Birmingham trails: 18-plus miles at Red Mountain Park, 11-plus at Ruffner Mountain, the 2.2-mile Vulcan Trail and the Rotary Trail, with parking and fees.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Distances, entrances and fees come from the agency or group that runs each trail, linked inline. Trail conditions change after storms; check before you go.
Birmingham’s longest trails are on its ridges. Red Mountain Park and Ruffner Mountain, both run by Jefferson County Greenways, have nearly 30 miles of trail between them on old mining land. Downtown, the Rotary Trail and Railroad Park give flat, paved walking, and the Kiwanis Vulcan Trail follows an old railroad bed along Red Mountain.
Who to call
- Red Mountain Park and Ruffner Mountain: Jefferson County Greenways, 205-833-8264, info@jeffcogreenways.org
- Railroad Park: 205-521-9933
- Red Rock Trail System: Freshwater Land Trust
The trails at a glance
| Trail | Length | Surface and setting | Parking and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Mountain Park | 18+ miles | Hiking and biking, ridge and mining history | Free; 2011 Frankfurt Drive and 2019 Venice Road |
| Ruffner Mountain | 11+ miles | Hiking, oak-hickory-pine forest | $5 parking; 1214 81st St. S. and 1942 Ruffner Road |
| Kiwanis Vulcan Trail | 2.2 miles | Former Mineral Railroad bed | Vulcan Trail parking lot |
| Rotary Trail | Four blocks | Paved, downtown | Street and deck parking |
| Railroad Park | 19-acre park | Paved paths, downtown | Free, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
Red Mountain Park
More than 1,500 acres along the Red Mountain ridge with over 18 miles of hiking and biking trails, minutes from downtown. Entrances with parking are at 2011 Frankfurt Drive (main, with accessible restrooms) and 2019 Venice Road, both Birmingham, AL 35211. There is no parking or admission fee. The park has the Butler Snow Sensory Trail for visitors with developmental differences, low vision or low hearing and for wheelchair users, and Remy’s Dog Park for off-leash dogs. The aerial adventures remain closed, according to Jefferson County Greenways. Trail maps are on the Greenways’ trails page.
Ruffner Mountain
More than 1,000 acres of oak, hickory and pine forest on a reclaimed mining site, with over 11 miles of mountain hiking trails. The main entrance is at 1214 81st St. S., 35206, and the eastern trailhead at 1942 Ruffner Road, 35210. Parking is $5, paid with ParkMobile, at the vending machine at the pavilion or in cash at the trailhead donation box; members with a permit park free. Restrooms are in the Nature Center and at the main entrance pavilion. Some trails are rough, rocky and narrow, the Greenways say, but every skill level can find one, according to Ruffner Mountain’s page.
Kiwanis Vulcan Trail
Once the bed of Birmingham’s Mineral Railroad, the Kiwanis Vulcan Trail is a 2.2-mile trail, updated by Freshwater Land Trust, that runs along Red Mountain by Vulcan Park and Museum, according to Vulcan Park and Museum. The city lists it among its parks.
Rotary Trail
The Rotary Club of Birmingham’s 100th anniversary gift to the city, completed in 2015, turned a vacant railroad cut downtown into a landscaped four-block walking, running and biking path. The club calls it the heart of the Jones Valley corridor of the Red Rock Trail System, linking toward Railroad Park and Sloss Furnaces, according to the Rotary Club of Birmingham. In its 10th year the club has proposed an Eastern Gateway trailhead.
Railroad Park
Downtown’s 19-acre park on 1st Avenue South between 14th and 18th streets has paved paths and lawns, is free and is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. It hosts free exercise classes on weekdays from April to October; see our parks and trails guide.
The Red Rock Trail System
Freshwater Land Trust’s Red Rock Trail System links trails, parks and complete streets across Jefferson County in six corridors that mostly follow the area’s creeks. As of 2026, 175 miles had been completed. Its 2023 action plan aims for 19 miles of new trail and a 36-mile loop around the metro area. The longest existing trail in the system is the Five Mile Creek Greenway, with 15.8 miles open, according to Freshwater Land Trust. In Homewood, about five miles south, the Shades Creek Greenway is part of the same system.
What this means for you
- Start free: Red Mountain Park has no parking fee; bring cash or the ParkMobile app for Ruffner.
- Wear real shoes on the mountain trails; some are rocky and narrow.
- Dogs stay leashed on all Greenways trails; see dog-friendly Birmingham.
Related: kids’ activities, free things to do and getting around Birmingham.
Frequently asked questions
How many miles of trails are at Red Mountain Park?
More than 18 miles of hiking and biking trails across more than 1,500 acres, according to Jefferson County Greenways. There is no parking or admission fee.
Does Ruffner Mountain charge for parking?
Yes, $5, paid with ParkMobile, at the vending machine at the pavilion or in cash at the trailhead donation box. Greenways members with a permit park free.
How long is the Vulcan Trail?
The Kiwanis Vulcan Trail is 2.2 miles on the bed of Birmingham’s old Mineral Railroad, according to Vulcan Park and Museum.
What is the Rotary Trail?
A four-block walking, running and biking path downtown, built in a former railroad cut and completed in 2015 as the Rotary Club of Birmingham’s 100th anniversary gift to the city.
How big is the Red Rock Trail System?
Freshwater Land Trust says 175 miles of trails in Jefferson County had been completed as of 2026.
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