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Running trails in Alabama
446 trails across 100 cities in Alabama, with the most in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery — including 73 paved, 51 loops, 93 shaded, and 24 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Alabama trails below.
Cities in Alabama
Every city and town in Alabama with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Birmingham
- Huntsville
- Montgomery
- Tuscaloosa
- Madison
- Mobile
- Florence
- Fort Payne
- Fairhope
- Hoover
- Alabaster
- Anniston
- Cullman
- Decatur
- Gadsden
- Phenix City
- Prattville
- Auburn
- Daphne
- Gulf Shores
- Opelika
- Dothan
- Jacksonville
- Millbrook
- Sylacauga
- Eufaula
- Helena
- Orange Beach
- Vestavia Hills
- Athens
- Foley
- Muscle Shoals
- Pelham
- Albertville
- Alexander City
- Enterprise
- Hartselle
- Irondale
- Oxford
- Pinson
- Scottsboro
- Calera
- Dadeville
- Jasper
- Northport
- Troy
- Woodville
- Elkmont
- Gardendale
- McCalla
- Montevallo
- Moody
- Mountain Brook
- Ozark
- Saraland
- Spanish Fort
- Talladega
- Trussville
- Tuscumbia
- Bessemer
- Boaz
- Bremen
- Brent
- Center Point
- Chelsea
- Chickasaw
- Coker
- Cropwell
- Danville
- Double Springs
- Fackler
- Falkville
- Fultondale
- Grant
- Grove Oak
- Guntersville
- Harvest
- Heflin
- Homewood
- Hueytown
- Jackson's Gap
- Leeds
- Meadowbrook
- Midfield
- Mt Hope
- Mt Olive
- Natural Bridge
- Owens Cross Roads
- Pleasant Grove
- Rainbow City
- Rogersville
- Russellville
- Section
- Selma
- Sheffield
- Sterrett
- Tanner
- Valley Grande
- Westover
- Wetumpka
Notable running trails in Alabama
The Alabama trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Alabama ranking →
Oak Mountain State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,432 reviews
Home to a petting zoo, golfing & beaches, this vast park has camping, hiking trails & fishing.
Big Spring International Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,212 reviews
Landscaped city park anchored by a large manmade pond with ducks, koi fish & paved walkways.
Railroad Park Foundation
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,230 reviews
Acres of downtown green space for family activities, jogging & concerts, with a skate park & cafe.
Cathedral Caverns State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,707 reviews
Tours offer a view of a huge stalagmite column, "mystery river" & other formations in a state park.
Monte Sano State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,510 reviews
Expansive mountaintop green space featuring trails, rustic stone cabins & scenic views.
Talladega National Forest
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,483 reviews
Leafy destination with trails for hiking, mountain biking & all-terrain vehicles, plus camping.
Lake Guntersville State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,351 reviews
Swimming, boating & golf are offered at this lakeside state park overlooking natural woodlands.
DeSoto State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,827 reviews
Mountaintop 3,502-acre state park with waterfalls, a nature center, pool & 25 mi. of trails.
Medal of Honor Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,730 reviews
Facilities for football, soccer, softball, baseball & tennis along with walking path & picnic areas.
Little River Canyon National Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,466 reviews
Forested nature preserve around Little River which runs along the top of Lookout Mountain.
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,349 reviews
35,000-acre area offers habitat for endangered wildlife, nature trails, a visitor center & fishing.
Little River Canyon Falls Park
4.9 ★★★★★ 2,078 reviews
Scenic park featuring trails along a river, plus picnic tables and a waterfall.
Joe Wheeler State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,152 reviews
Lakeside park offers a restaurant, cottages & plenty of space for gatherings & getaways.
Chewacla State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,102 reviews
Vast, leafy park featuring sprawling lake, bike trails, campgrounds & cabins is a draw for families.
Moss Rock Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,914 reviews
Hiking trails run through this wooded, 349-acre nature preserve with streams & climbable boulders.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,919 reviews
Acres of parkland for outdoor sports plus an iron & steel museum with artifacts & demonstrations.
Sportsman Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,914 reviews
Park offering a fishing lake & playground along with a mini-train, putt-putt golf & paddle boats.
Red Mountain Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,787 reviews
1,500-acre park with 15 miles of scenic trails, historic mines, zip lines, tree house & a dog park.
Langan Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,856 reviews
Large green space with tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas & a city golf course.
Tuscumbia Spring Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,687 reviews
A large manmade waterfall presents light shows at this city park with jet fountains in a pond.
Wind Creek State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,691 reviews
Leafy Lake Martin acreage with campgrounds, cabins & hiking trails popular with families & groups.
Riverfront Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,656 reviews
Riverboat rides, concerts, baseball & boating are among the attractions at this riverside compound.
Veterans Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,578 reviews
Lakeside green space with a 3-mile running trail, playgrounds, volleyball courts & a war memorial.
Dublin Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,560 reviews
60-acre park with sports facilities, trails, a disc golf course & indoor & outdoor swimming pools.
Meaher State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,511 reviews
Tranquil nature area offering camping & picnicking space, a fishing pier & waterfront boardwalk.
Avondale Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,528 reviews
This 37-acre tree-filled park features a lake, an amphitheater, baseball diamonds & more.
Madison County Nature Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,429 reviews
72-acre park atop Green Mountain offering recreation on Sky Lake & a 1.5-mile walking trail.
Tuscaloosa River Walk
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,364 reviews
Concrete, paved walkway stretching several miles along the Black Warrior River.
Natural Bridge Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,330 reviews
Serene park featuring an easy-to-access sandstone formation and an Indian rock face, plus trails through the woods for hiking.
Ruffner Mountain
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,306 reviews
1,038-acre preserve with hiking trails, old mining sites, a modern nature center & rustic pavilion.
No trails match those filters.
Alabama trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in Alabama
- Best running trails in Alabama — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 51 in Alabama come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 24 in Alabama are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 93 in Alabama keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 60 in Alabama have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 225 in Alabama, and 53 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 180 in Alabama have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 141 in Alabama you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 107 in Alabama are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 266 in Alabama runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in Alabama
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Restrooms
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Shaded Running Trails
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Trails with Mile Markers
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)