Grab your tennis shoes (or your hiking boots!) and your keys because the Alabama Tourism Department officially revealed Alabama’s 25 Must-Tread Trails for 2025 at their launch of the Year of Alabama Trails campaign at Vulcan Park. (Good news: Several of the 21 state parks are located just around the corner, including Oak Mountain State Park, Red Mountain Park, Red Rock Trails System, and more!)
“For more than 20 years, our ‘Year Of’ campaigns have introduced visitors to the people, places and experiences that make Alabama unique,” explains Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell. “Trails offer one of the most immersive ways to explore our state—whether from the seat of a bike, the path beneath your boots or the pull of a paddle. This year, we’re inviting everyone to get outside and experience Alabama’s natural beauty in a way only our trails can provide.”
The Bureau of Economic Analysis’s 2023 data shows that outdoor recreation accounts for $6.6 billion in revenue each year for the state of Alabama’s economy, enabling over 65,000 jobs and contributing 2% of the state’s GDP. The importance of outdoor recreation pertaining to Alabama’s economic success and workforce retention is further validated by Hoover Institution’s Innovative Alabama 2021 report. In 2024, Alabama’s tourism industry set a new record with almost 29 million visitors, which generated $24.2 billion in traveler spending.
Whether you hike, bike, or paddle in the water, there are dozens of trails across Alabama that you don’t want to miss out on. There are trails all the way from the Appalachian mountains to the Gulf Coast—250 miles of adventures to be had. Fun fact: Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the country!
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Alabama Trails Foundation, Freshwater Land Trust, Innovate Alabama, and Rails to Trails Conservancy have all partnered with Alabama Tourism to encourage tourism and conservation. “With more than 250 miles of trails available at our State Parks and the unique experiences offered by the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust, including hiking the stunning Walls of Jericho, the thrill of mountain biking Coldwater Mountain, and the tranquil day trips and overnight opportunities on the Bartram and Perdido canoe trails in south Alabama, we are proud to offer exceptional hiking, biking and paddling opportunities to all Alabamians,” shares Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “I encourage everyone to explore the wide variety of trails and adventures available throughout the state this year.”
Check out these local events to get you moving:
- Innovate Alabama Outdoor Recreation Summit (Lake Guntersville State Park, April 21–22, 2025) – A discussion on how outdoor recreation contributes to the statewide economic growth and workforce retention.
- Tour of Alabama Trails (April 23–26, 2025) – A multi-day and nearly 300 miles cycling tour led by Rails to Trails Conservancy two trail systems (the Silver Comet-Chief Ladiga and Singing River Trail), starting in Cedartown, GA and finishing in Birmingham.
- Celebrate Trails Day (April 26, 2025) – The Birmingham event begins at the Market at Pepper Place, followed by a guided bike ride through Railroad Park Rail Trail, Rotary Trail, City Walk and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Participants will enjoy lunch at Sloss Furnaces, an 8-mile bike ride on Five Mile Creek Greenway and an evening reception at Jemison Park Nature Trail.
Be sure to visit alabama.travel/experience-alabama/outdoor/year-of-trails to keep up with any additional Year of Trails events or activations throughout the year.