Synopses & Reviews
In the first decade of the 21st century, Birmingham is building again on its natural resources, but this time itand#8217;s not to fire steel-making smokestacks. Instead, where railroads ran and mines once burrowed into mountains, the healed landscape is being repurposed for hiking and biking. New and expanding venues around the city are providing more opportunities not only to get outside and exercise but also to appreciate the labor and industry that built the city.
In Five-Star Trails: Birmingham local author Thomas Spencer leads readers to some of the best hikes around the city. Within a short drive from Birmingham, you can find yourself on an Appalachian mountain peak or on the banks of the Cahaba River as it broadens to snake through the Coastal Plain. You can visit old growth forest in the Sipsey Wilderness or hike down into the and#147;Grand Canyon of the Eastand#8221; at Little River Canyon. And that's only the start. Across this landscape, youand#8217;ll find a level of diversity of plant and animal species, some rare and endangered, that rivals anywhere in the North America.
Synopsis
Lace Up, Grab Your Pack, and Hit the Trail in Birmingham
In the first part of the 21st century, Birmingham is building again on its natural resources, but this time it's not to fire steel-making smokestacks. Instead, where railroads ran and mines once burrowed into mountains, the healed landscape is being repurposed for hiking and biking. New and expanding venues around the city are providing more opportunities not only to get outside and exercise but also to appreciate the labor and industry that built this part of Alabama.
In Five-Star Trails: Birmingham, local author Thomas Spencer leads readers to some of the best hikes around the city. Within a short drive from Birmingham, you can find yourself on an Appalachian mountain peak or on the banks of the Cahaba River as it broadens to snake through the Coastal Plain. You can visit old-growth forest in the Sipsey Wilderness or hike down into the "Grand Canyon of the East" at Little River Canyon. And that's only the start. Across this landscape, you'll find a level of diversity of plant and animal species, some rare and endangered, that rivals anywhere in North America.
About the Author
Born in Birmingham,
Thomas M. Spencer grew up hiking and camping in his native state, and for the past 20 years he has crisscrossed Alabama as a reporter for the
Anniston Star and
The Birmingham News, specializing in coverage of the outdoors and the environment. Spencer is now the senior research associate at the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama based at Samford University. An Eagle Scout, Spencer was a founder of the Friends of Red Mountain Park and serves on the board of the Cahaba River Society. He lives in Birmingham, AL.
Table of Contents
Red Mountain Park
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
Moss Rock Preserve
Oak Mountain State Park
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve
Aldridge Garden
Oak Hill Cemetery
Tannehill
Shades Creek Greenway/Homewood Forest Preserve
Downtown history hikes exploring early Birmingham and the historic marches of the Civil Rights Movement.
Walks through revitalized neighborhoods from Railroad Park to Avondale
The Irondale Furance and Jemison Trail
Highland Avenue and city views
Vulcan Trail/UAB/Five Points
The Sipsey Wilderness
Cheaha State Park and Wilderness
Little River Canyon
Flagg Mountain
Hurricane Creek in Cullman
Wheeler Wildlife Refuge
Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge
Cahaba River: Perry Lakes Park/Barton Beach
Ebaneezer Swamp: Montevallo
Pallisades Park: Blount County