Where? 22600 US Highway 31 Vinemont, Al 35179 Coordinates: 34.2868434 -86.8949823
What is it? Hurricane Creek Park is set in a gorge in North Alabama. It’s a small preserve with about 4 miles of trails, including a really cool “twighlight tunnel” or small cave.
How hard are we talkin’? It’s pretty easy, but there are some steep spots for sure. The bridge that crosses the creek is made of old wooden benches, but it’s surprisingly sturdy!
Can I swim there? YES! There is a swimming hole just above the man made dam. It’s perfect for swimming and picnicking.
There are at least 2 waterfalls here and they are really beautiful! One rolls over a large bluff and you can walk behind it. The other waterfall has a wooden bridge that leads you across the base of the falls.
Any other details? We were there on a Sunday afternoon in the spring and the parking lot was pretty crowded. I get the feeling that summertime and weekends probably bring a significant crowd. Even though the parking lot was full, we weren’t walking on top of people as we walked the trails. There’s plenty of room to explore.
The history here is so cool! The guy that initially bought and developed this beautiful gorge did an amazing job making trails for the public. You can see see metal railing that held a cable car that used to bring guests out of the gorge back in the 70’s. There’s also a park office and ticket booth that remain locked in 2019. There used to be an amazing boardwalk and some jumps for bikes. If you look to your left after passing the ticket booth, upon entering the trails, you can see where a closed trail leads further up the mountain.
Leave no trace: Because this place is frequented by many, there are plenty of opportunities to pick up behind your neighbor. There are trash cans in the picnic area next to the creek. Don’t be afraid to use them!
