16 spring outdoor activities to try in Alabama

With its warmer temps and longer days, spring rolls in every March like a breath of fresh air waking us from winter hibernation. From mountaintop paddles to secluded canyon camping—and everything in between—these 16 activities are the best ways to explore Alabama’s amazing outdoors.

The chalets at Lake Guntersville State Park have always afforded gorgeous views of Alabama’s largest lake and its surrounding outdoor splendor. Now the interior views are just as picturesque, thanks to the mountaintop hideaway's first face-lift in 2 decades. Expect rustic sophistication, wraparound porches, and total relaxation.

Everyone knows there are plenty of fish in the sea; it’s getting them out that’s the tricky part. Novice anglers get expert instruction on choosing reels and lures, casting, knot tying, and cleaning catch through the new, state-run Go Fish, Alabama! program for adults and families. Bait and gear are provided; just bring a cooler, a fishing license, and some beginner’s luck. For the workshop schedule and locations, visit the Outdoor Alabama website.

Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind outdoor art installation at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, where Stickwork debuts March 4. Renowned artist Patrick Dougherty uses locally sourced sweetgum branches to create a structure of nests, columns, and archways that invites visitors to roam the whimsical twists and turns on the garden grounds.

The rain-fed Little River that flows through the Little River Canyon National Preserve is at its best late spring and into summer, when water is usually high enough to carry kayakers through the forested uplands atop Lookout Mountain. Beginners and intermediate paddlers should opt for the miles-long stretch well before Little River Falls, after which the waters become decidedly expert-only. Visit the website for safety and access information before going.

At Birmingham’s Red Mountain Park, 1,500 wooded acres prove that getting outdoors doesn’t have to mean getting out of town. Trek along 15 miles of hiking and biking trails to find 3 popular tree houses with epic views, 2 of them with swinging bridges.

The spring air smells even sweeter during Mobile’s annual Festival of Flowers, a charity competition where teams of artists, florists, nurseries, and designers construct life-size sculptures from living plants. Tour the Land, Air, and Sea–themed works in Cathedral Square, stay for the exotic car show, and wander the galleries of downtown’s artsy LoDa district. The 2022 festival takes place March 11–13.

Sleep under the stars in a primeval canyon that doubles as a National Natural Landmark. The handful of secluded, primitive campsites at Dismals Canyon open in early March, weather permitting, giving guests prime access to the site’s namesake attractions: bioluminescent glow worms known as dismalites. Don’t miss the grotto and the massive Eastern Canadian hemlock that hitched its way to Alabama on a glacier.

The hunt is on for wood ear, witch’s butter, and the gastronomically prized morel. Throughout central Alabama, spring’s warmer weather and plentiful rainfall bring out these and more flavorful fungi. Experts at the Alabama Mushroom Society guide forays in DeKalb, Cullman, Jefferson, and Elmore counties in search of mycological wonders.

Get back on track with the community of runners behind the annual Vulcan Run 10K. The Birmingham Track Club not only hosts the November marquee event, but distributes a newsletter and organizes socials and other events to keep members motivated. Weekly long-run training sessions in and around Magic City welcome newbies and pros alike.

By late March, Hubert Farms’ 200,000 tulips are typically in full bloom, weather dependent. The family-run farm in the idyllic Tennessee Valley offers Insta-perfect spring scenery, pick-your-own opportunities, picnic tables, and food trucks on the weekends.

If the hike up to Peavine Falls doesn’t leave you breathless, the stunning view of the 65-foot spring-fed cascade dropping into a picturesque pool will. Chasing waterfalls not your thing? Find plenty more opportunities to commune with nature along the surrounding Oak Mountain State Park’s hiking trails.

Who needs a stuffy gallery? The streets in quaint downtown Fairhope overflow with fine art this month. The Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival, oft cited as among the best in the country, draws hundreds of creatives to the laid-back coastal town and celebrates its 70th anniversary March 18–20. Just down the street, the annual Outdoor Art Show, also March 18–20, marks its 50th birthday with about 100 artists, live demonstrations, kids activities, and more. 

Log some air time on Dothan’s Forever Wild Trails at Beaver Creek. Four new, professionally built miles of mountain bike routes include the Big Levee feature and the Dragon’s Tail Trail, designed to give frequent flyers more options to play in the woods. New to the sport? The system’s 10-plus miles of loops linked by connectors offer newbie riders ample opportunity to hone their skills, too.

Why settle for 1 outdoor activity when you can try several? Archery, skeet shooting, ax throwing, casting, and cornhole—the second annual All Sports Expo organized by the Kiwanis Club of Andalusia lets guests try their hands at these and more during a family festival on March 12. (Don’t worry, parents. The chain saw sculpting and the monster truck show—separate ticket require—with off-road quad wars are strictly demo-only.)

Let 2 wheels carry you along the east coast of Mobile Bay through a string of pretty, oak-framed communities to a nature reserve boasting some of the most diverse flowering plant life in North America. Along the Eastern Shore Trail in early spring, street cyclists can stop for lunch in Daphne, take in the view at Point Clear, and look for the pitcher plants just blossoming in Weeks Bay—all in 1 day.

For those who take their outdoors on the rocks, Hospital Boulders near Gadsden features 39 acres with about 200 developed boulder problems and some of the best climbing in the state for all levels. Brave the overhanging roofs or scramble up 50-foot sandstone boulders. Don’t forget your gear, a picnic, and to get the entry code in advance.

You’ll find travel pro and guide author Jessica Fender camping, hiking, or flower picking, but not mountain biking, which she leaves for the brave. Follow her adventures throughout the South and beyond at travelerbroads.com.