East Alabama Travel Destinations

Alligator Creek Nature Trail

Both of the trails here, the one-mile Alligator Creek trail and the one-half mile Beaver Creek Interpretive Trail, encompass a broad array of habitats, from marshland to mixed-age woodlands. Yellowthroats, Swamp Sparrows, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Grea …

Ashland City Park

A small city park with opportunities for songbirds and woodpeckers year round. Pay particular attention to the small copse of mature woods. Combine this site with a visit to nearby Clay County Public Lake.

Chambers County Public Fishing Lake

One of the prettiest public fishing lakes in Alabama, Chambers County Lake is worth surveying for waders, waterfowl, swallows, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles. The woods around the lake can be birded from the roadside. There is habitat for Prairie Warblers, c …

Chapman’s Creek

A serene birding stop characterized by mature mid- and upper-story habitat. There is a good likelihood of finding woodpeckers (including Pileated), Red-eyed Vireos, Summer Tanagers, Wood Thrushes, Great Crested Flycatchers, Broad-winged Hawks, and Wild Turkeys.

Charles E. Bailey Sportplex

A part of the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail, the Sportplex is an interesting combination of attractively wooded grounds surrounding athletic fields and open parking areas. There are hiking trails that originate from the rear corner of a large parking …

Cheaha State Park

Mt Cheaha is Alabama’s highest point, and it is one of the southernmost locations to find a number of the state’s more interesting breeding birds, such as Blue-headed vireo, Cedar waxwing, and Sharp-shinned hawk. Additionally, as the park is located in …

Cherokee Ridge Hiking Trails

This area has 11 miles of hiking trails, with one skirting the shoreline of Lake Martin for approximately 4 miles. Other areas of the trails are high rocky ridges and bluffs, some with vistas of six to eight miles overlooking Kowaliga Bay and Chimney R …

Chief Ladiga Trail

The Chief Ladiga Trail is Alabama’s premiere rails-to-trails project. It wanders 33 miles through the countryside of Calhoun and Cleburne counties and it connects the municipalities of Piedmont, Jacksonville, Weaver and Anniston. Seen along the way are beautiful wetlands, streams, forests, farmlands, and a horizon filled with mountains. The Chief Ladiga Trail is a family oriented pathway that provides a safe, non-motorized way to travel, exercise and relax while enjoying the outdoors.

Clay County Public Fishing Lakes

Three lakes of 13-, 23-, and 38-acres make up Clay County Lakes. Clay County Lakes are located 1 mile west of the east central Alabama town of Delta on State Lake Road. Fishing: Bass fishing good year-round, with the biggest usually caught from Februar …

Coleman Lake Recreational Area

(in the Talladega National Forest) The newly renovated Coleman Lake Recreation Area is peacefully nestled into the Talladega Mountains For recreationists who want to get away from the crowds, but want a few modern conveniences, Coleman Lake Recreation …

Coon Creek Nature Preserve and Recreation Area

Located on the banks of the Tallapoosa River, this preserve includes the one-mile Overlook Loop trail and the four-mile Wood Duck trail, both good for woodland songbirds. The upland portions harbor Northern Bobwhites, Wild Turkeys, sparrows, towhees, E …

Coosa WMA/Double Bridges

One of the five “birdiest” sites visited in this region. Many bird species not detected at any other site were found here — songbirds, raptors, and game birds. A colony of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers resides here. The trail is being tended and lengthened. It is currently approximately 3 miles long, for a 6-mile hike in and out.