HomeAlabamaHoover › Moss Rock Preserve Simmons Trailhead

Moss Rock Preserve Simmons Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 43 Google reviews · Running trail in Hoover, Alabama · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Moss Rock Preserve Simmons Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedOpen 24hScenicTrailhead parking

What runners say about Moss Rock Preserve Simmons Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (43 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Awesome trails , very scenic , safe but easy to get lost 😞”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Not paved or surfaced in any way, easy walk or hike with more challenging areas available.”

Some of the largest rocks I’ve seen, each covered with a variety of mosses and lichens. Not paved or surfaced in any way, easy walk or hike with more challenging areas available. Definitely lives up to its name.

★★★★★ — Rachel , Aug 2023

The purpose was to take the red trail to a hidden waterfall and back. It followed a creek and had a beautiful scenery.

★★★★★ — Brian , Aug 2023

Took the orange trail to High Falls. The trail is simple and easy to follow, but not stroller or mobility restricted friendly for people with limitations on climbing up and down large rocks and narrow pathways. It was a quick 2.23 miles to the falls and back from the Simmons middle school trail head.

★★★★☆ — Eric , Mar 2025

We live close to the Moss Rock Preserve. It's a natural wonder of plants that live only here, sand stone glads, streams, and water falls. The hiking trails are clean, marked, and we'll maintained. It's a great place to bring the family. It's safe. People are friendly and there is food at the Preserve business district.

★★★★★ — Jim , Apr 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 43 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 12 mentions

“Lots of little waterfalls, good elevation gains, and a rather clear trail.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“I prefer this trailhead the most because it has far less traffic than the other trailheads.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Not paved or surfaced in any way, easy walk or hike with more challenging areas available.”

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Plan your run at Moss Rock Preserve Simmons Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Moss Rock Preserve Simmons Trailhead

Hoover, Alabama

Get directions

Running trails near Hoover

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Moss Rock Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,914 reviews

Hoover, AL

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Hiking trails run through this wooded, 349-acre nature preserve with streams & climbable boulders.

under a mile away

Moss Rock Waterfalls

4.7 ★★★★★ 48 reviews

Birmingham, AL

Scenic

Park featuring a cascading waterfall hiking trails and rock formations along a creek.

under a mile away

Moss Rock Preserve Sulphur Springs Rd Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 78 reviews

Hoover, AL

ScenicDog-friendly

Hiking area featuring a kid-friendly trail with a waterfall, blazes, and Turtle Rock.

1.4 miles away

Cahaba Greenway Trailhead at Riverchase

4.7 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Hoover, AL

2 miLoopMixed

2.0 miles away

Ross Bridge Historical Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 173 reviews

Hoover, AL

PavedScenic

Tranquil local park featuring a charming playground, dense woods & a Civil War–era bridge.

2.1 miles away

Georgetown Lake Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 426 reviews

Hoover, AL

BoardwalkLitScenic

Lake- and pond-centered park with a playground and gazebo.

2.4 miles away

All running trails in Hoover, AL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.