List of Alabama state parks facts for kids

Alabama is home to many amazing state parks! These special places are managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. They offer fun activities like hiking, swimming, and camping. As of 2023, Alabama has 21 official state parks. There are also three historic state parks managed by other groups. These parks are perfect for exploring nature and learning about history!

Discover Alabama's State Parks

These parks are directly managed by the state. They offer a wide range of activities for everyone to enjoy.

State Parks for Fun and Adventure

Name	County	Size		Opened	Nearby Water	Image	What You Can Do
		acres	ha
Blue Springs State Park	Barbour	103	42	1963	Blue Springs		Swim in a natural spring, go camping, and enjoy picnics.
Buck's Pocket State Park	DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall	2,000	810	1971	Lake Guntersville		See amazing views, go camping, and explore hiking and horse trails.
Cathedral Caverns State Park	Marshall	461	187	1987	---		Take exciting cave tours and enjoy tent camping.
Cheaha State Park	Clay, Cleburne	2,799	1,133	1933	Cheaha Lake		Visit Alabama's highest point for scenic views, hiking, and camping.
Chewacla State Park	Lee	696	282	1939	Lake Chewacla		Go fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, camping, or stay in cabins.
DeSoto State Park	Cherokee, DeKalb	3,502	1,417	1939	Little River		Enjoy camping, lodging, picnics, and hiking or biking trails.
Frank Jackson State Park	Covington	2,050	830	1970	Lake Frank Jackson		Go boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and camping.
Gulf State Park	Baldwin	6,150	2,490	1939	Gulf of Mexico, Lake Shelby		Enjoy fresh and saltwater fishing, swimming, golf, and camping.
Joe Wheeler State Park	Lauderdale, Lawrence	2,550	1,030	1949	Wheeler Lake		Stay at the lodge, camp, use the marina, or play golf.
Lake Guntersville State Park	Marshall	6,000	2,400	1947	Guntersville Lake		This park has a resort, cottages, camping, golf, hiking, and fishing.
Lake Lurleen State Park	Tuscaloosa	1,675	678	1952	Lake Lurleen		Go boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and biking.
Lakepoint Resort State Park	Barbour	1,220	490	1968	Lake Eufala		This resort offers golf, a lodge, camping, cabins, and a marina.
Meaher State Park	Baldwin	1,327	537	1989	Mobile Bay		Explore nature trails with a boardwalk, use the boat ramp, and go fishing.
Monte Sano State Park	Madison	2,140	870	1938	---		Visit the planetarium, enjoy picnics, hiking, and camping in cabins or tents.
Oak Mountain State Park	Shelby	9,940	4,020	1927	Double Oak Lake		Visit the Alabama Wildlife Center, go golf, swim, hike, bike, or ride horses.
Rickwood Caverns State Park	Blount	380	150	1974	---		Take exciting cave tours, go swimming, picnicking, hiking, and camping.
Wind Creek State Park	Tallapoosa	1,445	585	unknown	Lake Martin		Enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and biking.

Parks with Shared Management

Some state parks are managed by both the state and local groups. This helps keep them open and fun for everyone!

State Parks with Shared Management

Name	County	Size		Opened	Who Manages It	Nearby Water	Image	What Makes It Special
		acres	ha
Bladon Springs State Park	Choctaw	357	144	1939	Choctaw County	---		This park has historic spa grounds with special mineral springs.
Chickasaw State Park	Marengo	520	210	1935	Marengo County	---		It is located near the David K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area.
Paul M. Grist State Park	Dallas	1,080	440	1930s	Dallas County	Paul Grist Lake		Go swimming, fishing, boating, and camping here.
Roland Cooper State Park	Wilcox	236	96	1969	Private contractor	Dannelly Reservoir		This park closed in 2015 but reopened in 2016 for visitors.

Historic State Parks

These parks help us learn about Alabama's past. They protect important historical sites.

Explore History at These State Parks

Name	County	Size		Opened	Who Manages It	Nearby Water	Image	What You Can See and Do
		acres	ha
Historic Blakeley State Park	Baldwin	1,400	570	1981	Historic Blakeley Authority	Tensaw River		Go camping, picnicking, and explore hiking trails.
Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park	Bibb	486	197	1976	Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission	Little Cahaba River		See old industrial ruins, historic buildings, trails, and campsites.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park	Tuscaloosa	2,063	835	1969	Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission	---		Visit preserved industrial sites, the Iron & Steel Museum, and crafts cabins.

Former State Parks

Some parks used to be part of the state park system but are now managed differently or have closed.

Parks No Longer State-Managed

Name	County	Size		Opened	Current Management	Nearby Water	Image	What Happened
		acres	ha
Chattahoochee State Park	Houston	596	241	1930s	---	Irwin's Mill Creek		This park closed for good after Hurricane Michael hit in 2018.
Florala City Park	Covington	40	16	1909	City of Florala	Lake Jackson		This park became locally owned again in 2015.