At the center of Old St. Stephens Historical Park is a 100 acre aquamarine lake, formed from limestone quarrying, with a beach for swimming, fishing, and sunbathing. The park offers canoes and kayaks for rent
There are more that sixteen miles of hiking and riding trails. Visitors can even rent horses for riding or obtain diver certification in the park. The lush forests and high limestone bluffs of the park provide a tranquil setting for these activities, as well as for bird watching and photography.
The purple trail has a steep hill and is 0.75 miles in length. At the center of the park is a 100 acre aquamarine lake, formed from limestone quarrying, with a beach for swimming, fishing, and sunbathing. The park offers canoes and kayaks for rent, and there are more that sixteen miles of hiking and riding trails. Visitors can even rent horses for riding or obtain diver certification in the park. The lush forests and high limestone bluffs of the park provide a tranquil setting for these activities, as well as for bird watching and photography. Courtesy: US Gulf Coast States Geotourism
Old St. Stephens Historical Park’s 600 acres contain a variety of habitats. Mixed loblolly pine and hardwood forest occurs on hills west of the old quarry and within the archaeological site. Park at the picnic pavilion and bird this upland habitat. Then descend toward the old quarry floor, but be sure to check the mature hardwoods around the Indian Baths on the way. When you reach the old quarry floor, park at the store. Eastern red cedar covers parts of the old quarry site and there are large areas of lawn around the store and camping facilities. Extensive marsh in the east and southwest parts of the old quarry, now lake and cypress swamp southwest of the old quarry will be of particular interest to birders.
Shore birds observed on the margins of the lake include Least Bitterns, Soras, Least and Spotted sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, and Killdeer. Ospreys, Mississippi Kites, and Red-shouldered Hawks are frequently observed around the quarry lake. Loggerhead Shrikes; Northern Parulas; Yellow-throated, Pine, Prothonotary, and Hooded warblers; American Redstarts, and Common Yellowthroats breed in the park. Spring and fall bring a wide variety of neotropical migrants and occasional flocks of American White Pelicans. Source: Alabama Birding Trails
Trail length: 0.75 miles | Latitude: 31.33414 | Longitude: -88.020518
Courtesy: US Gulf Coast States Geotourism
