Alabama · United States
- Distance
- 15.7 km / 9.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 358 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 50 min
- Lake
- Mountain
- Wildlife watching
The directory currently contains 6 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Alabama. Their average mapped distance is 17.1 km and average recorded ascent is 373 m (1,224 ft); the longest route in the set is 50.1 km.
This subset represents 7% of the 90 quality-checked routes in Alabama. Its average distance is 17.1 km, compared with 12.4 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 373 m (1,224 ft), versus 130 m (427 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.
Every route in this set carries a lake tag in the directory. Whether the mapped line reaches the shore and whether swimming is allowed must be checked locally. Within this set, 2 routes (33%) are rated easy, 3 (50%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (33%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.
Data refreshed September 2026
Choose by the details
A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.
0.6 km
Smith Lake Park National Recreation TrailCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
0 m
Lake Jackson Scenic Trail6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
2 recorded loops
Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.
Plan the return journey →Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.
Alabama · United States
Alabama · United States
Alabama · United States
Alabama · United States
Alabama · United States
The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wade Mountain Nature Reserve National Recreation TrailsAlabama | 15.7 km | 358 m | 3 hr 50 min | Hard | April to October |
| Lake Guntersville State Park National Recreation TrailAlabama | 50.1 km | 1,360 m | 13 hr | Expert | April to October |
| Lake Lurleen State Park National Recreation TrailAlabama | 31.4 km | 451 m | 7 hr 43 min | Hard | April to October |
| Coleman Lake LoopAlabama | 3.0 km | 67 m | 43 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Lake Jackson Scenic TrailAlabama | 2.0 km | 0 m | 25 min | Easy | April to October |
| Smith Lake Park National Recreation TrailAlabama | 0.6 km | 0 m | 8 min | Easy | April to October |
Wade Mountain Nature Reserve National Recreation Trails, Lake Guntersville State Park National Recreation Trail, Lake Lurleen State Park National Recreation Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.
Choosing a route
Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.
Read article →Understanding the map
Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.
Read article →Planning your day
Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.
Read article →Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.