Birmingham, Alabama is a nature lover’s dream. The Birmingham area is home to many outdoor adventures and parks, and one of my personal favorites (which also happens to be located close to home) is Oak Mountain State Park. There are so many activities to choose from, which we will cover in the sections below, and this park is a great family friendly place to spend time. Oak Mountain has its own events and its own golf course as well as so much more. Let’s learn more about this park and why you should visit if you’re in the Birmingham area.
Oak Mountain History and Location
Oak Mountain State Park is the largest park in Alabama with 9,940 acres and there was just a recent proposal in 2020 to add 1,600 more acres of land to this already large park. The park was established in 1927. Oak Mountain State Park is located about 30 minutes South of downtown Birmingham, in the nearby city of Pelham. There are two entrances into this park. The main entrance address is below:
Oak Mountain State Park
200 Terrace Drive
Pelham, AL 35124
The Oak Mountain State Park Back Gate gives you easier access to the two lakes, Lunker Lake and Beaver Lake where Aquapark at Flipside, the water park area is located. The address for the back entrance is:
5639 Oak Mountain Lake Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
There is a fee to get into the park. Entrance fees range from $5 each for ages 12 – 61, and ages 4-11 or 62+ are $2 each. Children ages 3 and under get in free. The gate entrances only take cash, so make sure to have the entrance fee amount with you. At the main entrance gate there is an ATM that you can withdraw from. The gates also sell maps of the park.
If you plan on visiting the park often, you may want to consider purchasing an annual pass. Here are the annual pass amounts: Individual Pass: $180 / Senior Pass (62 and Older): $80 / Family Pass (up to 4 people): $230
Activities you can do there:
There are endless things to do in this great park. Numerous activities will keep you and your family busy. Hiking is a popular choice for many who visit Oak Mountain. Oak Mountain has 25 miles of hiking trails with 5 main trails available: Blue Trail, White Trail, Green Trail, Yellow Trail, and the Red Road trail. These trails lead to various points in the park. Visit the hiking section on Oak Mountain’s website here for more information on the length and location of the trails. Note that the park offers hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
In addition to hiking and biking, you can also golf at this award winning course: “The Oaks” – which is Oak Mountain’s golf course. The Oaks is an 18 hole course that also has a pro shop and a restaurant called “The Grille”. Learn more about this golf course and The Grille, including the hours, location, and cost here: The Oaks
If you’re more of a water person, you can swim or fish in the lakes or even visit the waterpark close to the back entrance of the park: Aquapark at Flipside. Oak Mountain has several lake beaches for guests to enjoy as well as a playground for children.
Other options for you to enjoy Oak Mountain is to visit the Alabama Wildlife Center, have an adventure on their Treetop Nature Course, check out the Archery Park, or check out some amazing views from the top of the park at Ada Overlook, then hike to a popular waterfall located in the Oak Mountain: Peavine Falls. Oak Mountain also has an amphitheater for concerts if you are a fan of live music! The park is also home to plenty of wildlife.
Of course, you can always visit Oak Mountain in autumn to see the beautiful fall foliage.
This park really does have something for everyone. Oak Mountain offers so many various ways to enjoy the outdoors. No matter what your preference, there is something for you to do! Of course, also check out Oak Mountain’s website here for more information about this wonderful park and all that it offers: https://www.alapark.com/parks/oak-mountain-state-park
Hours
The hours at Oak Mountain change with the seasons, and most of the time the park closes at sunset. The general hours for the park are 7:00 am – 5:00 pm, but please verify the hours before you go.
One day may not be enough for you to visit the entire park, and that’s okay! Oak Mountain allows visitors to camp, rent cabins, or use your own campervan. There are plenty of pavilion areas for parties and grilling for you and your family to enjoy. Check out the camping options here.
Special seasonal activities:
Not only does Oak Mountain offer many activities to choose from, but this park also offers special seasonal activities for you to enjoy. One popular activity is their 4th of July fireworks display. There are also many family activities year round and many activities and events for kids for each season. Please refer back to Oak Mountain’s website for a complete list: Oak Mountain Park Events
Update! As of 2023, Oak Mountain is working on getting a dog park! We will keep you posted on when this new park is open!
Looking for more to do in the Birmingham Area?
There are plenty more ways to enjoy the outdoors in the Birmingham area. Once you visit Oak Mountain, check out these well known parks around Birmingham:
Red Mountain
2011 Frankfurt Drive, Birmingham, AL 35211
Ruffner Park
1214 81st St S, Birmingham, AL 35206
Some smaller parks located in the Birmingham area include: Vulcan Park, Avondale Park, Railroad Park and the Rotary Trail (both located downtown). Or you can visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and a local gem in Hoover, Aldridge Gardens.
Check out what else you can do in Birmingham, Alabama in this article: https://diannahowellrealtor.com/buying/relocating-to-birmingham-al/
Looking for some things to do that are close to Oak Mountain? Learn more about what the city of Pelham, AL offers while you’re close by in this blog: https://diannahowellrealtor.com/lifestyle/pelham/
If you’re relocating to the Birmingham, Alabama area and what to know more about what this area offers, call Dianna Howell of The Howell Group at: 205-568-5435 or email her at: dianna.howell@kw.com
Share with me your favorite things about Oak Mountain in the comments below!
~Dianna Howell
