Alabama Off-Road Trails

Big Hill Bypass is a two-way traffic trail used just like the name suggests. This road bypasses the difficult hill on Baldie and reconnects to the Main Access Road near the 407 junction. This road also bypasses the most difficult sections of the Main Access Road near Little Moab. If you are looking for the easiest route through the middle of the park, Big Hill Bypass is for you. This is a well-packed road with occasional mud and potholes. Big Hill Bypass is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

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.

Slogging its way through tight hollers peppered with loose beachball and tabletop-sized boulders, Bootleg Creek never lacks excitement and always has you guessing the right line as the rocks shift and change with each passing vehicle. Stony Lonesome 29 is a one-way trail traveling west to east beginning at trail 418, passing several panic-inducing hill climbs such as Widow Maker, STR8 Up, God's Gift, and Stairway to Heaven, and finally ending at the Main Access Road North. Just before its exit, the bravest offroaders can try their luck at an optional hill climb with multiple 4 to 5-foot ledges.

This trail is best suited for modified vehicles with oversized 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 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 12, also called Valley Hill, is a one-way east-to-west trail starting at 508 and ending at 503. The trail is a long, slow climbing trail peppered with beachball and tire-sized boulders and ends with three different ledge climbs that will be sure to test any sized rig. The center exit is a triple-stairstep type waterfall with a 2-foot ledge, a 5-foot ledge, and a 4-foot ledge making for one nasty waterfall exit. The right side exit is a series of 3-foot and 2-foot ledges spaced exactly to your wheelbase, ensuring you are trying to climb two ledges simultaneously. The left side exit is a single 3-foot rock ledge with a slight undercut on the passenger side and several boulders that will bite at your rock sliders.

This trail is best suited for heavily modified vehicles with oversized tires, dual traction aid devices, winches, and skid plates.

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.

This Stony Lonesome main road does not have a name or number. Maps devices may label it as 25, but the official park map does not. Because it is a main road and is the only other road to a gate access point, we call it Main Access Road North.

This trail is two-way traffic and is used as a simple connector route to access other trails within the park's northeast corner. Although the official park map shows this road connecting to Highway 69, there is a closed gate just before the highway. For that reason, this entrance is likely just an emergency entrance. Main Access Road North has two moderate hills but is generally a packed dirt road with shallow erosion ruts and the occasional pothole. It is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

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.

Rockhouse Road is a two-way trail located on the north side of the Tennessee River in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This easy and smooth trail follows along the Tennessee River, allowing ample opportunity to stop and take in the views. This is the most 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.

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.

Located only minutes from both Oxford and Anniston, AL, Military Road is a beautiful out-and-back drive in the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 2003, the wildlife refuge encompasses a portion of the now-closed Fort McClellan Military base. Fort McClellan permanently closed in 1999 and was a training site for American troops in both World Wars. Beyond its military function, Fort McClellan played a pivotal role in the advancement of chemical warfare research and training during the 20th century. However, its legacy is also marked by controversy due to the environmental impact of its operations, particularly concerning hazardous materials and waste disposal.

Today, a sign at the start of the road warns of the high potential for encountering old military ordinances. Due to this danger, most of the property along the west side of the road is off-limits. Signs warning of a blast potential are posted, and camping is prohibited along this road.

Military Road, once known as Campington Road, boasts displays of large, gorgeous, mature, natural Oakleaf Hydrangea plants. The bright white flower blooms offer a stunning contrast to the thick green forest.

Mussle Camp Road is a two-way trail on the south side of the Tennessee River in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This short, smooth trail takes you to the Tennessee River and a small gravel beach perfect for lunch, fishing, or dipping your toes in the water.

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 open all year long.

Known only as HGH to most, a quick stop by the ranger station revealed that this trail is officially called Henry Grammer Highway in honor of a former U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service employee who helped build it. While it does not offer views of the Tennessee River, there are amazing wetlands to view along the way. There are also farm fields that provide an interesting contrast to the forest and wetlands along this trail.

HGH is an easy two-way trail with barely a pothole to be seen. Remember to always stay on the trails. Rangers do patrol this area and will ban you if caught off the trail in your vehicle. 

HGH has a gate on both ends that is closed and locked from October 14th to February 10th every winter.

Trail 300 is a "main" trail that feeds the 300 series trails on the south end of the park. It is a two-way trail, so be aware of oncoming traffic. Trail 300 is mainly a dirt trail with some washouts and occasional mud holes.

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 32, also known as The Ledges, is a short, extreme hill climb with 3 to 4-foot ledges. The trail is one-way, starting at trail 408 and finishing at the Main Access Road. There are two paths up the trail, the far right side being the main route and the most extreme. The right side is an off-camber, double ledge climb through a narrow cut with car-sized rocks and 4-foot ledges. The left side is considered the bypass but is still a steep climb with table-top-sized rocks and 3-foot ledges.

This trail requires highly modified vehicles with oversized tires, traction aid devices, winches, and rollover 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.

This trail is only open for three weeks in later winter (2/10-3/01) and two weeks in the fall (10/1-10/14).

Talley Bottoms Road is a two-way trail on the south side of the Tennessee River in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This trail is not connected to any other trails in this Refuge. It is the easternmost trail and connects two paved roads, Sharp Ford Road and Talucah Road, which leads to a nice area on the Tennessee River.

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, which was 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.

Stony Lonesome 408 is a one-way trail that starts at 407 and ends at the Main Access Road. It is the only trail you can use to access The Ledges, trail 32. Although not as extreme as trail 32, trail 408 boasts its own challenging ledge obstacle. Most of the road is easy as you travel east and could be completed by any 4WD vehicle. But as you approach the end of the trail, past 32, you come to a steep series of ledges, 3 to 4 vehicles wide. This obstacle tilts your vehicle to 28 degrees and favors longer wheelbase vehicles, as the three, two-foot tall ledges are spaced perfectly to slow down anything with less than a 100" wheelbase.

This trail requires modified vehicles with oversized tires, traction aid devices, and winches.

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.

OPEN February 10 - May 31 and October 01 - October 14

Penny Bottoms Road is a two-way, dead-end trail located on the north side of the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The smooth, gravel trail begins where Skinner Springs Road ends. At the end of Penny Bottoms Road is a permanently locked gate, but a short walk past the gate reveals a small dam with amazing water views on both sides. Since there is no motorized traffic and almost no foot traffic, this area is teeming with wildlife, including flocks of cranes.

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 only open a few weeks a year.

OPEN February 10 - October 14

Beaver Dam Peninsula is a two-way loop located on the north side of the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The smooth, easy loop goes around the peninsula with wetlands surrounding the trail. There is also an observation tower near the trailhead for nature lovers to utilize!

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. This trail is closed to motorized vehicles between October 14 and February 10 every winter.

Known only as JTT to most, a quick stop by the ranger station revealed that this trail is officially called John Turner Turnpike in honor of a former U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service employee who helped build it. While it does not offer views of the Tennessee River, there are amazing wetlands to view along the way. The near-constant canopy also offers shade and the perfect summer ride with your top down (and maybe doors off for the Jeepers). This is one of the few trails open year-round in  Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, so feel free to enjoy it anytime.

JTT is an easy two-way trail, but one short section stays wet all the time and may be a bit muddy and slick after significant rain. Remember to always stay on the trails. Rangers patrol this area and will ban you if caught off the trail in your vehicle.

Yeti Bottoms is an intense trail. Just looking at the entrance from the main trail can turn your stomach due to how quickly it descends into the valley. Once at the bottom, a series of twists and turns will seriously challenge the flex of your suspension. Finally, you find yourself at the bottom of a very rocky climb that, even with just a little moisture, can turn out to be a winchfest for everyone in your group. Lockers, skid plates, and 37"+ tires 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 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.

OPEN February 10 - March 01 and October 01 - October 14

North Beaver Dam Road is a two-way dead-end trail located on the north side of the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The smooth, sometimes muddy trail goes traverses the nearby farms and wetlands surrounding the trail. If it has been raining, this trail can become more difficult and may require four-wheel drive.

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. This trail is only open five weeks out of the year.

Jolly Bottom Road is the main northern entrance for Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This short, smooth two-way trail leads to other trails around this refuge, such as HGH, Blackwell Swamp, and Rockhouse Bottoms. There is a place to pull off about a mile on the left to launch a small boat onto Blackwell Swamp. This trail consists of smooth, graded gravel for the most part.

While the trail is open year-round, the gate on the south end is closed between October 14th and February 10th every year. During that time, you must enter the trail on the north end and drive in and back out the same way. Also, it is essential to stay on the trails, or we risk losing OHV access to this gem of an area.

This trail is only open for three weeks in later winter (2/10-3/01) and two weeks in the fall (10/1-10/14).

Madden Branch Road is a dead-end trail on the south side of the Tennessee River in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This trail is not well maintained and does have a washout. It provides nice views of the wetlands and ends on a river tributary where you could put in a small boat.

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.

OPEN February 10 - October 14

Skinner Springs Road is a two-way trail located on the north side of the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This winding trail skirts along the edge of the wildlife refuge and connects Rockhouse Road and Penny Bottoms Road, two other trails in this area.

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. This trail is closed to motorized vehicles between October 14 and February 10 every winter.

Stony Lonesome 505 is a straight-through, one-way trail that starts with a steep and narrow downhill descent as you make your way towards Cousin Eddy hill climb and Skull Crusher hill climb. The trail is rocky and rutty, with two holes that abruptly sneak up on you as you can't see them over the vehicle's hood. Those holes have large rocks, so fast-moving vehicles could damage components if not careful. The trail is mainly used as an access road to the two aforementioned hill climbs and is suitable for any high clearance 4-wheel drive.

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.

Rock Creek has it all! Off-camber, flexed-out suspension, big rocks, mud, steep climbs, you name it! The best part is it runs parallel to a much easier trail, 414. If you are in a mixed group, some can choose to ride on 414 while others put on a show down in Rock Creek. The trail branches off of 414, traveling north to south, and begins mildly with a dirt path through the trees. After that, it has undulating mounds within steep walls that will really test the flex in your vehicle's suspension. Finally, you end with a series of large rocks to traverse on a steep climb towards the exit. When it is dry, you can usually complete the trail without winching if your vehicle is adequately equipped (35"+ tires and lockers). If conditions are wet, all bets are off!

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 303 is a trail that recently (as of July 2024) received significant maintenance to make it a stock-friendly Jeep trail. It is a twisty and somewhat tight trail through the woods and along the creek. Towards the end of the trail, there is a difficult loop that consists of a steep rutted climb followed by a steep rutted descent. This loop is easily bypassed but is part of the official trail. Otherwise, this trail is a jaunt through the woods with some occasional mud.

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.

Cry Baby Holler is a short but intense trail deep within Stony Lonesome. It is not a trail you will find on the official park map, but rest assured, it is an approved and marked trail! The best way to access this trail is to go all the way to the end of the main access trail and turn right on Trail 410 (which takes you by the top of Cry Baby Holler). At the bottom of 410, you turn right again onto 409 and immediately onto another right to begin this trail. The beginning is relatively smooth, but you quickly find yourself at the bottom of a steep rocky incline. Body damage is possible, especially with hard tops. The trail is very steep and puts you off-camber against trees, which can cause damage. The largest ledge is approx 24" high. The rocks at the top are sharp and can slash tires if you are not careful. Pick your line, and you will be at the top in no time!

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.