HomeAlabamaCullman › Sportsman Lake Park

Sportsman Lake Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,914 Google reviews · Running trail in Cullman, Alabama · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Sportsman Lake Park'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.

PavedLoopLit at nightScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parking

Park offering a fishing lake & playground along with a mini-train, putt-putt golf & paddle boats.

What runners say about Sportsman Lake Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,914 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 8 mentions

“Did notice some people didnt clean up after their pets such a shame people are so lazy.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Sportsman Lake Park is and always has been, a beautiful little spot in Cullman to walk, camp, have a picnic, or enjoy some fishing.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“Family friendly activities perfect for a local day out”

Sportsman Lake is like a temporary get away. It has ducks and geese that you can feed. Feeders are located near by so bring your quarters. A nice big play ground to play on if you have little ones. My favorite thing is the paved track there is for walking.

★★★★★ — Andrea , Apr 2021

Great walking trail a lot of it shaded. Pup friendly! Did notice some people didnt clean up after their pets such a shame people are so lazy. Concession open reasonable food prices. Splash pad, bike rentals, kayak rental,paddle boat etc.

★★★★★ — Ella , May 2022

Sportsman Lake Park is and always has been, a beautiful little spot in Cullman to walk, camp, have a picnic, or enjoy some fishing. It’s free to enter and fishing permits are only $2. There is ample parking and a large children’s play park and splash pad.

★★★★★ — Elizabeth , Apr 2019

March 1, 2026 Sportsman Lake Park and neighborhood Loop. ~06:50, Abby and I arrived at the parking lot of the Sportsman Lake Park. It was a cool high 40°s_F, with the forecast to warm 70s_F later today. We set out for a brisk ~4+ mile CW-Loop of Sportsman Lake Park Walking Trail and the neighborhood.

★★★★★ — 01Kk , Mar 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,914 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 4 mentions

“Sportsman Lake Park is and always has been, a beautiful little spot in Cullman to walk, camp, have a picnic, or enjoy some fishing.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“There’s a little train that goes around the lake, a paved path, and restroom/bathhouses along the way.”

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💡 Lit for night running 3 mentions

“Many pavilions for rental that have lights and power.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“~06:50, Abby and I arrived at the parking lot of the Sportsman Lake Park.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Bring your leashed dog but pick up after it.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“There’s a little train that goes around the lake, a paved path, and restroom/bathhouses along the way.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“March 1, 2026 Sportsman Lake Park and neighborhood Loop.”

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Plan your run at Sportsman Lake Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitecullmancountyparks.com
  • Phone(256) 734-3052
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 9 AM–5 PM
Tuesday 9 AM–5 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–5 PM
Thursday 9 AM–5 PM
Friday 9 AM–5 PM
Saturday 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday 9 AM–5 PM

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 Sportsman Lake Park

1544 Sportsman Lake Rd NW, Cullman, AL 35055

Get directions

Running trails near Cullman

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

Culpepper Park

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under a mile away

Nesmith Park

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The Forty Acre Wood

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Heritage Park Cullman

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Sports complex & park with athletic fields, beach volleyball, a walking trail, a dog park & more.

2.7 miles away

Larkwood Falls

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PavedScenic

Side-of-the-road waterfall, part of a lake that supplies drinking water for the community.

2.9 miles away

Hurricane Creek Park

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PavedScenicDog-friendly

70-acre forested park housing unique rock formations, waterfalls, hiking trails & a picnic pavilion.

6.8 miles away

All running trails in Cullman, 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.