List of Alabama state parks

Last updated

USA Alabama location map.svg
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Bladon Springs
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Blue Springs
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Buck's Pocket
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Cathedral Caverns
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Cheaha
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Chewacla
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Chickasaw
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DeSoto
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Frank Jackson
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Gulf
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Blakeley
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Joe Wheeler
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Lake Guntersville
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Lake Lureen
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Lakepoint
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Meaher
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Monte Sano
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Oak Mountain
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Paul Grist
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Rickwood Caverns
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Roland Cooper
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Tannehill Ironworks
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Wind Creek
Alabama state parks

This list of Alabama state parks covers state parks in the Alabama park system. As of 2023, there were 21 official Alabama state parks run in part or exclusively by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources [1] and three historic state parks run by other authorities.

Contents

Current parks

State parks under direct state management
NameCountySizeEstab-
lished
River / lakeImageRemarks
acresha
Blue Springs State Park Barbour 103421963Blue Springs
Blue Springs State Park Alabama 1.jpg
Near Clio; swimming in natural spring, camping, picnicking
Buck's Pocket State Park DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall 2,0008101971Lake Guntersville
Buck's Pocket (6098836044).jpg
Near Grove Oak; scenic vistas, camping, hiking and equestrian trails
Cathedral Caverns State Park Marshall 4611871987---
Cathedral Caverns in Grant, Alabama.jpg
Located in Grant; cave tours, tent camping
Cheaha State Park Clay, Cleburne 2,7991,1331933Cheaha Lake
Alabama4.jpg
State's highest point; scenic views, hiking, camping
Chewacla State Park Lee 6962821939Lake Chewacla
Chewacla Falls.JPG
Located in Auburn; fishing, swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking, camping, cabins
DeSoto State Park Cherokee, DeKalb 3,5021,4171939 Little River
Desoto Falls (AL).jpg
Located on Lookout Mountain; camping, lodging, picnicking, hiking and biking trails
Frank Jackson State Park Covington 2,0508301970Lake Frank JacksonBoating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, camping
Gulf State Park Baldwin 6,1502,4901939 Gulf of Mexico, Lake Shelby
Morning at Gulf State Park.jpg
Fresh and saltwater fishing and swimming, 18-hole golf course, camping
Joe Wheeler State Park Lauderdale, Lawrence 2,5501,0301949 Wheeler Lake
Joe Wheeler State Park Resort, northern Alabama USA (4892663260).jpg
Near Rogersville; lodge, campground, marina, hiking and biking trail, 18-hole golf course
Lake Guntersville State Park Marshall 6,0002,4001947 Guntersville Lake
Lake Guntersville State Park, Alabama (3859207429).jpg
Resort complex, cottages, campground, 18-hole golf course, hiking, fishing
Lake Lurleen State Park Tuscaloosa 1,6756781952Lake Lurleen
Lake Lurleen State Park.jpg
Boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking
Lakepoint Resort State Park Barbour 1,2204901968 Lake Eufala Convention center, 18-hole golf course, lodge, campground, cabins, cottages, marina, hiking, picnicking
Meaher State Park Baldwin 1,3275371989 Mobile Bay
Meaher State Park-4.jpg
Nature trails with wetlands boardwalk through the wetlands, boat ramp, fishing pier, picnicking, camping
Monte Sano State Park Madison 2,1408701938---
Monte Sano State Park Overlook - Springtime - panoramio.jpg
Wernher von Braun Planetarium; picnicking, hiking, cabins, campground
Oak Mountain State Park Shelby 9,9404,0201927Double Oak Lake
Entrance03 tj.jpg
Alabama Wildlife Center; golf, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, hunting
Rickwood Caverns State Park Blount 3801501974---
Warrior Caves.jpg
Cave tours, swimming, picnicking, hiking, camping
Wind Creek State Park Tallapoosa 1,445585unknown Lake Martin Camping, swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, biking
State parks under shared management
NameCountySizeEstab-
lished
ManagementRiver / lakeImageRemarks
acresha
Bladon Springs State Park Choctaw 3571441939Choctaw County---
Spring pavilion at Bladon Springs State Park 1.jpg
Historic spa grounds with mineral springs
Chickasaw State Park Marengo 5202101935Marengo County---Near David K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area
Paul M. Grist State Park Dallas 1,0804401930sDallas CountyPaul Grist LakeSwimming, fishing, boating, camping
Roland Cooper State Park Wilcox 236961969Private contractor Dannelly Reservoir Closed in 2015; reopened 2016

Historic state parks

NameCountySizeEstab-
lished
ManagementRiver / lakeImageRemarks
acresha
Historic Blakeley State Park Baldwin 1,4005701981Historic Blakeley Authority Tensaw River
Blakley road2 web.jpg
Camping, picnicking, hiking trails
Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park Bibb 4861971976Alabama Historic Ironworks CommissionLittle Cahaba River
Brierfield Furnace.jpg
Industrial ruins, historic buildings, trails, campsites
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Tuscaloosa 2,0638351969Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission---
Tannehill Furnace 2007.jpg
Preserved industrial sites, Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama, crafts cabins, hiking trails

Former state parks

NameCountySizeEstab-
lished
ManagementRiver / lakeImageRemarks
acresha
Chattahoochee State Park Houston 5962411930s---Irwin's Mill CreekClosed permanently after destruction by Hurricane Michael in 2018
Florala City Park Covington 40161909City of Florala Lake Jackson
Florala State Park - Lake Jackson.JPG
Reverted to local ownership in 2015

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Caverns State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

Cathedral Caverns State Park is a public recreation area and natural history preserve located in Kennamer Cove, Alabama, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Grant and 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Woodville in Marshall County. The park, first known as Bats Cave, was developed as a tourist attraction in the 1950s. Cathedral Caverns was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972 and opened as a state park in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Guntersville State Park</span> State park in Marshall County, Alabama, United States

Lake Guntersville State Park is a public recreation area located on the far north side of the city of Guntersville in Marshall County, Alabama. The state park occupies 5,909 acres (2,391 ha) on the eastern shore of Guntersville Lake, a 69,000-acre (28,000 ha) impoundment of the Tennessee River. The park features resort facilities and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Wheeler State Park</span> State park in Lauderdale and Lawrence counties, Alabama, United States

Joe Wheeler State Park is a public recreation area with resort features located on Wheeler Lake, an impoundment of the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama. The state park contains 2,550 acres (1,030 ha) of land in three separate parcels and adjoins the Tennessee Valley Authority's Wheeler Dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buck's Pocket State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

Buck's Pocket State Park is public recreation area located on Sand Mountain in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Alabama, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the community of Grove Oak. The state park occupies 2,000 acres (810 ha) surrounding a natural pocket (canyon) of the Appalachian Mountain chain along South Sauty Creek, an upstream tributary on the east side of Guntersville Lake. The park is known for the sweeping views of its rugged, seemingly untouched landscape provided from the heights of Point Rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Mountain State Park</span> State park in Shelby County, Alabama

Oak Mountain State Park is a public recreation area located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Birmingham in the northeast quadrant of the city of Pelham, Alabama, United States. It is the state's largest state park at 9,940 acres (4,020 ha) and is home to the Alabama Wildlife Center, Oak Mountain Interpretive Center, and Oak Mountain BMX Track. Park activities include hiking, running, mountain biking, swimming, camping, fishing, horseback riding, and golf. The park is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Springs State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

Blue Springs State Park is a public recreation area located 7 mi (11 km) east of Clio in Blue Springs, Barbour County, Alabama. The 103-acre (42 ha) state park features a clear blue, natural underground spring that pumps 3,600 US gal (14,000 L) of water per minute into two concrete-ringed swimming pools. The park's recreational area was expanded in 2013 when the Forever Wild Land Trust purchased 100 acres (40 ha) adjoining acres for the purpose of providing hiking trails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hickory Run State Park</span> State park in Pennsylvania, United States

Hickory Run State Park is a 15,990-acre (6,471 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Kidder and Penn Forest Townships in Carbon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is spread across the Pocono Mountains. The park is easily accessible from Interstate 476 and Interstate 80.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake of the Ozarks State Park</span> State park in Missouri, United States

Lake of the Ozarks State Park is a Missouri state park on the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks and is the largest state park in the state. This is also the most popular state park in Missouri, with over 2.5 million visitations in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeSoto State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

DeSoto State Park is a public recreation area located on Lookout Mountain 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Fort Payne, Alabama. The state park covers 3,502 acres (1,417 ha) of forest, rivers, waterfalls, and mountain terrain. It borders the Little River, which flows into the nearby Little River Canyon National Preserve. The 104-foot-tall (32 m) DeSoto Falls, the state's highest waterfall, is found in a separate part of the park 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the main park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheaha State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

Cheaha State Park is a public recreation area located in Clay and Cleburne counties in Alabama, US. The park's 2,799 acres (1,133 ha) include Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the state. The park adjoins Talladega National Forest and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It is Alabama's oldest continuously operating state park. Facilities include lodgings, a restaurant, campsites, and hiking trails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chewacla State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

Chewacla State Park is a public recreation area in Auburn, Alabama, occupying 696 acres (282 ha) to the south of Interstate 85. The state park's central feature, 26-acre (11 ha) Lake Chewacla, provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, and non-motorized boating.

Frank Jackson State Park is a public recreation area that wraps around Lake Frank Jackson and forms the northwesternmost portion of the city of Opp, Alabama. The 2,050-acre (830 ha) state park offers facilities for fishing, boating, hiking, and camping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

Gulf State Park is a public recreation area on the Gulf of Mexico in the city of Gulf Shores in southern Baldwin County, Alabama. The state park's 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) mostly encompass the land behind the Gulf Shores beach community, between Highway 59 and SH 161, with the west end extending further south to a wide beach area. In addition to beaches, the park includes marshland, boggy tea-colored streams, pine forests, and three spring-fed, fresh-water lakes: Lake Shelby, Middle Lake, and Little Lake. The park is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, with park enforcement rangers providing around-the-clock security and enforcing anti-littering regulations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Lurleen State Park</span> State park in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, United States

Lake Lurleen State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located on U.S. Highway 82 approximately 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Northport in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The state park's 1,625 acres (658 ha) include 250-acre (100 ha) Lake Lurleen and a 23-mile (37 km) trail system. It is operated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakepoint State Park</span> State park in Barbour County, Alabama, United States

Lakepoint State Park is a public recreation area located on the far north side of the city of Eufaula. The state park encompasses 1,220 acres (490 ha) on the western shore of Lake Eufala, a 45,000-acre (18,000 ha) impoundment of the Chattahoochee River. The park adjoins Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Paul M. Grist State Park is a public recreation area located 17 miles (27 km) north of Selma operated by the government of Dallas County, Alabama. The park offers water activities on a 100-acre (40 ha) lake as well as facilities for camping and picnicking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickwood Caverns State Park</span> State park in Blount County, Alabama, United States

Rickwood Caverns State Park is a public recreation area and natural history preserve located 7 miles (11 km) north of Warrior, Alabama. The 380-acre (150 ha) state park offers tours of caverns with illuminated limestone formations estimated to be 260 million years old, blind cave fish, and an underground pool.

Wind Creek State Park is a public recreation area located 7 miles (11 km) south of Alexander City, Alabama, on the western side of Lake Martin, a 41,000-acre (17,000 ha) reservoir on the Tallapoosa River. The state park occupies 1,445 acres (585 ha) and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is the state agency responsible for the conservation and management of Alabama's natural resources including state parks, state lands, wildlife and aquatic resources. ADCNR also issues hunting and fishing licenses for the state. The department promotes wise stewardship and enjoyment of the state's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Supporting those divisions are seven support sections: Accounting, Diversity and Recruiting, Engineering, Information and Education, Information Technology, Legal, and Personnel and Payroll.

References

  1. "Alabama State Parks". Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 3, 2023.