Trails
Common trees include: hickory, oak, red maple, sweet gum, yellow poplar, and dogwood - creating shade for most of the year. Sassafras, witch hazel, grapevine, and greenbriers are found throughout the understory. Woodland species such as chipmunks, squirrels, woodpeckers, and northern cardinals are often seen on this trial while warblers are sometimes seen and heard during the spring and fall migrations.
The trailhead is located at the Flint Creek Day Use Area on the north side of Hwy 67, less than 1/4 mile west of the Visitor Center entrance. The trail consists of boardwalk and dirt surfaces.
Bicycles are not permitted on this trail.
Flint Creek Trail
The trail consist of a boardwalk and hard-packed crushed stone surface, and is wheelchair accessible. The trail is only open during normal Visitor Center operating hours.
To minimize disturbance to wildlife, please stay on trail and do not enter closed areas. Bicycles are not permitted on this trail.
Atkeson Cypress Trail
Various species of frog, turtle, and fish can sometimes been seen and songbirds can often be heard singing from the forest canopy. The trail serves as Site #25 on the North Alabama Birding Trail. The trail consists of boardwalk and a hard-packed crushed stone surface.
From I-565, the trailhead can be accessed by taking Exit 7 (County Line Rd), turn right (south) on County Line Rd, crossing over the interstate. Within 0.1 mile, turn right on Old Hwy 20, this road parallels the interstate and dead ends at the trailhead in about 2 miles.
Bicycles are not permitted on this trail.
Beaver Dam Boardwalk
The trail surface is a combination of hard-packed crushed stone surface, boardwalk, and dirt.
From the Visitor Center, turn right on Hwy 67. In 1.7 miles turn right at the Indian Hills Road traffic light. In 3.1 miles, turn right onto Red Bank Road. After 1.7 miles turn right immediately before the Flint Creek bridge onto a short gravel road which dead ends at the trailhead.
Bicycles are not permitted on this trail.
This trail was recently rebuilt with a boardwalk in the middle section. The trail itself is about 2.4 miles round trip, out and back.
Dancy Bottoms Nature Trail
The trail starts at the gravel parking lot to the east of the Visitor Center Road off Highway 67. When turning on the Visitor Center Road, turn left on the gravel just before the entrance gate on Visitor Center Road. (34.5498858, -86.9428644).
The trail consists of hard-packed crushed stone surface and is open during daylight hours only.
Hiking & Bicycling Trail
During winter months, hundreds of ducks and geese, and thousands of Sandhill cranes use the area for feeding and loafing. Summertime can provide opportunities to see butterflies, turtles, wading birds, songbirds, and an occasional sighting of a bald eagle, osprey, or kestrel.
Look for the trailhead behind the Visitor Center building. The trail consist of a hard-packed crushed stone surface and a small wooden footbridge. The trail and first floor of the Wildlife Observation Building is wheelchair accessible.
To minimize disturbance to wildlife, please stay on trail and do not enter closed areas. Bicycles are not permitted on this trail.
