Best Camping in North Alabama

Alabama gets surprisingly elevated in its northern regions, where the southern Appalachian Mountains stretch across the land, offering solid hiking and lovely vistas. Tucked away in the northwest corner of the state, the little-known 700-acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve is a veritable hiker’s dream – rife with waterfalls, scenic wilderness and canyons.

Novice bikers will find a flat, easygoing biking path at Chief Ladiga Trail, a 32.5-mile rails-to-trails path that’s great for beginners and families alike. Lookout Mountain, in Desoto State Park, offers a 2,388-foot summit where – if you angle it right – you can spot seven U.S. states from the peak.

The Sipsey Wilderness, thick with hemlock trees, canyons and waterfalls, offer another rich hiking experience just south of Moulton; as does Hurricane Creek Park, where trails wind hikers deep into a 500-foot canyon. Those willing to take a bit of risk can try their luck at the Walls of Jericho trail, an advanced 6-mile out-and-back hike that descends 1,000 feet into a valley with its own natural rock amphitheater.