The Hiking and Mountain Biking Trails of Shelby County

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty Level: Challenging
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Mountain Biking!

This black diamond mountain biking trail tests your skills like no other course in the Shelby County area, fit with obstacles, rocks, and big drops that will get your adrenaline pumping and your heart beating. It is generally advised that only experienced bikers try out this course, and don’t get frustrated if you need to hike-bike in order to get through some of the tougher terrain.  

• Location: Montevallo
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Hiking

This trail is a little bit different from the rest of the trails on this list, but we wanted to make sure to include it because it is one of the coolest spots in Shelby County. The Ebenezer Swamp in Montevallo is one of the most biodiverse habitats in Shelby County and the entire state of Alabama, hosting an exciting variety of plant, insect, and animal species! The boardwalk is lined with placards explaining the ecological and biological processes at play in this wetland ecosystem, accommodates wheelchair accessibility, and only spans 0.6 miles in length, making it the perfect excursion for the whole family. We recommend you make a stop at the end of your next trip to downtown Montevallo! While Ebenezer might not be what immediately comes to mind when you think of a hike, it is also a can’t-miss attraction in Shelby County that allows for you to engage with elements of nature that might be new or unfamiliar to you! The swamp is so beautiful that even the bugs want to be in on the action, so don’t forget to apply your bug spray before beginning your walk!

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Both!

If you’re looking for scenic views and unique flora and fauna, you absolutely cannot miss this 4.2-mile trail. The Foothills Yellow Trail, connected with the Cabin White Trail Loop, gives you a glimpse into all of the different types of environments and features that Oak Mountain’s trails have to offer. Want to sit lakeside? A good portion of the lake’s mileage is right along the bank of Lake Tranquility, a secluded, underrated spot in the park surrounded by lush trees and rolling hills. Want an easier hike? This trail intersects with Maggie’s Glen, one of the more beginner-friendly trails? Want more of a challenge? This trail sometimes enters steeper territories, giving hikers and bikers the opportunity to test their strength and get in an exciting workout. This trail is a great pick for a hiker/biker who wants a little bit of everything!

• Location: Montevallo
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Hiking!

One of the easier routes on this list (clocking in at just over 1 mile long and taking an average of 20 minutes to complete), we like to highlight the Green Betty Loop Trail at Shoal Creek Park because of the easy access to some of the best views in Shelby County. This trail circles the Doodah and Skull Islands Rapids, making the trail an exciting place to sit and take in the park’s beauty! Make sure to pack a lunch so you can have a rest stop at the pavilion!

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty Level: Moderate/Challenging (depending on chosen route!)
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Check the Trail Map to make sure your trail of choice allows hikers and/or bikers.

This trail is a rite of passage for nearly every Shelby County local, and there’s no reason why tourists can’t join in on the fun! Offering one of the best overlooks of the county, with multiple different trail paths to get there, the beauty and accessibility of King’s Chair make it an iconic landmark, standing out as some of the best miles of the over 150 Shelby County has of hiking trails. Because of the many ways you are able to access this iconic lookout, you can make this hike over and over again and never feel like you’ve seen it all. This spot is so breath-taking that it’s popular place for couples to get engaged at or take proposal pictures! Make sure you snap a photo when you get to the top—you’ll want to hold onto that view for a long time after you climb back down to your car.

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Both!

Double Oak Lake is one of Oak Mountain State Park’s most gorgeous areas, so why not spend the afternoon making a walk around its perimeter? The beautiful water and flat terrain make this the perfect place to explore the park with the family, or with your friends for a day at the lake (perhaps even a polar plunge in the winter time, for the most daring among us). You will not be able to resist the views of this trail.

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Both!

We at Discover Shelby love this family-friendly trail. Start from the Park’s North Trailhead and make your way along the loop throughout the Park’s Northeastern Corner. When you reach Maggie’s Glen around the trail’s midpoint, you will find the perfect place to share a snack or picnic with the family underneath the shade. While you’re at Oak Mountain, we recommend you also make a stop at the Alabama Wildlife Center, another popular site for families.

• Location: Chelsea/280
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Both!

Double Oak Park is one of the newest additions to Shelby County’s park system, and it does not disappoint! Discover Shelby recommends you start with Morning Dew, make your way up on Landslide, before coming back down the mountain on Long Hill Road, but there’s no wrong way to sink your teeth into this nearly brand-new park! Better yet, let our Double Oak playlist guide you! All of Double Oak’s trails are named after hit songs (as you might have noticed!), so get the good vibes goin’ and the good tunes playin’ by following along with all of your classic musical favorites.

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Mountain-Biking

Slingshot is a singletrack trail that combines a nice blend of flowing rides with sharp climbs/descents, making it accessible to bikers experienced and new. You’ll feel the wind blowing past you while still getting a good sweat in. Hikers can use this trail, but it is primarily known for being one of the primary arms of Oak Mountain’s biking system, so if you choose to hike, be mindful of the bikers around you!

• Location: Montevallo
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Hiking

This relaxing, brief trail across the road from Shoal Creek Park is a scenic walk through a beautiful meadow shaded by trees. If you are in the Montevallo area and need a spot to quickly stretch your legs and absorb some natural beauty, this is the place we’d take you to. The hike is everything that a “lunch break” walk could ever be: flat, shaded, short, stunning.

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Both (though you will either need to hike your bike up/down to the bottom of the falls if you choose to not leave it up at the top; either way, a little bit of hiking will be required to access the best views of the falls)

No day at Oak Mountain State Park is ever truly complete without Peavine Falls. One of the most notable landmarks of our personal favorite state park, Peavine Falls can be accessed through a large selection of channels. The easiest trail is the Blue Trail from the Peavine Trailhead at the Southernmost point in the park, while if you’re looking for something a little more challenging, the 6.2-mile White Trail is a great option! Please note that the trail, as you approach the falls, is steep and requires you to climb down some rocks, so you should wear a pair of shoes that are strong around the ankle. There is really no bad day to visit Peavine, but the best day is one soon after a rainfall, when the waterfall is at its strongest and most robust! Come out and see this natural beauty that is just one of Oak Mountain’s many wonders!

• Location: Pelham
• Difficulty Level: Easy/Moderate
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Both!

The Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) opened and maintain this trail with the intent of it connecting two of Oak Mountain’s most popular bike rides – Slingshot and Centipede. In doing so, BUMP has created a new popular favorite in and of itself which has since become a cornerstone inclusion in Oak Mountain’s mountain-biking races.

• Location: Helena
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Hiking and/or Mountain Biking: Both!

Cahaba River Park’s 3.6-mile loop around Green Pond is an easy route that also gives you the time to truly appreciate the beauty around you. With excellently-maintained picnic spots and pavilions to boot, this loop is one of the best ways to spend a day outdoors.