Bike rides in Alabama

Explore 24 rail-trail, greenway and park ride options in Alabama, with route lengths, surfaces, access notes and starting locations. These are selected recreational outings, not an exhaustive trail inventory. Read each guide’s scope and access cautions before choosing a ride.

24 ride guides · alphabetical order

• Aldridge Creek return from Ken Johnston Park

  Huntsville

  Up to 4 miles · Out & back

  Paved

  Ride south beside Aldridge Creek for a paved, mostly level outing in south Huntsville. This version stays on the continuous southern greenway and turns before Green Cove Road, avoiding the more complicated Ditto Landing connection and the disconnected northern sections.

• Benny Bobo paved return from the lodge

  Guntersville / Lake Guntersville State Park

  About 0.6 mile · Out & back

  Paved

  Lake Guntersville State Park, Alabama · About 0.6 mile out and back

• Bethel Creek short gravel loop

  Gurley / Bethel Spring Nature Preserve

  About 0.3 mile · Loop

  Crushed gravel

  Follow the small creek and the edge of working farmland at the foot of Keel Mountain. This short ride uses the improved loop near the entrance to Bethel Spring Nature Preserve, with the steep waterfall hike left for another visit on foot.

• Big Cove Creek and Flint River paved return

  Hampton Cove / Huntsville

  About 7 miles · Out & back

  Paved; concrete and asphalt

  Combine two connected greenways for a longer, mostly separated ride through Hays Nature Preserve. The University of Alabama in Huntsville's February 2026 biking-group newsletter describes this outing as an easy, relatively flat paved route, about seven miles round trip. The main attraction is the creek and river scenery, with a shaded approach and bridges over the Flint River.

• Branyon Backcountry Trail: short Catman paved return

  Orange Beach

  Up to 2 miles return · Out and back

  Paved Catman Trail

  From the Catman Road public trailhead, follow signs west onto the paved Catman Trail. Ride up to one mile outward and retrace. Stay on Catman rather than taking Rattlesnake Ridge, Cotton Bayou or natural-surface branches; shorten the ride at barriers or unsuitable tread.

  Post-storm review, October 21: city guidance invites trail use, but some park sections may still be affected. This ride stays on the paved Catman Trail. Turn at barriers, damage or flooding; the full Backcountry network is outside this guide.

• Chief Ladiga: Piedmont to The Wagon Road and back

  Piedmont

  About 2.7 miles · Out & back

  Asphalt

  Start in Piedmont for a short taste of the Chief Ladiga Trail, with an easy return to the same parking area. This outing stays near town instead of committing to the longer climb toward Georgia.

• Dauphin Island eastern bike-path return

  Dauphin Island

  Up to about 7 miles · Out & back

  Asphalt

  Follow the eastern Bienville Boulevard bike path toward historic Fort Gaines, then return the same way. This outing uses the island's paved roadside path, with frequent driveways and street crossings. It is a different experience from a quiet rail-trail, and it leaves out the western roadside bike lanes, the causeway and the bridge to the mainland.

• Five Mile Creek return from Black Creek Park

  Fultondale / Gardendale

  Up to 4 miles · Out & back

  Crushed stone / gravel

  Start with a short taste of the crushed-stone rail trail between Fultondale and Gardendale. The former railway offers a gentler alternative to the area's mountain-bike singletrack. This outing stays on the main rail alignment and returns the same way.

• Foley Rose Trail north return from Heritage Park

  Foley

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Paved / some crushed stone

  Take a slow urban ride along the former railway through downtown Foley, stopping off the path to read the rose labels. This return stays north of U.S. 98 and leaves the newer southern connector out of the outing.

• Harvest Square Beaver Dam gravel return

  Harvest

  About 0.4 mile · Out & back

  Crushed gravel

  For a very short nature ride, use Beaver Dam Trail at Harvest Square Nature Preserve in Harvest. The manager describes this named section as accessible crushed gravel, with Dry Creek and a beaver home nearby. It is a compact option for trying a bicycle on firm gravel rather than committing to the preserve’s longer natural trails.

• High Ore Line return from Midfield

  Midfield / Birmingham

  Up to 4 miles · Out & back

  Paved

  Explore the older rail-trail section from Midfield toward Wenonah Road. This outing leaves out the later connection to Red Mountain Park, where the current regional trail inventory warns of a steep hill near the Venice Road entrance.

• Indian Creek short paved ride from Old Madison Pike

  Huntsville

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Paved city greenway

  Start at the designated Indian Creek Greenway parking area at 7488 Old Madison Pike, Huntsville. This short option follows the creek north on the southern greenway, then returns along the same path. It keeps the outing separate from the disconnected Providence section and its US 72 gap.

• Kiwanis Vulcan Trail short return

  Birmingham

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Paved / crushed stone

  Follow Birmingham's former railroad bench below Vulcan for a short woodland ride with city views. Freshwater Land Trust describes the trail as mostly flat, with pavement and crushed stone. The approach through the museum grounds is a different experience, with stairs and bicycle restrictions, so use the dedicated trail entrance.

• Mill Creek Greenway short return from Mill Road

  Madison

  Up to about 1 mile · Out & back

  Asphalt

  This short paved outing follows Mill Creek Greenway toward Browns Ferry Road, then retraces the same path. Keep to the established greenway beside the creek; the dog-park enclosures, school grounds and newly opened Mill Creek Nature Preserve are separate places with different uses.

• Orr Park short paved return

  Montevallo

  Up to 1 mile · Out & back

  Paved

  Enjoy a slow ride beside Shoal Creek in Montevallo's Orr Park, with time to stop for the Tinglewood tree carvings. Keep this outing inside the park on its paved paths; the longer Montevallo Parks Trail has different surfaces and steeper sections.

• Sand Mountain Park short paved return

  Albertville

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Paved

  Albertville, Alabama · Up to 2 miles out and back

• Shades Creek Greenway short return from Brookwood

  Homewood

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Paved

  Try a short paved ride beside Shades Creek in Homewood, using the eastern end of the Lakeshore Trail. The state-supported Alabama Birding Trails program describes a fairly level path in the creek's floodplain and identifies an official parking trailhead at the corner of Brookwood Boulevard and Brookwood Village Road.

• Sportsman Lake paved lakeside loop

  Cullman

  About 1.1 miles · Loop

  Paved

  Follow the paved multi-use path around Sportsman Lake in Cullman. Keep this compact outing separate from the park's mountain-bike trails and from the event route drawn on its 5K map.

• Sunset Drive short return from the Chamber

  Guntersville

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Paved

  Enjoy a short stretch of Guntersville's paved lakefront path, starting at the Chamber of Commerce. The outing stays on the northern shoreline section and returns the same way, without requiring a crossing of the Highway 69 causeway.

• Swan Creek short return from Athens Sportsplex

  Athens

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Crushed stone

  Use the Swan Creek Greenway for a gentle crushed-stone outing near Athens. The local tourism authority explicitly welcomes bicycles and describes the trail as gentle. This short version begins at the Sportsplex and avoids a trip to the busy U.S. 72 end.

• Tennessee River Greenway return at Ditto Landing

  Huntsville

  About 1.9 miles · Out & back

  Paved

  Ride the short riverfront greenway east from Ditto Landing and return the same way. This is the existing eastern path, separate from Huntsville's new 2026 addition farther west and the much larger South Huntsville loop.

• Veterans Park outer paved loop in Alabaster

  Alabaster

  1.75-mile loop · Loop

  Paved

  Veterans Park at 7305 Highway 119, Alabaster offers a paved park ride among play areas, sports fields and ponds. The city explicitly permits bicycles on its walking trails. This is the Alabaster park; the similarly named Veterans Park in Hoover is a different ride.

• Wade Mountain paved greenway out-and-back

  Huntsville

  1.7 mi · Out & back

  Paved

  A short ride through open fields at the foot of Wade Mountain. The Land Trust describes this paved section as easy and flat. Turn around where the pavement ends: the adjoining natural trail climbs quickly and becomes rocky. The City promotes bicycle use on its greenways. City greenway information, preserve trail descriptions.

• Wheeler Hiking & Bicycling Trail short return

  Decatur / Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

  Up to 2 miles · Out & back

  Hard-packed crushed stone

  Follow the improved refuge trail beside fields and the Flint Creek wetlands, then retrace your way to the same gravel lot. This short outing stays on the named bicycle route; the nearby nature boardwalks have different rules.