Offering the best in nature-based tourism opportunities, Gulf Shores/Orange Beach is the adventure you’re looking for from hiking and biking to canoeing and sailing. Our parks and recreational facilities bring you closer by the minute to nature…to family and friends!

Where to Find Nature

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Off State Highway 180 at the 13-mile marker; 251-540-7720. This 7000+ acre refuge with beach access protects and preserves the unique plants and animals that call the Gulf Coast home. Hike the scenic, four-mile Pine Beach Trail or the wheelchair accessible one-mile-loop Jeff Friend Trail or the new Centennial trail, 2.2 miles long, with observation platform over a wetland, footbridges, and a 650-foot boardwalk over a black tupelo swamp complete with interpretive panels. Catch bass, bluegill and bream in the 40-acre freshwater Gator Lake (canoes and electric trolling motors only). On the nearby lagoon, cast for trout and flounder or scoop up crabs. See a large migratory bird stopover in April, May, September and October. Open year-round from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Leave your pets at home, however, as they are not allowed on trails, beaches or other areas within the refuge.

Gulf State Park
Headquarters: 20115 State Highway 135, Gulf Shores; 251-948-7275. This Gulf Coast gem boasts 6000 acres of land with 2.5 miles of beaches on four preserved stretches of sand. Inland, 900-acre Lake Shelby hosts freshwater fishermen, boaters, skiers and swimmers; nearby nature trails wind through the wooded land. Scheduled educational nature activities include beach walks, hikes, slide presentations and nature films. Wildlife exhibits at the Nature Center are open year-round.

Gulf-side facilities include a public pavilion and boat ramps. Open year-round. Free to enter park; individual attractions may charge a small admission or parking fee.

Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
On U.S. Highway 98, about 12 miles west of Foley, 251-928-9792. Protects approximately 6000 acres of coastal habitats and wetlands, including an estuary (a body of water where fresh and salt waters converge). Visit the Interpretive Center with indoor exhibits and a live animal room, and explore the nature trails and bog. Ground trails and boardwalk trails, which are handicap accessible, are available. Picnic facilities are available. Open Monday–Saturday 9–5, Sunday 1–5. Admission is free.

Biophilia Nature Center & Native Nursery
On County Road 95, three miles east of Elberta and 1/4 mile south of U.S. Highway 98. This ongoing 20-acre ecological restoration project includes a carnivorous plant bog, a swamp, ponds, hundreds of native plant species, various butterfly host plant colonies, bold and shy wildlife, and a bookstore/library. Butterfly Gardening and Pine Needle Basket Weaving are among the science, nature and craft classes offered. Call 251-987-1200 for class and tour information and reservations. Visit our website for a map and more information at www.biophilia.net.

Minamac Wildflower Bog
Located five miles east of Fairhope, 251-945-6157. From early April through September, more than 300 varieties of native Southern wildflowers bloom in this five-acre preserve. Open for tours by appointment only. Admission is charged, and group rates are available.

Meaher State Park
Near Mobile on Battleship Parkway, two miles east of the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, 251-626-5529. Situated in the wetlands of Mobile Bay, this 1327-acre park features two self-guided nature trails that highlight the flora and fauna of this unique area. Also available: picnic areas, primitive camping, and fishing from the 500-ft. pier. Open daily 7–4. Admission is $1 for adults, 50 cents for children 11 and under.