July may not seem like a prime time for a day hike, considering it’s the hottest month of the year in Alabama. But few things can clear your head like a trek down a shaded trail in the wilderness. With a little bit of research and planning, you can find day hikes that offer beautiful views, some shade and solitude, maybe a waterfall, and maximum restorative benefits. Check out our five top summer day hikes in Alabama that the whole family will enjoy.

Chinnabee Silent Trail 

The Chinnabee Silent Trail in the Cheaha Wilderness area is a 7.3-mile out-and-back trail near Lineville that features a lake. Cheaha Falls is also accessible on a side trail. The moderately difficult trail allows leashed dogs. Recent hiker reviews note the gorgeous wildflowers along the way as well as the awesome views.  Visitors can access the trail from Turnipseed Campground on State Route 281.

Desoto Scout Trail

DeSoto Scout Trail is a 3.1 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. Located in Northeast Alabama’s Desoto State Park, it’s actually part of a 16-mile hike with plenty of mountainous scenery that will leave you speechless.  Leashed dogs are welcome. The heavily shaded trail can be narrow and rocky.

     

Point Rock Trail

This 2.3-mile out-and-back trail in Buck’s Pocket State Park is considered moderate to hard, it leads to a scenic overlook. It starts on the floor of Bucks Pocket Canyon near the campground, and it ends 800 feet higher at Point Rock. Dogs are welcome on the trail, and you can take a break and have a picnic at and area right by the overlook.

Stone Cuts Trail

The Stone Cuts Trail in Monte Sano State Park is a 2.4-mile loop trail near Brownsboro that provides gorgeous views of the state park.  The well-shaded trail ranks as relatively easy with only a 479-foot elevation gain. 

Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail

The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail near Orange Beach is a 12.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that is perfect for cycling as well as hiking. The trail features an air station (for bikes), restrooms, rest benches, and plenty of outlooks to watch the wildlife.

Find the best summer gear at Alabama Outdoors. We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit one of our stores or take advantage of our shipping or curbside pickup! #BeOutdoors

If hiking is your passion and you are looking for outdoor fun this spring, Alabama is a good place to call home. According to, the Yellowhammer State boasts more than 560 great hiking trails. Here are five highly rated Alabama trails for your spring and summer must-hike list.

North Alabama: Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve

Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve is a 700-acre, privately owned nature preserve in Northwest Alabama. A cooperative project with the Nature Conservancy of Alabama, it’s open to the public year-round, Friday through Sunday plus holidays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Eastern Alabama: Chinnabee Silent Trail

Located in the Talladega National Forest, 392,567 acres of breathtaking beauty at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains, this 7.3 mile, moderately trafficked, the out-and-back trail takes hikers through multiple habitats, making it ideal for birdwatchers.

The elevation gain is 892 feet and peak hiking months are March through November. You can bring your pup, but you’ll need to keep them on a leash. The trail can be rocky, wet and has blowdowns, so choose your footwear carefully. 

Trail highlights include Cheaha Falls, Devil’s Den, and Lake Chinnabee. Much of the trail is shady though, making it a good hot-weather trek. Hikers who experienced the trail said the “scenery is just awesome” and called it “my favorite trail of all time.”

Central Alabama: Blue Trail to King’s Chair Overlook

Oak Mountain State Park, located 20 miles south of Birmingham, is the state’s largest state park with  25 miles of hiking trails. The 14.1-mile, out-and-back Blue Trail is one of the most difficult. With a 2,139-foot elevation gain, the steep trail can be challenging, so consider bringing trekking poles. It’s accessible year-round and allows dogs on leashes.

Hikers will encounter creeks, waterfalls, and stunning overlooks, including King’s Chair. The overlooks are exposed and sunny, but much of the trail is shaded. If 14.1 miles isn’t challenging enough, you can easily connect to other trails in the park during the warmer months. Folks over the age of 12 will pay $12 to enter the park, children age 6-11 and seniors over 62 can get in for $1, and there’s no fee for children under 5.

Eastern Alabama: Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail

One of the most scenic trails in the state, Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail is a 3.2 mile, lightly trafficked loop trail with an elevation gain of 383 feet. Open all year, and dog-friendly. The trail offers a shaded, well-marked hike that is accessible to all ages and all skill levels. However, the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association recommends parents only bring children 12 years and older. Children ages 12 to 14 years old should have adult supervision, the association says.

The lake views set this trail apart, as does Chimney Rock, one of Lake Martin’s most famous landmarks. Consider a picnic atop some of the larger rocks that rim the lake. Hikers who reviewed the trail said it was “a great trail with beautiful views” and “highly recommended.” The trail is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

South Alabama: Rosemary Dunes Trail

Alabama’s beautiful trails go through the mountains, around the lakes and finally, to the beach. In Orange Beach, you’ll find the Rosemary Dunes Trail, a 4.3 mile, moderately trafficked, out-and-back trail. It’s nearly flat, with an elevation gain of only 32 feet. The wheelchair-friendly paved trail is suitable for all skill levels. It’s accessible all year long and has a small playground and picnic area. The free trails are open during daylight hours.

The wildlife and vegetation make this trail unique. Don’t be surprised if you spot an alligator or two, as well as other marsh-dwelling animals. As the trail goes through multiple habitats, it’s also a good trek for birders. Hikers rave about the wildflowers, cattails, and water lilies, as well as the pollinator garden filled with butterflies. But prepare for a sunny, humid hike. Trail reviewers called it “absolutely pristine” and “a great place to bird and herp.”

Ready to be outdoors this Spring? We have the Spring outdoor gear you need to get you back on the trails! We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit one of our stores or take advantage of our shipping or curbside pickup! #BeOutdoors

While some die-hard outdoor enthusiasts opt to camp year-round, others prefer to wait until the days are a little longer and the temperature is a little warmer. Spring in Alabama is the perfect time to hit the trails and pitch a tent, as the trees are budding and the wildflowers are starting to bloom, but the bugs and humidity have yet to make their annual return. Here are five popular — and unique — camping opportunities in the Yellowhammer State. 

DeSoto State Park in Fort Payne

Located atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama, the 3,500-acre DeSoto State Park features waterfalls, wildflower fields, and plenty of rustic beauty. Nearby sites of interest include the Little River Canyon Preserve, the 104-foot Desoto Falls, and the Walls of Jerico Forever Wild Tract.

Accommodations

The park offers an improved campground with 94 full-hookup tent and RV sites, primitive camping sites for tents, and two backcountry campsites with shelters.

Recreation & Attractions

You can find something for everyone at DeSoto. Recreational activities include kayaking, biking, cycling, bouldering, rappelling, hiking, fishing, and wildflower expeditions. The historic park also has a picnic area and an ADA-accessible boardwalk trail.

The park is free. Pets and fires are allowed. Reservations can be made online.

Cheaha State Park in Delta

Cheaha is the oldest, continuously operating state park in Alabama. It’s also home to the state’s highest point, Cheaha Mountain, which is 2,407 feet above sea level. The park features amazing views to appreciate beautiful sunsets as well as some spectacular waterfalls. 

Accommodations

The park boasts five campgrounds: two developed, one semi-primitive, one primitive, and a group campground. The developed campgrounds feature RV hookups.

Recreation & Attractions

Nestled in the Talladega National Forest, Cheaha offers endless opportunities for outdoor exploration. It’s home to the Cheaha Trailhead of the Pinhoti Trail, which connects to the Appalachian Trail, the Odum Scout Trail, and the Chinnabee Silent Trail. Cheaha also includes access to the Kentuck ORV-ATV trail.

Park fees are: Age 0-3 free, 4-11 $2, 12 and older $5, Seniors 62+ $2, Veterans and Active Military (with ID) enter for free. Annual passes are $55 for seniors/disabled, $105 for individuals 12 and older and $155 for a family of up to six. Fires and pets are allowed. Reservations can be made online.

Deerlick Creek  near Tuscaloosa

Deerlick Creek is a shoreline located on Holt Lake that was created by damning the Black Warrior River. The creek and river connect to the Tom Bigbee Waterway, which includes six lakes with a total length of 457 miles and nearly 40,000 surface acres of water. The shoreline campground is nestled in a hardwood and pine forest, where plenty of turkey, deer, migratory birds, and bluebirds live.

Accommodations

Forty-six campsites include electric and water hookups and access to showers, while six of the sites are tent-only. In addition, the campground features a picnic shelter that can be reserved, a mixed-use court, and a swimming beach.

Recreation & Attractions

Watersports and fishing opportunities are abundant at Deerlick Creek. The waterway is populated with bass, crappie, bream, catfish and more. Boating and swimming are popular, and the area has numerous hiking trails and a paved bike trail.

Nightly fees range from $20-$30. Pets and fires are allowed. You can check site availability online.

Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores

Enjoy two miles of sandy white beaches and crystal-clear salt water as well as Lake Shelby, a 900-acre freshwater lake. The park’s 6,500 sun-drenched acres provide ample opportunity for everyone to enjoy their outdoor passion.

Accommodations

There’s lots of room and all kinds of camping with a 496-site improved campground that features pull-through and back-in sites, waterfront sites, and ADA-accessible sites. Paved pads provide full hookups, and the park also features three new “glamping” sites and 11 primitive camping sites. You’ll find picnic tables throughout the park. 

Recreation & Attractions

Obviously, popular activities include boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddling, and even parasailing are popular choices. It also features hiking and biking trails, a wildflower and butterfly garden, and much more. 

But keep in mind that Gulf State Park is home to many types of wildlife, including alligators. Please be aware at all times and respectful.

The free park allows fires and dogs. You can make camping reservations online.

Bartram Canoe Trails in Mobile

The 250,000-acre Mobile-Tensaw Delta is the second largest river delta in the United States. It’s a vast wetland of marshes, swamps and bottomland hardwood ecosystems and home to more than 50 endangered animal and plant species. It’s also where you’ll find the Bartram Canoe Trails, one of the longest aquatic trails in the country. Bartram Canoe Trails features six day-use trails and six overnight trails, which take canoeists, kayakers and recreational boaters through miles of rivers, streams, lakes, sloughs, and bayous.

Accommodations

The trail system features two primitive land-based campsites, which are open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis. Along the upper trail overnight route, you will find four floating platform campsites. Meanwhile, the lower trail overnight routes have four elevated camping shelters. Only canoeists and kayakers can reserve the floating platforms and elevated camping shelters.

Recreation & Attractions

Obviously, canoeing, kayaking, and boating are the primary means of exploring the 170+ miles of trails through the delta. Bartram allows fishing. However, the trail system discourages swimming due to the local alligator populations.

You can reserve the water-based campsites online for a $26.50 fee. Fires are allowed in the land-based campsites only. No pets are allowed.

 We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time.  Visit our online store and take advantage of guaranteed 24-hour shipment or curbside delivery! #BeOutdoors

Annie Bayer Goldberg of AG Interiors. Photo credit: http://ericandjamiephoto.com/

Picture it: a crackling fire, lights twinkling on the tree, soft strains of jazz music floating through the air while you snuggle into your favorite fuzzy blanket. Whether it’s your cabin in the woods or your apartment in the city, we’ve got the best advice on making your place cozy this holiday season. We spoke with Annie Bayer Goldberg of AG Designs to get her take on how to create a cozy space that feels like a sweet winter get-away.

Step One: Know Thyself

The first step in decorating your space is knowing your own personal aesthetic. Think about your favorite colors, textures and your personal style as well as what you need in a space: storage? Seating? A dance floor? Annie asks her clients for inspiration photos before helping them design their space because it gives her a better understanding of their style. You can do this on your own by creating a vision board of what your ideal space would look like. Once you know what you like, it’s much easier to build a physical space with those elements in it.

Step Two: Know Thy Space

Now that you know what you need and like in a room, the next step is understanding your space. Annie emphasizes the importance of understanding the proportions of each room. You may not have access to a furniture layout software like Annie does, but it’s still crucial to keep your space balanced. Otherwise, you’re likely to get more of an overwhelming — rather than cozy — cabin. Keeping things symmetrical across the room allows you to utilize every bit of space that you have — and if you’re in a small room, that space is precious.  Annie also notes that it’s important to understand the room in relationship to the rest of the house. This will help you get a feel for the kind of flow you want throughout the house.

Step Three: Time for Textiles and Textures

So what elements should you include in your soon-to-be cozy cabin? Annie says it’s all about textiles and textures. Window treatments, rugs, pillows, throw blankets and decorative lighting are essential. Mix velvet headboards with plush blankets in bedrooms. For a layered feel in the living room, grab several throw pillows for the couch that pull colors from your rug. And even just a touch of leather — whether it’s a chair or a fun pillow — will warm an entire room. Natural lighting makes a big impact on how a room feels, but sometimes it’s hard to come by. Opt for a stunning fixture or a simple reading lamp to illuminate your space from all angles. Just a few small adjustments of lighting can completely change the mood of a room.

We hope that these tips are helpful as you create a space perfect for your personality, needs and lifestyle. However you choose to make your cozy cabin a reality, we know it’ll be beautiful if it’s a space unique to you.

Text by Kaitlin Cochran

The crisp breeze, the crunch of dried leaves, firecrackers of fall foliage and sweeping summit views: all season long, we marvel at the autumn landscape’s wonders. And it’s no wonder that this is our favorite time of year to gather with friends and family and head outdoors for an autumnal adventure. These outdoors adventure essentials will keep you warm, safe, and dry no matter where the landscape takes you.

NEMO Men’s Disco 30° Down Sleeping Bag – Regular

This sleeping bag lets you personalize your comfort. Plus, it’s water-resistant, keeping your feet dry and ensuring a great night’s sleep wherever you are.

SOREL Women’s Out ‘N About Plus Leather Duck Boots

Pesky afternoon showers are unpredictable, so be prepared with these waterproof boots. They’re as functional as they’re fashionable.

Osprey Exos 48 Backpack

This backpack offers mesh Airspeed™ Suspension for airflow and an ExoForm™ hipbelt and shoulder harness, ensuring all-day comfort while hiking.

Cotopaxi Unisex Teca Windbreaker Half-Zip Pullover 

This pullover is easy to pack and weather-resistant: perfect for any terrain!

Hydro Flask Unbound Series Soft Cooler Pack – 22L

This cooler pack keeps your goods cold for up to 48 hours and offers enough room to store 24 12oz cans, as well as side and dry storage pockets for additional drinks.

KEEN Women’s Terradora Waterproof Mid Boots

Designed especially for women, these boots provide all-day comfort whether you’re on a hike or hiking through the mall for Christmas shopping.

Gentlemen’s Hardware Survival Kit

The Gentlemen’s Hardware Survival Kit’s includes a compass, fire starter tool, six-in-one penknife tool, tweezers, 210cm of rope, ten safety pins and wire saw. It’s a must-have travel tool for any outdoors enthusiast.

Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Shoes

With a mid-height ankle, aggressive grip and GORE-TEX® weather protection, these shoes are a hiker’s best friend.

Klymit Static V Sleeping Pad

The Static V is designed to conform to the shape of your body, providing the ultimate comfort for a great night’s rest.

Lole Women’s Emeline Packable Insulated Jacket

With its compact pouch and lightweight packability, this insulated jacket from Lole will keep you warm no matter how chilly the campsite may seem in the morning.

GoPro Hero 7 Black Bundle with SD Card

The best that GoPro has to offer, the Hero 7 enables you to shoot up to 4k video with Gimbal-like Stabilization.

Hydro Flask Limited Edition Escape Collection Wide Flex Cap – 32oz

These bottles keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. They’re perfect for all-day hydration.

Text by Nick Adrian

The air’s getting frosty, the leaves are falling, and everyone’s starting to break out their favorite sweaters. There’s never a more perfect time to start planning your next outdoor adventure than right now. We spoke with our own outdoor expert, Matt Stone, to get the best advice on how to plan an outdoor adventure in Alabama.

Start with your destination

The first step in preparing for your adventure is researching where you want to go. Matt’s top five places in Alabama are The Sipsey Wilderness, Cheaha State Park, Ruffner Mountain, Monte Sano State Park and the Walls of Jericho. If you know where you’re going, you’ll be better able to prepare yourself, your friends or maybe even your date for the trek ahead. He suggests learning the distance of the trails, elevation, amenities, water sources and beyond.

Gear up and get prepped

Knowing where you’re going is important; knowing what to bring while you’re there is crucial. Once you’ve picked a place (and learned all you can about it), then you can start prepping your gear. If it’s just a day trip, Matt suggests bringing only the essentials — think water and maybe a few snacks — to keep unnecessary weight out of your pack. Another good tip is to dress in layers and invest in a pair of wool socks. Matt’s favorite are Merino moisture-wicking wool socks that keep you from getting blisters. Of course, you should always pack a map and a compass, and let someone know of your plans. Give a timeline of when they should start to hear from you again — there’s not always cell phone service in the wilderness.

Enjoy the silence

Going on an outdoor adventure gives you the opportunity to escape from everyday life and experience nature without the hectic hubbub of urban life. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to spend time with friends and family with minimal distractions. There’s a lot that you can do when you go on an outdoor adventure but sometimes it’s great to just spend some quiet time in the woods relaxing. Matt’s favorite part of outdoor adventuring is listening as the wind blows through the trees and watching leaves fall to the forest floor.

If you were on the fence about it before, we hope that these tips make you reconsider spending your next free weekend on an outdoor adventure. Now get out there and Be Outdoors!

Text by Kaitlin Cochran. Updated June 16, 2020.

Looking for weekend camping adventure essentials? We can help! Alabama Outdoors wants everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit one of our stores or take advantage of our shipping or curbside pickup! #BeOutdoors

The football season’s far from over. In fact, the best games are still ahead of us — which means the best tailgates are still ahead of us, too. We’ve gathered a list of tailgating essentials to help you get out there and enjoy the fall weather, friends and family, food, and — of course! — football. 

Keep It Cool …

A good cooler is essential to successfully keeping all of your food and drinks cold and in one easy-to-reach place. The Corkcicle Virginia Tote looks like a chic and stylish purse, but is powerful enough to keep that Pinot Grigio ice cold. The Hydro Flask Unbound Series Soft Tote and the YETI Hopper Flip 12 are both excellent options for soft but rugged coolers. If you’re looking for powerhouse insulation and an unbelievable capacity (45 12 ounce cans!), try the YETI Tundra Haul.

… Or Hot! 

How do you keep your drinks cold after you’ve pulled them from the cooler? With either the YETI Colored Rambler Tumbler or Hydro Flask Insulated Stainless Steel Beer Pint, that’s how. Double wall insulation helps keep hot and cold from seeping into or out of the containers. That makes them a perfect companion for late-season tailgates, where you’ll need some hot chocolate (or a hot toddy) to keep you warm.

Your New BFF: This Blanket

You might have plenty of sunshine, but temperatures can drop suddenly and drastically. Keep warm with the insulated Kelty Bestie Blanket. At over 75 inches long and more than 42 inches wide, it’s plenty big enough to cover you and someone else. Or, you know, just you. You don’t have to share.

Share the Love(seat)

What better way to warm up on those cold nights than by snuggling up next to someone? Wrap yourselves up in that blanket and take a seat in the Kelty Loveseat, built for two. With a steel frame and insulated drink holders, this chair was built for tailgating.

Made in the Shade

Never underestimate the value of a good pair of sunglasses — even in the fall and winter! The Suncloud Optics Sentry and Costa Del Mar Zane 580P Mirror both allow you to be outside without squinting or covering your eyes with your hand. Plus, they’re both polarized, which further helps reduce glare.

Walking on Air

If you’re tailgating, you’re going to be standing, walking, and pacing while the ref decides on a call — and you’re going to want to be comfortable. A good pair of shoes is essential for avoiding blisters and keeping you on your feet. The On-Running Men’s Cloud 2.0 (also available for women) are practically made for tailgating. Lightweight and adaptable, they’re truly have you walking on clouds, no matter the score. 

Pro-Tip: Bring a Bucket

Yes, a bucket. Why carry a bucket to a tailgate? Because you’ll need somewhere to stash all the extras, like silverware, napkins, condiments and more. Besides that, it can be used as a makeshift cooler or even chair. Check out the 5 gallon, food-safe YETI LoadOut. With sold-separately accessories like a Utility Gear Belt and a Caddy for organization, it’s endlessly adaptable. You’ll find at least a thousand ways to use it.

Text by Bo King

United By Blue doesn’t just make stylish clothes and durable canvas goods for the outdoors enthusiast. For every product sold, they also remove one pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company-organized cleanups. The brand made this promise when they started in 2010, and they wasted no time keeping it. As their website says, “We hosted our first cleanup the same week we sold our first T-shirt.” Read on for more about what makes United by Blue a brand that gives back.

A Good Ol’Road Trip — For the Good of Our Waterways

Since 2010, United By Blue and their volunteers have helped remove over 1,000,000 pounds of trash in twenty-seven states. This past summer, they decided to up those numbers even more by embarking on a cross-country cleaning voyage called The Bluemovement Road Trip. Starting on June 1, 2018, husband and wife duo Kelly Hilovsky and Jeff Butler — along with their lovable goldendoodle, Chance — set off on a road trip. Over the next two months, they helped volunteers in twenty states clear trash from their local waterways.

Bluemovement on the Move

The trip began with a cleanup in Richmond, Virginia on June 1 and ended in Bloomington, Indiana on August 6. Their stop in Birmingham, Alabama on June 12 saw volunteers removing 82 pounds of trash from Shades Creek. Throughout the sixty-plus day trip, the Bluemovement team removed 12,091 pounds of trash.

A Crisis in Our Waterways

8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, with 1.5 million of that being made up of plastic bottles. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the most famous marine trash heap, is twice the size of Texas. Our waterways need help now more than ever, and it is so inspiring to see companies like United By Blue doing so much for our environment.

United by Blue products can be found in more than four hundred outlets nationally — including Alabama Outdoors! If you’d like to join one of their hosted cleanups, check here to find one near you!

Text by Nick Adrian

Soon, the heat of the summer will finally wind down (we promise). That means that we’re quickly approaching our favorite time of the year to hike and camp. Early fall from late September and early October presents us with optimal conditions for a weekend trip in the outdoors. Here are five reasons hiking and camping in early fall really is the actual best.

Weather

Summer hiking and camping is great, but it’s not always comfortable due to the heat — and it’s been a blisteringly hot summer. Early fall introduces cooler air, less humidity and more predictable rain conditions. This means that sleeping in a tent is less stuffy and a good, lightweight sleeping bag is all you need to stay warm.

Bugs

Another benefit to the cooler weather is fewer pesky bugs. While no camping trip ever will be insect-free, cooler air means fewer mosquitoes bugging you and fewer flies and gnats swarming your site looking for food. Still, be sure to pack a DEET based mosquito deterrent to protect from pesky bites.

Hiking

Early fall presents the perfect conditions for longer hikes. The cooler air will keep you from getting as drained by the heat as you might in the summer. This means that fall is the perfect time to try that long hike you’ve been wanting to go on. Always remember to take a buddy and plan hikes that make sense for you!

Changing Landscape

While the cooler weather creates the most comfortable conditions for hiking and camping, it also creates the most beautiful. Trees reach their peak foliage colors in mid to late October. And, we promise, there is nothing quite like a great view of a forest when the leaves have changed. For a full tour of Alabama’s most beautiful foliage, check out the Fall Color Trail.

Get Outside

Last but certainly not least, taking time to relax and explore and take a break from deadlines and technology may be exactly the medicine you need. Taking a break from work in the long holiday desert between Labor Day and Thanksgiving by getting outdoors is good for the soul.

Now that we have you convinced, pack your reliable hiking backpack and set out for a weekend of self-care and enjoyment as you enjoy everything early Falls has to offer.

Text by Amy Haupt