Oak Mountain State Park
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| Oak Mountain State Park | |
|---|---|
| Type | State Park |
| Location | 200 Terrace Drive Pelham, Alabama, U.S.A. |
| Coordinates | |
| Size | 9,940 acres (40.2 km²) |
| Operated by | Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama's largest state park at 9,940 acres (40.2 km²). It is located in Pelham, Alabama and is convenient (via a short drive on I-65) to Birmingham, Alabama's largest city.
[edit] Amenities
Activities at the park can include hiking, mountain biking, golf, swimming, camping and fishing. One can go horseback riding at specific times on the weekend. Paddle boats and canoes are available for rent. Day hikes range from easy to moderate. One of the hikes includes an elevated trail from which one can view large cages containing birds such as owls and buzzards. Oak Mountain is also home to the Alabama Wildlife Center, Alabama's largest wildlife rehabilitation facility. The center treats more than 2,000 injured animals per year.
There are many improved campsites with water and electricity. Some backpacking and back country camping is allowed for a small fee. Campers at back country camps are not allowed to have fires. Deer are commonly seen in the park—particularly at dusk and on the golf course. There so many deer in fact, that special permits have recently been issued to bow-hunters who are allowed to take deer within the park's boundaries.
[edit] Annual Events
- Bump N' Grind mountain bike race (one of the largest in the southeastern US)
- Oak Mountain 50K trail run
- Xterra Southeast Championship off-road triathlon.
[edit] External links
- Alabama State Parks - Oak Mountain
- Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) - Information about the park's mountain biking trails
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