This column is a guest opinion piece.
I had no idea this existed.
Whether someone is visiting a state park for the first time in years or has recently found a path close to their house, I frequently hear this answer. At the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), we strive to document these experiences and share Alabama’s outdoor secret with the community.
Summer travel is popular all around the nation. More individuals are selecting short-distance vacations over long-distance ones because they want experiences that are accessible, familiar, and genuine. Families want access to campgrounds and trails that don’t require traveling across state lines. Old parks are being rediscovered and new parks are being explored by retirees. Furthermore, these locations are frequently much closer than individuals think.
Public access is not something that just happens. It requires preparation, funding, and continuous upkeep. The influence is felt throughout the state, even though the job is frequently done behind the scenes.
Alabama has invested more on outdoor infrastructure in recent years than it has in decades. Improvements totaling more than $228 million are being made to all 21 Alabama State Parks. This comprises renovated campgrounds, new lodges, new paths, and updated cabins.
This spring, Oak Mountain’s first major renovation in almost 50 years came to an end, adding a playground, a new camp store, enhanced Wi-Fi, water lines, and electricity hookups. Gulf State Park is adding over 100 new luxury-style campsites to its existing campground. Using locally grown lumber, new accommodations are being built at Cheaha, the highest point in the state.
The country is taking notice of these advancements. USA TODAY readers have ranked the campground at Gulf State Park as one of the top 10 RV locations in the nation. For the third consecutive year, its Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry path was chosen as the best recreational path in the country. After extensive improvements, the park’s beach pavilion and fishing pier have also reopened, making it one of Alabama’s most popular outdoor attractions.
Over 5.4 million individuals visited our state parks in 2024. Reservations for cabins are made months in advance.New RV parks and glamping locations are attracting first-time tourists who might not have previously thought of visiting a state park.
It’s not only parks, either. Over 285,000 acres of Alabama public property have been preserved by the Forever Wild property Trust. The Mobile-Tensaw Delta in the south and the Walls of Jericho in the northeast are connected by these woods, river corridors, and path systems. It is our responsibility to make these locations accessible in addition to preserving them. This include constructing toilets, enhancing signage, keeping trailheads secure, and extending ADA-compliant amenities across the system.
There are currently almost 400 miles of public trails in our parks and Forever Wild sites. With 35 miles of singletrack, Coldwater Mountain is still becoming a popular regional bike destination. As part of a larger initiative to make our parks more family-friendly, new accessible playgrounds have recently been finished at Rickwood Cavern State Park and Chewacla State Park.
We’re also making Alabama’s rivers more accessible. Although many cities have lacked reliable entrance points, we take pride in having more kilometers of navigable rivers than any other. We started a $56 million project to enhance boating access after speaking with locals directly. McFarland Park in Florence and the refurbished McCarty’s Ferry ramp on the Tombigbee River in South Alabama are examples of recent work.
We have established almost 170 miles of designated paddle pathways in the Delta and along the Perdido River. Overnight excursions in one of the nation’s most biodiverse areas are made feasible by the Bartram Canoe Trail’s floating campsites and ADA-accessible shelters.
The overall objective is to increase the number of Alabamans who have access to outdoor experiences. That is the concept behind the Year of Alabama Trails promotion by Alabama Tourism. We are identifying 25 Must-Tread Trails for 2025 as part of the project. I suggest you begin with one. Trek to Oak Mountain’s King’s Chair. Take the Richard Martin Rail Trail in Elkmont or the Chief Ladiga Trail in Calhoun County. Explore a peaceful section at Monte Sano or enjoy the views along the Pinhoti Trail. Next time, ask someone to accompany you.
The people of Alabama own these lands. By default, they are neither protected nor open. They need maintenance, attention, and the conviction that access to the outdoors should be a regular part of life rather than a one-time excursion. Our goal is to turn that belief into a reality. That pledge extends to every route, campground, and starting point.
You don’t need to travel far. You really must leave. And we’ll be prepared for you when you do.
The commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is Chris Blankenship.
