Alabama Off-Road Trails

Lower Skyway Motorway is a scenic byway that winds through the heart of the Talladega National Forest in Alabama. This remote road offers travelers a rugged journey through dense woodlands, rolling hills, and serene landscapes, embodying the natural beauty and tranquility of the region. This 14-mile-long road follows the ridgeline of Horns Mountain, traveling north from the White Gap Valley. Several overlooks along the trail offer stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Skyway Motorway, a route that originally traversed the Talladega National Forest from north to south, was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Over the years, Skyway Motorway was broken up into several different segments. Lower Skyway Motorway, FR 600-1, is one of those segments. While most roads in the Talladega National Forest are improved, Lower Skyway Motorway is one of the few rugged routes for offroad enthusiasts.

Refusing to be just another hill climb trail as you see so often throughout the park, Stony Lonesome 404 breaks the norm and offers drivers a doable challenge even on the slickest of days. This trail is great for beginners who want to learn how to safely drop the nose of their vehicle down an obstacle and is likely the closest experience they will ever have to driving a spiral staircase. Start here if you are new and work your way up to the more difficult Badge of Honor trails, such as Switchback.

Switchback is one of the many trails in the 1,465 acres of Stony Lonesome OHV Park. This particular trail, located close to the park's entrance, is extremely steep and weaves its way through several switchbacks high above Dorsey Creek. No other trail within the park combines breathtaking views and technical challenges. Switchback is a notorious trail that lives up to the hype as it tests a driver's mental fortitude and a vehicle's mechanical abilities.

Like watching monster-truck freestyle in the woods, the objective of rock bouncing is to pilot a highly modified off-road buggy up insanely steep inclines with damage-inflicting jagged rocks in the shortest amount of time possible. Rock bouncer racing is known for its high speeds, big jumps, and intense crashes. If this type of action sounds like something you want to see or experience firsthand, look no further than Stony Lonesome 508. This trail accesses the largest congregation of rock bouncing hills within Stony Lonesome OHV Park and is a great location to see these amazing machines in action.

Marked with white crosses honoring those whoe died trying, gives proof that Gut Buster is a serious trail for serious rigs. This vertigo-inducing hill climb between trails 508 and 506 is part of an infamous stretch of hills in the northern center of the park that has long been popular for Rock Bouncing competitions. Large rocks at the start of the trail rob you of the momentum you desperately need as you approach a near-verticle rock face that will require loads of horsepower to conquer. It is not uncommon to winch the exit of this trail.

It is best practice to ensure that groups only send one vehicle up at a time, as the lead vehicle will likely be backing up several times.

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that you are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

Cullman, a 21-minute drive northeast, has the closest hotels.

Middle Skyway Motorway, FR600-2, is a 10-mile-long trail going from mild to wild while it meanders along the ridgeline south of the Cheaha Wilderness in the Talladega National Forest. The north half of the trail is a maintained gravel road while the southern portion requires a 4WD for this rugged route. At about the halfway point, Middle Skyway Motorway crosses Hanging Rock Road, a paved two-lane mountain road. The road will gradually get more difficult as you continue south from here. Users should be aware that the southern end of the trail has a gate that has been locked in the past because of an easement dispute between the property owner and the forest service. If the gate is shut and locked, you must turn around and exit the trail at Hanging Rock Road.

The hardest part of the trail is a segment where erosion has cut a 4' deep cavern down the middle of the road. Careful line selection is important to prevent your vehicle from falling into the cavern. A spotter would be beneficial here.

Although dispersed camping is allowed along the trail, there are only a few wide spots along the trail that do not make for a good camping experience.

Upper Skyway Motorway, Forest Service Road 500, is a 24-mile-long gravel route meandering through the northern reaches of the Talladega National Forest. A 1/2-mile-long section of the trail is paved near the route's mid-way mark. This route travels through the Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area in the Choccolocco Mountain Range. With abundant groves of hardwood Oaks, you are treated to a beautiful mature forest on this route. If so inclined, you can take a short spur road to the pristine Sweetwater Lake and relax with a hook in the water. Hiking, biking, hunting, and horseback riding are popular activities along Upper Skyway Motorway.

Five different designated camping areas are located along Upper Skyway Motorway. These campgrounds are primitive, semi-primitive, and improved. Hunter camps have no services, while other venues have modern toilet structures, fire rings, and picnic tables. The Coleman Lake Recreation Area has full RV sites with power, water, and sewer.

Stony Lonesome Main Access Road is two-way traffic and spans the entire length of the park, southwest to northeast. The trail starts at a gate and passes many well-marked trails. Be sure to note "Wrong Way" signs, as most trails are one-way only. The main feature along this trail is an obstacle called "Little Moab," a wide sandstone rock obstacle with lines from mild to wild. Most of the road is relatively easy, with a few small ledges, ruts, and shallow mud holes. However, just before reaching trail 508, there is a steep drop with a 32-degree pitch, which will require 4-wheel drive to climb over on your return trip.

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that you are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

The closest hotels reside in the town of Cullman, about a 21-minute drive northeast.

Truck Trail West is a two-way trail located on the south side of the Tennessee River in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The smooth, easy trail follows along the Tennessee River with ample opportunity to stop and take in the views. This popular trail allows fishermen to park their vehicles along the river and dip a line in the water. It is the perfect place to take the family for a quick sunset ride.

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is a 35,000-acre wildlife refuge located along the Tennessee River near Decatur, Alabama. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages the refuge, established in 1938 to provide a habitat for migrating and wintering birds.

It is essential to stay on the gravel trail or risk losing access to this beautiful area. This trail is closed to motorized vehicles between October 14th and February 10th every winter.

Truck Trail East is a two-way trail located on the south side of the Tennessee River in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This smooth, easy rail follows along the Tennessee River, allowing ample opportunity to stop and take in the views. This is a popular trail for fishermen to park their vehicles along the river and dip a line in the water, and it is the perfect place to take the family for a quick sunset ride.

The section of this trail between Mussle Camp Road and Bluff City Road is smooth, graded gravel with just an occasional pothole. However, once you are east of Bluff City, it is much less maintained and mostly dirt. It can get muddy and slick if it has been raining. The section east of Bluff City is only open for a couple of weeks each year, February 10th through March 1st and October 1st through October 14th. The portion of this trail west of Bluff City is closed to motorized vehicles between October 14th and February 10th every winter but open otherwise.

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is a 35,000-acre wildlife refuge located along the Tennessee River near Decatur, Alabama. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages the refuge, established in 1938 to provide a habitat for migrating and wintering birds.

It is essential to stay on the trail or risk losing access to this beautiful area.

Stony Lonesome 44, otherwise known as Baldie, is a long, steep, and chunky staircase-style hill climb with countless ledges seemingly buttered with loose sand. This challenging two-way trail in the middle of the park offers many different line options and is sure to entertain everyone in a group, from mild rigs to wild rigs. Keep your lockers engaged and the momentum turning because this trail is known for stealing all tire traction in the blink of an eye.

This trail is best suited for modified vehicles with larger tires and skid plate protection.

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that you are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

Cullman, a 21-minute drive northeast, has the closest hotels.

Trail 421 is a great trail for those wanting to hit harder trails at the park but still want to avoid large obstacles and damage. It gives the driver an opportunity to check out the top of the Extreme trail, Yeti Bottoms. 421 winds through the forest with just a few rock obstacles before getting to a relatively large drop-off at the 0.8-mile mark that looks intimidating from behind the driver's wheel. Just stay to the passenger side of the obstacle and drop down smoothly to be on your way!

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that you are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

Cullman, a 21-minute drive northeast, has the closest hotels.

Stony Lonesome 407 is a two-way traffic trail located along the east-central boundary of the park. The trail traverses a rocky, moderate hill climb with plenty of room to pass other vehicles. You will encounter several small ledges and narrow mud holes. The northern tip of the trail offers driver's the chance to scope out several extreme hill climb trails such as Terminus, Bobby's World, X-Wife, and Child Support. Also, along the northern tip, you'll encounter the hardest part of the 407 trail, which is a small rock ledge with a 28-degree pitch, oftentimes wet and muddy.

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that you are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

The closest hotels reside in the town of Cullman, about a 21-minute drive northeast.

A short and easy route near the south end of the Talladega National Forest, Bulls Gap-Sycamore Road wonders through the pine and hardwood forest. Bulls Gap-Sycamore Road begins at its intersection with Alabama Highway 148 and ends 5 miles later at the start of private property. The road becomes Rocky Mountain Church Road. Just south of the road's end is Lake Tallaseehatchee, a small lake in the National Forest popular for fishing. There are no obstacles on Bulls Gap-Sycamore Road and the road remains a maintained gravel road from start to finish. Although dispersed camping is allowed, only one viable campsite located along the route. Located near the intersection of Rocky Mountain Road (FR616), Quinn Hunter's Camp is a primitive designated camping area more appropriate for camping in the immediate vicinity.

OPEN All Year

Blackwell Swamp Run is a two-way trail located in the northeast corner of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This short, easy trail surrounds Blackwell Swamp, an area known for wildlife such as deer, cranes, and even the occasional alligator! There is a nice spot to stop near the Tennessee River to skip stones, watch boats, or go fishing. The trail consists of graded dirt with gravel as well. There is the occasional pothole to watch out for. Otherwise, it is smooth sailing!

The gate on the south end of this trail is closed between October 14th and February 10th every year. During that time, you must enter the trail on the north end and drive out the same way.

Duck Nest Motorway is a cozy forested road from the Cheaha State Park north towards Oxford, AL. Not heavily used, this easy, graded gravel road is a quick and peaceful route when leaving the Talladega National Forest. Duck Nest Motorway becomes Kentucky Road at the National Forest boundary, traversing a quaint rural neighborhood. The only camping available is at the Duck Nest Hunt Camp near the edge of the forest boundary. In the Talladega National Forest, a hunter's camp is a designated primitive camping zone with dispersed camping in the designated area.

An eight-foot culvert is used under Duck Nest Road where it crosses Salt Creek. Although the creek is little more than a babbling brook, heavy rains have washed out this culvert, causing the road to be closed in the past.

Stony Lonesome 501 is a two-way traffic trail that is the first trail you will encounter to the northeast after passing through the entry gate of Stony Lonesome OHV Park. It is 1 of 2 trails you can take to access the Badge of Honor trail Switchback. The trail begins at the main access road and starts relatively easily. 501 crosses a drainage trail known as Rock Garden or Timbuk 1 and continues straight across, working over basketball-sized rocks and then powers up a steep, 20-degree hill that requires 4-wheel drive. The trail concludes at the Switchback and 502 trail intersection.

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that they are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

Cullman, a 21-minute drive northeast, has the closest hotels.

Stony Lonesome 414 is a one-way trail primarily used to access more difficult trails at the northeast end of the park. This trail is the access trail and the parallel trail to the popular Rock Creek trail (23). Although 414 is a great road to watch heavily modified rigs attempt the massive boulders along the drainage below, it also presents a couple of rock challenges of its own. The trail starts at the Main Access Road North and travels west a short distance down an easy, hard-packed road. It then passes the Rock Creek entrance and begins traveling south. Just past trail 418, you encounter a 3-foot rock ledge that crosses the trail at 45 degrees and leans you up against a tree. The park map labels this as a green trail. However, this obstacle is quite difficult and has a high potential to damage a stock vehicle. The potential for damage to windshield frames, mirrors, and tops, is extremely high. Vehicles with hardtops are not recommended here. Wide tires sticking out far from the body will help avoid body and top damage.

The trail continues as Rock Creek reconnects, and erosion has exposed multiple tabletop-sized rocks that could be hard to get traction on in wet conditions. The trail ends at the Main Access Road, just west of trail 407.

In its current condition, unless maintenance is performed at the off-camber ledge, this trail is best suited for modified vehicles with larger tires and body protection.

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that you are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

Cullman, a 21-minute drive northeast, has the closest hotels.

Stony Lonesome 502 is a two-way traffic trail that is 1 of 2 trails you can take to access the Badge of Honor trail, Switchback, and the Timbuk 2 hill climb. The trail starts off the 501 trail and gets the blood pumping immediately with a steep ledge climb. You'll likely need a bump to get over it. You'll then trek up and down a steep dirt hill and cross over Rock Garden and the Timbuck trails. The trail weaves through car-sized boulders, where you'll eventually encounter two massive rock slabs. There are multiple lines across the slabs, none of which are easier than the others. Pick a line that best suits your build. The trail concludes at the Switchback and 501 trail intersection.

This trail is best suited for modified vehicles with oversized tires. Traction aid devices and a winch are recommended.

Stony Lonesome OHV Park is a private offroad park near Cullman, Alabama. The park is open Friday through Sunday. Riders must check in at the office near the start of the Main Access Road and check out at the end of the day to notify staff that they are no longer in the park.

Stony Lonesome offers several onsite accommodations, including tent campsites, RV campsites with full hookups, cabin rentals, and other unit rentals. Visit their website for further details.

Cullman, a 21-minute drive northeast, has the closest hotels.

Rocky Mountain Road is an easy gravel road located in the southern part of the Talladega National Forest. Also managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, this road meanders through the Hollins Wildlife Management Area. Mature hardwoods and pine trees both thrive in this diverse forest. Camping and hunting are both popular activities along this 5.7-mile-long forest road, with camping being available at Guinn Hunter's Camp near this route's trailhead. In the Talladega National Forest, a "hunter's camp" is a primitive area designated for dispersed camping.