park

Reason #1: Camping and Cabins

Camping-

For folks like us who love to camp, Oak Mountain has a variety of campsites. There are 84 campsites with water and electricity (57 of those also have sewer). These campsites are primarily level and include a picnic table and fire ring. There are 7 bathhouses located throughout the campground. There is also a coin-operated laundry facility.

On our last trip to Oak Mountain State Park, we stayed at campsite #58 which was a pull-through with water, electricity, and sewer connection.

Also located within the park are 6 tent-only sites with water and electricity and 60 primitive tent sites with water nearby. For horse owners, a 12-site equestrian campground was opened in 2011. If being off the grid is more your speed, backcountry sites are available on a first come, first service basis.

Cabins-

Ten fully-equipped cabins may be reserved up to a year in advance (2 of the cabins are dog-friendly upon request). The cabins are adjacent to the 28-acre Lake Tranquility and only cabin residents are allowed to use this lake.

Reason #2: Miles & Miles of Hiking, Mountain Biking, & Horse Trails

Hiking and mountain bike riding are the 2 most popular activities at Oak Mountain State Park. Horse lovers can take advantage of the 25 miles of horse trails.

Hiking-

Nestled between Double Oak Mountain and Little Oak Ridge, the state park has 25 miles of hiking trails that are used all year around. The trails are all well marked and there are many connector trails that allow hikers to not have to traverse the entire trail length. A trail map may be purchased at the ranger stations for $1.

Peavine Falls (on the Green Trail) is located on the shortest trail in the park, but it is also the steepest. Ask about water flow at the ranger station before heading out to see the falls. The falls go down to a trickle during dry months.

Mountain Bike Riding-

The 22-mile Red Trail (also known as the Double Oak Trail) was built specifically for mountain bike use. The trail has sections for various skill levels from beginner to expert challenges. From rock gardens, fast and smooth sections, and extreme twists, the Red Trail will keep you on your toes! In fact, in 2010, it was designated as EPIC by the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) , making it one the 52 trails that are a “must ride” in the world!

Oak Mountain State Park has 22 miles of EPIC-rated mountain bike trails!

Reason #3: Tons of Other Water & Land Activities!

Oak Mountain State Park has 3 lakes for swimming, fishing, and kayaking. The park sells fish bait and rents a variety of boats, kayaks, and paddleboards. At Flip Side Watersports (Alabama’s only cable watersports park), you can flip, jump, or just learn how to use water-skis, knee boards, and wake boards on the longest water cable in North America.

One of the 3 lakes at Oak Mountain State Park

Kids and adults alike will enjoy using the park’s swimming beaches and many playgrounds. For golfers, Oak Mountain State Park has a 18-hole, par 72, golf course and has been rated in the top 50-75 public golf courses by Golf Digest magazine.

There are 2 swimming beaches at Oak Mountain State Park. This is the public beach. The other beach is designated for campground guests.

Want to know more reasons to visit Alabama’s largest state park? Visit alapark.com.

Have you been to Oak Mountain State Park? Please share by commenting below! We’d love to hear about any campgrounds to check out. Keep up with all of our travel, camping, and cycling tips by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest (lots of camping pins). Leave us your email (blue box below the post) to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and never miss a post!