Alabama is home to more than 20 state parks. Even though some of these parks are well known throughout the state, others aren’t. Listed below are nine of Alabama’s most beautiful state parks that we believe are underrated and should receive more attention! Take a look, and plan a visit!

  1. Blue Springs State Park - Clio

Blue Springs State Park-Alabama/Facebook Blue Springs State Park is one of Alabama’s best summertime hangout spots. The park’s main attractions are its two spring-fed pools. Read more about this beautiful park in this article! Blue Springs State Park, 2595 AL-10, Clio, AL 36017, USA

  1. Chewacla State Park - Auburn

DeWitt65101/TripAdvisor Covering nearly 700 acres, Chewacla State Park offers plenty of rest, relaxation, and a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, camping, swimming, and mountain biking. The park’s main feature is its stunning waterfall. Click here to learn more! 124 Shell Toomer Pkwy, Auburn, AL 36830, USA

  1. Frank Jackson State Park - Opp

Keith Coleman/Google Local Frank Jackson State Park, which covers 2,050 acres, is home to the 1,000-acre Lake Jackson. Even though camping and hiking are both offered at this state park, its main activity is fishing. Frank Jackson State Park is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for peace and quiet. Check out this article to learn more. 100 Jerry Adams Dr, Opp, AL 36467, USA

  1. Meaher State Park - Spanish Fort

Dee E/TripAdvisor Meaher State Park covers 1,327 acres and is located in the wetlands of Mobile Bay. Offering activities such as fishing, picnicking, and hiking, Meaher State Park is the perfect destination for a day trip. It’s got some of the best camping, too! 5200 Battleship Pkwy, Spanish Fort, AL 36527, USA

  1. Rickwood Caverns State Park - Warrior

Marshal White/Google Local Rickwood Caverns State Park offers camping, swimming, and gem mining. What makes this incredible state park stand out among the rest is its massive cave that contains 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water. Rickwood Caverns State Park offers a guided tour of this historic cave. Read this article for more information about this geological wonder. 370 Rickwood Park Rd, Warrior, AL 35180, USA

  1. Wind Creek State Park - Alexander City

Iris Galdamez Galdamez/Google Local Wind Creek State Park is home to one of the largest state-owned campgrounds in the United States. It’s also the public’s only access to Alabama’s beautiful Lake Martin. This park is also home to some truly great camping. 4325 AL-128, Alexander City, AL 35010, USA

  1. Lake Lurleen State Park - Coker

karen6111/TripAdvisor Lake Lurleen State Park is located just outside of Tuscaloosa and Northport. Covering 1,625 acres, this state park offers a modern campground, a beach, fishing piers, 23 miles of multi-use trails, and so much more. Read more about Lake Lurleen State Park in this article. 13226 Lake Lurleen Rd, Coker, AL 35452, USA

  1. Lakepoint Resort State Park - Eufaula

David Vasas/Google Local Located on the banks of Lake Eufaula, Lakepoint Resort State Park offers a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, boating, and more. It’s a must-visit for anyone who loves the outdoors. Get all the details in this article! 104 Old Hwy 165, Eufaula, AL 36027, USA

  1. Paul M. Grist State Park - Selma

Paul M. Grist State Park-Alabama/Facebook From hiking and camping, to swimming and fishing, this state park offers a variety of activities. It’s a true outdoorsman’s paradise! Learn more in this article. 1546 Grist Rd, Selma, AL 36701, USA

Have you been to any of these state parks? If so, please share your experience(s) with us.

Blue Springs State Park-Alabama/Facebook

Blue Springs State Park is one of Alabama’s best summertime hangout spots. The park’s main attractions are its two spring-fed pools. Read more about this beautiful park in this article!

Blue Springs State Park, 2595 AL-10, Clio, AL 36017, USA

DeWitt65101/TripAdvisor

Covering nearly 700 acres, Chewacla State Park offers plenty of rest, relaxation, and a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, camping, swimming, and mountain biking. The park’s main feature is its stunning waterfall. Click here to learn more!

124 Shell Toomer Pkwy, Auburn, AL 36830, USA

Keith Coleman/Google Local

Frank Jackson State Park, which covers 2,050 acres, is home to the 1,000-acre Lake Jackson. Even though camping and hiking are both offered at this state park, its main activity is fishing. Frank Jackson State Park is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for peace and quiet. Check out this article to learn more.

100 Jerry Adams Dr, Opp, AL 36467, USA

Dee E/TripAdvisor

Meaher State Park covers 1,327 acres and is located in the wetlands of Mobile Bay. Offering activities such as fishing, picnicking, and hiking, Meaher State Park is the perfect destination for a day trip. It’s got some of the best camping, too!

5200 Battleship Pkwy, Spanish Fort, AL 36527, USA

Marshal White/Google Local

Rickwood Caverns State Park offers camping, swimming, and gem mining. What makes this incredible state park stand out among the rest is its massive cave that contains 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water. Rickwood Caverns State Park offers a guided tour of this historic cave. Read this article for more information about this geological wonder.

370 Rickwood Park Rd, Warrior, AL 35180, USA

Iris Galdamez Galdamez/Google Local

Wind Creek State Park is home to one of the largest state-owned campgrounds in the United States. It’s also the public’s only access to Alabama’s beautiful Lake Martin. This park is also home to some truly great camping.

4325 AL-128, Alexander City, AL 35010, USA

karen6111/TripAdvisor

Lake Lurleen State Park is located just outside of Tuscaloosa and Northport. Covering 1,625 acres, this state park offers a modern campground, a beach, fishing piers, 23 miles of multi-use trails, and so much more. Read more about Lake Lurleen State Park in this article.

13226 Lake Lurleen Rd, Coker, AL 35452, USA

David Vasas/Google Local

Located on the banks of Lake Eufaula, Lakepoint Resort State Park offers a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, boating, and more. It’s a must-visit for anyone who loves the outdoors. Get all the details in this article!

104 Old Hwy 165, Eufaula, AL 36027, USA

Paul M. Grist State Park-Alabama/Facebook

From hiking and camping, to swimming and fishing, this state park offers a variety of activities. It’s a true outdoorsman’s paradise! Learn more in this article.

1546 Grist Rd, Selma, AL 36701, USA

Love camping? If yes, don’t forget to add this state park to your summer bucket list. It features the most incredible views!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

State Parks to Visit in Alabama January 24, 2022 Tori Jane What are the best state parks in Alabama?  Alabama is a wonderful state for those who consider themselves to be outdoorsy; there is so much to do, see, and experience that it might be kind of hard to decide where to begin. Allow us to make a suggestion: what about our amazing state parks? There are 21 wonderful state parks in our beautiful state, and each is wonderfully magical in its own way. Though saying which ones are the “best” is definitely a matter of opinion, there are some that are more popular than the others, and that’s the metric we’ll use to answer this question. The most popular state parks – aka the best state parks in Alabama – are Oak Mountain State Park, Gulf State Park, and Cheaha State Park. Oak Mountain State Park is the single most popular state park in all of Alabama, and it’s easy to see why: it’s incredible! Even folks who aren’t all that “outdoorsy” will find something to appreciate at Oak Mountain. Cheaha State Park is 2,799 acres of natural wonder, including Alabama’s highest point up on Cheaha Mountain. Gulf State Park is just one of those places you’ve got to see to believe! Need something a little less popular and more off the beaten path? Check out this list of ten of Alabama’s most underappreciated state parks!   What are the most popular hiking trails in Alabama?  Alabama is wonderful for hikers, too! According to our friends at AllTrails.com, there are more than 870 awesome trails throughout our wonderful state to enjoy. They vary in difficulty from quite hard to very easy, and there’s something perfect for every hiker here. The most popular trail in the state is quite challenging but well worth the endeavor; it’s in Estillfork, and it’s known as the 6.4-mile Walls of Jericho Trail. That one is popular for good reason, and ought to be experienced to be believed. Then, there’s the wonderful Cave Creek Trail, within Talladega National Forest, and Sougahoagdee Falls within the William B. Bankhead National Forest is another must-do. Of course, there are so many more than just those three – get out and explore!  

The OIYS Visitor Center

State Parks to Visit in Alabama

January 24, 2022

Tori Jane

What are the best state parks in Alabama?  Alabama is a wonderful state for those who consider themselves to be outdoorsy; there is so much to do, see, and experience that it might be kind of hard to decide where to begin. Allow us to make a suggestion: what about our amazing state parks? There are 21 wonderful state parks in our beautiful state, and each is wonderfully magical in its own way. Though saying which ones are the “best” is definitely a matter of opinion, there are some that are more popular than the others, and that’s the metric we’ll use to answer this question. The most popular state parks – aka the best state parks in Alabama – are Oak Mountain State Park, Gulf State Park, and Cheaha State Park. Oak Mountain State Park is the single most popular state park in all of Alabama, and it’s easy to see why: it’s incredible! Even folks who aren’t all that “outdoorsy” will find something to appreciate at Oak Mountain. Cheaha State Park is 2,799 acres of natural wonder, including Alabama’s highest point up on Cheaha Mountain. Gulf State Park is just one of those places you’ve got to see to believe! Need something a little less popular and more off the beaten path? Check out this list of ten of Alabama’s most underappreciated state parks!   What are the most popular hiking trails in Alabama?  Alabama is wonderful for hikers, too! According to our friends at AllTrails.com, there are more than 870 awesome trails throughout our wonderful state to enjoy. They vary in difficulty from quite hard to very easy, and there’s something perfect for every hiker here. The most popular trail in the state is quite challenging but well worth the endeavor; it’s in Estillfork, and it’s known as the 6.4-mile Walls of Jericho Trail. That one is popular for good reason, and ought to be experienced to be believed. Then, there’s the wonderful Cave Creek Trail, within Talladega National Forest, and Sougahoagdee Falls within the William B. Bankhead National Forest is another must-do. Of course, there are so many more than just those three – get out and explore!  

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Alabama is a wonderful state for those who consider themselves to be outdoorsy; there is so much to do, see, and experience that it might be kind of hard to decide where to begin. Allow us to make a suggestion: what about our amazing state parks? There are 21 wonderful state parks in our beautiful state, and each is wonderfully magical in its own way. Though saying which ones are the “best” is definitely a matter of opinion, there are some that are more popular than the others, and that’s the metric we’ll use to answer this question. The most popular state parks – aka the best state parks in Alabama – are Oak Mountain State Park, Gulf State Park, and Cheaha State Park. Oak Mountain State Park is the single most popular state park in all of Alabama, and it’s easy to see why: it’s incredible! Even folks who aren’t all that “outdoorsy” will find something to appreciate at Oak Mountain. Cheaha State Park is 2,799 acres of natural wonder, including Alabama’s highest point up on Cheaha Mountain. Gulf State Park is just one of those places you’ve got to see to believe! Need something a little less popular and more off the beaten path? Check out this list of ten of Alabama’s most underappreciated state parks!  

What are the most popular hiking trails in Alabama? 

Alabama is wonderful for hikers, too! According to our friends at AllTrails.com, there are more than 870 awesome trails throughout our wonderful state to enjoy. They vary in difficulty from quite hard to very easy, and there’s something perfect for every hiker here. The most popular trail in the state is quite challenging but well worth the endeavor; it’s in Estillfork, and it’s known as the 6.4-mile Walls of Jericho Trail. That one is popular for good reason, and ought to be experienced to be believed. Then, there’s the wonderful Cave Creek Trail, within Talladega National Forest, and Sougahoagdee Falls within the William B. Bankhead National Forest is another must-do. Of course, there are so many more than just those three – get out and explore!