Looking to get out of the city for the day? Here is my list of the 10 best day trips from Birmingham Alabama. These are the kinds of things you can spend an entire Saturday doing. Wake up early, grab a coffee, hit the road to your fun filled destination, and still get home in time for a late dinner. Everything on this list is within a 3-hour drive from Birmingham!
1. Lula Lake Land Trust
Lula Lake Land Trust is a gorgeous park with miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and incredible views. It is only a 2-hour drive from Birmingham and is only open Saturdays and Sundays. You must make reservations ahead of time at lulalake.org. I recommend hiking the 5.2-mile long Middle Trail, Trail B, Bluff Road and Trail A loop. The hiking is easy, trails are well maintained, and this is a trail suitable for any skill level. Park hours are 9am-5pm.
2. Walls of Jericho Hike
The Walls of Jericho hike is an incredible hike about a 2.5-hour drive from Birmingham. The trailhead is located on the Alabama/Tennessee border, and you’ll actually hike into Tennessee and back. It’s 6.4 miles out and back and a pretty challenging hike! Different from most out and back hikes, on this hike, the challenging portion is the way back. During the first 3 miles, you hike down into a valley. Then, on the way back, you have to hike all the way back up the 1341 feet you descended. Still, I think this hike is quite do-able. It took us about 3-4 hours and that’s with us taking our time and relaxing at the bottom. Bring snacks and water and wear good hiking boots. We went in March and the water levels were high which I think made for the most beautiful views of the pool/waterfall (pictured above); however, we did get a little wet as the path was flooded over a bit at the end.
3. McDill Point Hike at Cheaha State Park
Cheaha State Park contains the highest point in Alabama, Mount Cheaha, as well as some of the most beautiful hiking in the state. The park is about an hour and a half from Birmingham. I recommend hiking Hernandez Peak and McDill Point via the Pinhoti Trail from the trailhead off of SR-281 near the park entrance. The hike is 4.7 miles out and back and you’ll ascend about 1,043 feet. There is a $5 state park entry fee that you’ll pay at the gate. Afterward, you can check out easy hikes to Puplit Rock and Bald Rock within the park.
4. Lake Guntersville Bike Path
At only 1 hour and 25 minutes’ drive from Birmingham, the Guntersville Lake Bike Path, also known as Sunset Drive Walking Trail, located at 2098 Lurleen B Wallace Dr., Guntersville, Alabama, is a great activity for a day trip. The entire 7.2 mile out and back path is paved, and the area is really beautiful with plenty of picnic tables and spots to enjoy a nice day by the water. There is a lake access spot nearby that you can go swimming at.
5. Stephen’s Gap Cave Hike
Stephen’s Gap Cave is one of the coolest hidden gems in Alabama. It is located just a 2 hours’ drive from Birmingham. The hike into the cave is 1.4 miles total and is easy. You must obtain a free permit from https://permits.scci.org and make an account to visit. This will provide you with the gate code needed for entry as well as a parking pass. The area is located behind a locked gate, and you won’t be able to enter without putting the code into the keypad which will open the gate. Wear shoes with good grip. The cave is wet and slippery. Watch for falling rocks. You can obtain permits to rappel into the cave, but you must possess the skill and equipment required to do so. People have died doing this.
6. Alabama Safari Park
Alabama Safari Park is located 1 hour and 34 minutes from Birmingham in Hope Hull just outside of Montgomery. Park at the visitor’s center and buy your ticket and a bucket (or 2) of food then drive through the Safari in your own vehicle and feed animals through the window of your car. Zebras, camels, cows, llamas, birds, and many more will come to your window to be fed and are not at all shy. There are also giraffes near the entrance that you can walk up to and feed over the fence. Buy a cup of lettuce at the visitor center for feeding the giraffes. Adult admission is $22 per person and kids get in for $17 each.
7. Providence Canyon Hike
Providence Canyon is 3 hours from Birmingham and is located just outside of Columbus, Georgia. It is known as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon”. Hike into the canyon and do 2.6 miles total on the canyon floor or hike the Canyon Perimeter for 2.1 miles of views of the Canyon from the top. I personally think the Canyon Perimeter provides better views and is more enjoyable. Both hikes are easy. Grab lunch in Columbus, Georgia afterward. I recommend My Boulange & Tower Pizza for French cuisine and macaroons next to a mini-Eiffel Tower. Then grab a coffee at Iron Bank Coffee Co (an old bank repurposed into a cool coffee shop) and walk to Chattahoochee River Walk. You can also grab a beer at The Cannon Brew Pub if craft beer is more your thing.
8. Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon is an incredible state park located in Northwest Georgia near the border of Alabama and Tennessee. It is about a 2-hour drive from Birmingham. I recommend hiking to Hemlock Falls and Cherokee Falls. The hike to these waterfalls in about 1 mile out and back. You’ll start by descending very steep stairs to get to the canyon floor and then you’ll walk out to each of the falls along a flat path. Beware of snakes. They love the wet rocky areas near the base of the falls. There are a number of other great, longer hikes in the park like the Cloudland Canyon West Rim Loop (4.8-mile loop) and Sutton’s Gulch trail which is 4.8 miles out and back with 1000 feet of elevation gain. You can also enjoy great views of the canyon from several viewpoints within the park that are accessible to all.
9. Tigers for Tomorrow Animal Preserve
Tigers for Tomorrow is such a hidden gem in Alabama. It is only 1 hour and 18 minutes from Birmingham, Alabama and is located in Attalla, Alabama outside of Gadsden. The facility houses over 160 animals including tigers, mountain lions, African lions, ligers, bears, wolves, black leopards, ocelots, tortoises and more. Of note, these animals have been rescued from less desirable situations and CANNOT be integrated back into the wild safely. This is a non-profit organization, and your admission fee goes towards care for the animals. Make reservations at https://www.tigersfortomorrow.org. Admission is $25 per person.
10. Caney Creek Falls Hike
The hike to Caney Creek Falls in located within Bankhead National Forest. It is 1 hour and 25 minutes from Birmingham. The hike is 1.7 miles total and is easy. The trailhead is located on private property. Look for a yellow sign with a donation box. The fee is $20 to park here and you can put this in the donation box. The falls are beautiful. Other great hikes within Bankhead National Forest are: Sougahoagdee Falls Trail (3.4 miles out and back) and Deer Skull Falls and Wolfpen Falls Loop (4 mile loop) located in Sipsey Wilderness.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the routine of city life and forget that so much adventure lives just a short distance away. These Birmingham day trips are a few of my favorite ways to get out of the city and enjoy some fresh area and new scenery. Adventure is closer than you think! Enjoy.
Also check out my other post for outdoor adventures within Birmingham: 15 Outdoor Activities in Birmingham Alabama | All the Way Alanna
-Alanna
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