Paul M. Grist State Park

Stay Awhile // Camping/RV/Lodge // Outdoor Adventures

Dallas CountySouthwest Alabama

About

Paul Grist State Park is located near the city of Selma in Dallas County. Originally established as Valley Creek State Park in the early 1930s, the park was renamed by the Alabama State Legislature after Paul Malone Grist, an active local community leader and long-time YMCA director. The park’s 1,080 wooded acres surround the 100-acre impounded Paul Grist Lake, which is stocked with bass, bluegill, red-ear sunfish, and catfish. Fishing tackle, supplies, and artificial bait, as well as drinks and refreshments are available at the park office. Flat-bottom fishing boats are available for rent, and the lake has a launch area for privately owned boats.

The centerpiece of this beautiful 1,080-acre park is a 100-acre lake. Visitors enjoy the relaxing atmosphere surrounding the lake, which offers fishing, paddling and swimming.

ACTIVITIES

Day use opportunities include picnicking and barbecue grills are available throughout the picnic area. Pavilions are available for family reunions, birthday parties and other special events. 15 to 20 miles of hiking trails offers excursions into the surrounding forest.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Eleven modern campsites with 50-amp services overlook the lake, which is surrounded by southern pines and hardwoods. For those who prefer tent camping, primitive sites are also available. A bathhouse is located nearby that is ADA accessible.

NATURE

Paul M. Grist is a featured site on the Alabama Black Belt Birding Trail. In the park, you are likely to see a wide variety of waterfowl, song birds, raptors, and both migrating and resident species. Other wildlife you might see include White-tailed deer, Eastern wild turkey and a variety of amphibians and reptiles.

AREA ATTRACTIONS

While staying at Paul M. Grist State Park, you can visit the nearby city of Selma, where there are many historic houses and The Old Depot Museum, an interpretive museum in an 1891 railway depot. Selma is also known for Civil Rights history and is home to the National Voting Rights Museum. Selma hosts several events throughout the year such as the Battle of Selma Re-enactment. Nearby is Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, the site of Alabama’s first capital. Adjacent to the archaeological park is the Old Cahawba Forever Wild tract, which features hiking and hunting opportunities.