To commemorate the Year
of Trails campaign, Alabama Tourism unveiled Alabama’s
25 Must-Tread Trails for 2025 encouraging residents
and visitors alike to explore the top hiking, biking and paddle trails that
make Alabama a top outdoor destination.
Many of Alabama’s
premier trails are located within its 21 state parks, spanning more than 250
miles and 48,000 acres from the Gulf Coast to the Appalachians. Recent state
park improvements have expanded access, while year-round programs, like
guided hikes, volunteer cleanups and educational initiatives, promote community
stewardship.
Beyond state parks,
Alabama’s “25 Must-Tread Trails for 2025” highlights iconic trails and
landscapes across the state, showcasing why Alabama is one
of the most biodiverse states in the nation. The
171-mile Pinhoti Trail in East Alabama connects hikers to the Appalachian Trail
while the 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail, Alabama’s first rails-to-trails project,
brings cyclists closer to nature. The Red Rock Trail System expands urban trail
access in Central Alabama while the Singing River Trail links communities in
North Alabama. For paddlers, the Bartram Canoe Trail winds through the depths
of “America’s Amazon” in Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
“For more than 20
years, our ‘Year Of’ campaigns have introduced visitors to the people, places
and experiences that make Alabama unique,” said Alabama Tourism Director Lee
Sentell. “Trails offer one of the most immersive ways to explore our
state—whether from the seat of a bike, the path beneath your boots or the pull
of a paddle. This year, we’re inviting everyone to get outside and experience
Alabama’s natural beauty in a way only our trails can provide.”
Alabama’s ‘Year Of’
campaigns have a proven track record of boosting tourism and strengthening the
state’s economy. The 2012 “Year of Alabama Food” campaign introduced Alabama’s
culinary scene to 28 million visitors and won a U.S. Travel Association Award,
resulting in such a tremendous success that it was relaunched in 2024.
The 2020
“Year of Alabama Outdoors” campaign, launched during the pandemic, helped the
state’s tourism industry rebound
faster than most, proving that outdoor recreation is a powerful
economic driver. The Year of Alabama
Trails will build on this momentum, encouraging more people to explore and
experience the state’s landscapes in ways that are both accessible and
unforgettable.
Additional Year of
Trails activations will be announced throughout the year encouraging residents
and visitors to experience Alabama’s trails. To donate to the Alabama State
Parks Foundation, visit https://asparksfoundation.org/give/.
To learn
more about the Year of Alabama Trails, visit https://alabama.travel/experience-alabama/outdoor/year-of-trails.
Posted by: Alabama Tourism Department
Posted on: 22/04/2025