Located just 20 miles from campus is the beautiful Oak Mountain State Park. The park opened in 1927 and has grown from 900 acres to over 11,000 acres “making it Alabama’s largest state park,” according to the park’s website.
The park boasts over 50 miles of trails ranging from beginner-friendly loops to the infamous “Red Trail” that “has even been included on the International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA) list of EPIC rides.”
For those looking for a more relaxing way to spend their day at the park, Oak Mountain is also home to two lakeside beaches. The most popular beach sits on the edge of Double Oak Lake with several amenities including restrooms and a concession stand.
Recently, the park added the “Aquapark at Flipside” on Beaver Lake. The park features an inflatable obstacle course with “two slides, a tower, a tunnel, a moon jump, a small pyramid, and a wave section.” But, Flipside is constantly updating and changing the course for returning visitors. Ticketing information and operating hours specifically for the Aquapark can be found here. Flipside also offers boat rentals and a water skiing course at the park.
All lakes are also open year-round for fishing. Largemouth bass, bream, catfish and crappie can all be caught inside the park. Since Alabama state law requires all fishers to have a fishing license, they are conveniently available for purchase at the Park Headquarters and on the park website.
Geocaching is another popular activity for those at Oak Mountian State Pake. Geocaching involves using a GPS as well as a series of clues to find hidden objects. It is known as “the world’s largest scavenger hunt” and gained a lot of popularity during the pandemic.
There are currently over 100 registered caches in the park and anyone is invited to add their own- as long as they fill out the proper permit.
The park is currently open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and costs $5 for entry per person. For more information on ticketing and events, visit the Oak Mountain State Park website.
Vallo Vision News 