Type: Road/Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 5 / 10
Filed Under: Cycling
Located near Birmingham, Oak Mountain State Park is home to some good mountain biking. This trail is maintained by the BUMP organization (Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers). Approximately 16.5 miles long, the trail (red trail blazes) is one loop made up of about equal parts of singletrack and fire/forest/paved roads. Ride either direction on the trail. The trail is multi-use trail, expect to see riders of all ages and abilities, as well as hikers, backpackers, kids, dogs, etc. Please note that bikes are only permitted off road on the red trail.
See Bump.org\'s .pdf trail map here:
http://www.bump.org/forms/broc-final.pdf
There is a $2 per day per person admission fee. Because of heavy road use by runners, walkers, cyclists, and animals, speed limits are 35 MPH and 25 MPH throughout the park, and are vigorously enforced.
The park opens at 7:00 AM. Gates to all Day Use areas, including side roads, the South Trailhead, picnic areas, etc. are closed AND LOCKED one hour before park closing. The park closes at various times during the year based on daylight. Closing times are always posted.
Detailed park maps are available at the main gate, at the campground store, and at the main park office on Terrace Drive. Maps are also posted at the North and South trailheads, and at the hikers shelter located on the ridge of the Red Road.
Take I-65 approximately 15 miles south of Birmingham to Exit 246 (Cahaba Valley Rd / Rt. 119).
Follow the signs for Oak Mountain State Park, depending on which way you are coming.
If you are coming from the Northeast take from I-459 take 280 South to Hwy 119. Turn right on 119 follow it to park gate to the Fishing Lake. It is only a couple of miles to the North Trail Head from 119 and saves 15 or 20 minutes driving over going to the main gate. My favorite ride is to start at the North Trail Head and go counter clockwise.
Depending on where you want to start, there are two main parking areas:
South Trailhead: Once through the main gate, turn right onto Terrace Drive (approx 1.5 miles) and go to the end of the paved road (approx 1 mile). Peavine Road is a forest road that starts where the paved portion of Terrace Drive ends. Parking lot is on your right. Bathrooms, pavilions, picnic tables, drinking water, playgrounds, soccer/ultimate field all nearby. Trailhead is on left of paved road leading to picnic areas. Look for B.U.M.P. sign on sidewalk. Trailhead is about 30 yards up on the left, and is marked.
North Trailhead: Travel approximately 5 miles from main gate on the main road. Lot is on left at the bottom of a relatively long hill. If you come in via 119 and Fishing Lake gate watch for lot about a mile from lake on the right. Gravel lot, port-a-potty. Trailhead (bottom of Red Road) is across the street from the parking lot. No drinking water available.
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BUMP said ...
We have redone our website recently and the link above is out of date. Please go to http://www.bump.org for the most recent information.
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