If you’re looking for a destination that offers relaxation, fun, and nature, Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama is the perfect destination for you!
As one of Alabama’s most talked about state parks, Oak Mountain is Alabama’s largest state park with 11,632 acres of ground. The park boasts so many activities and things to do that it sees over 500,000 visitors per year!
During our month-long stay here in Alabama, our family decided to visit Oak Mountain State Park and see what all the hype surrounding it was about. And, let me just say this – I’ve been to hundreds of state parks but none of them have ever been as amazing as Oak Mountain State Park. Our family had such a wonderful time there, that I knew I had to share about it with you all.
If you’re wondering what makes this state park so great, keep reading because I am sharing all the details and everything you need to know, so you can plan your trip there too.
Where is Oak Mountain State Park Located?
Oak Mountain State Park is located in Shelby County, just 20 miles south of Birmingham in Pelham, Alabama. To get to the park use this address in your GPS:
200 Terrace Drive Pelham, AL 35124
A Brief History of Oak Mountain
Oak Mountain State Park first begin in 1927 as a result of the State Land Act. With just 940 original acres, the park expanded in the 1930s after acquiring 8,000 more acres of land. Then with help from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the park had several roads, pavilions, cabins, and the Lake Tranquillity Dam established. In 2021, the park acquired its final 1,644 acres of ground, making it the largest state park in Alabama.
Today, the park has won numerous awards and has been inducted into the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame for winning its Certificate of Excellence numerous times.
Activities at Oak Mountain State Park
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One of the things that make visiting Oak Mountain State Park so great is the fact that the park has so many activities to offer visitors. Guests visiting the park should expect to spend the entire day at the park and plan to bring their own drinks and food. Some of the activities that Oak Mountain Park offers are:
- a privately owned golf course
- Demonstration Farm
- Peavine Waterfalls
- an overlook
- kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming
- Trails
- Treetop Nature Trail
- camping
- Archery Park
- Alabama Wildlife Center
- Oak Mountain Interpretive Center
- Mountain Bike trails
While we were at Oak Mountain, we were able to do a lot of the activities listed above, but due to time restraints and some things being closed on the day we visited, we, unfortunately, could not do everything.
Admission to Oak Mountain State Park
One thing I hated about Alabama State Parks (Alaparks) was the fact that they all cost. Back home, most of the state parks near me in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and some of Maryland, do not cost. But if you are planning a visit to Peavine Falls or Oak Mountain State Park, it will cost you. Admission rates are currently:
- Adults – $5 per adult (ages 12+)
- Children age 4-11 – $2
- Seniors (62 & older) – $2
- 3 and under – FREE
- All active military, retired military, and veterans are FREE
The park currently accepts cash & credit cards.
Peavine Falls at Oak Mountain State Park
One of the biggest things that brought us to Oak Mountain State Park was Peavine Falls. This 65-foot naturally-fed waterfall is one of the closest waterfalls to Birmingham. Though the falls require a short hike to get to it, the waterfall is extremely secluded and beautiful.
I will admit though, depending on which trail you take down to the falls, the hike can be a bit more strenuous in places. The trail we took down to the falls actually required some small mountain climbing, climbing over rocks, and was overall a steep trail. While we were able to do the trail just fine, I would not recommend hiking down to Peavine Falls if you are elderly, disabled, or hiking with young children.
I also want to point out, the trail is not marked well in some places.
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Peavine Falls actually reminded us of a lot of our home and it was probably one of our favorite places we’ve visited near Birmingham.
Alabama Wildlife Center & Treetop Nature Trail
The Alabama Wildlife Center and Treetop Nature Trail were other fun things to do at Oak Mountain State Park. The Treetop Nature Trail is just below the Alabama Wildlife Center and it’s an outdoor trail that is home to injured and recuperating bird rescues. On this trail, you will find different species of owls, vultures, and more.
On the day we visited the park, the birds were actually being vet checked while we were walking through and we were able to ask questions and learn more about their wild birds. Let’s just say, the stories of some of those birds in the treetop nature trail were just sad, but I am so thankful for programs like these that rescue injured birds.
The birds all looked well taken care of and I was so happy to see, almost every single cage had 2 birds inside. (Did you know, 92% of bird species live in pairs?)
At the Alabama Wildlife Center, you can see even more rehabilitated birds and even get a look at a Bald Eagle and a Eurasian Eagle Owl. These two birds are in their own cages, for obvious reasons, and were so cool to watch.
We loved visiting all the birds at the Alabama Wildlife Center and Treetop Trail. If you visit Oak Mountain State Park, be sure to make time for these and the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center which is located directly beside the Alabama Wildlife Center.
Oak Mountain Interpretive Center
The Oak Mountain Interpretive Center is an educational center with a hands-on exhibit hall. This center features some really cool artifacts and facts abut Alabama and Oak Mountain State Park.
While we were at the center, we were surprised to learn Alabama is home to 6 different types of venomous snakes and 3 different types of poisonous spiders. Let’s just say, I am glad to be living in Mountain Maryland where we only have 2 types of venomous snakes and rarely any poisonous spiders. Yikes! 😬
Demonstration Farm at Oak Mtn.
During our visit to Oak Mountain State Park, one of the things we wanted to do was visit the Demonstration Farm which is home to pigs, chickens, and goats. Unfortunately, the Demonstration Farm is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays to allow the animals to rest and we didn’t realize this until after arriving at the park.
While we were a bit disappointed not to be able to go inside the farm, we found so many other things to do at the park, that it didn’t really matter in the end.
The farm is open Thursday thru Monday 9 am to 5 pm, depending on weather and vet checks.
Peavine Gorge Overlook
The Peavine Gorge Overlook is a very cool spot to stop before you arrive at Peavine Falls.
At the overlook, you can see Birmingham, Hoover, Pelham, and Vestavia Hills. It’s a very cool overlook and well worth stopping at.
Our time at Oak Mountain State Park was so much fun. Had we had more time, we would have loved to have spent more time there, but who knows, maybe we’ll make it back one day?
Last Updated on 2 years by Crystal Carder