Next to a golf course and a railroad, the Ross Bridge Historical Park has an easy hiking/biking…read moretrail and a small creek covered by native plants. I visit this park once in a while to walk my dog or take photos of passing freight trains. There is limited parking space at the entrance, which deserves some attention.

This is a nice trail at Ross Bridge. You can park next to the road. Trail is paved for part of the…read moreway, then it's gravel, then grass. Well shaded, this is a good place to go for a walk with or without dogs. Very pretty. There are bridges and a stream runs in the middle. There's a little wooden train and a small play area for little ones. Quiet and peaceful except for when the train goes by. We like walking our dogs here.

Beautiful trail in a scenic setting. There are some moderate hills, but nothing too tough. There…read moreare several tunnels under roadways that allow for a continuous path. I cycled the trail from end to end and absolutely loved it!

So happy we found this trail. It's my new favorite! The directions on Yelp will take you right to…read morethe parking area. From there you walk on the sidewalk till you get to where the trail goes off to the right and down the hill. The trail is wide and flat and paved. On this particular day, we saw walkers with and without dogs and joggers and someone with a stroller. Very shady through a lot but not all of it. Benches here and there to take a break. A few cool tunnels to walk through that the kiddos will love. Round trip from the parking area was 3 miles. Can't wait to come back. The dogs loved it!

After talking with a friend about this trail, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful…read moreveterans day weather and check this place out. I had never heard of this park/trail before and that shocks me considering how close it is to our house. This is parking across the street, but not a whole lot. Perhaps enough room for 6-8 cars. The entire trail follows a stream which adds in a picturesque scene as you cruise along. There is a historic market telling about the blast furnaces that used to be there. There were some people, but certainly not crowded. The trail was pretty smooth for the most part. Very few roots and other trip hazards. Really my only complaint is that its not long enough. And obviously some people ignore the dog waste bags provided for them at the beginning. But overall we loved finding this little gem and will definitely be going back!

This is a great neighborhood park with access to Shades Creek. It's does 2 things really well…read more Number one it is an educational historical site and secondly it serves as a connector trail. It does these two things phenomenally well. There are a few benches, trash bins, doggie bags, educational signage, and parallel parking. The trail connects to the overall system of Mountain Brook Sidewalks and Trails and is part of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System. So if you're coming to run here be prepared to do some sidewalk running as well to get decent miles in. It's a nice change of scenery, but not really a destination park.

Ruffner Mountain was a great stop during our four‑day girls hiking trip in Alabama. Since we…read moreplanned to tackle a big 23‑mile hike the following day, we decided not to hike the entire park and instead kept it to about three miles. Even with a shorter hike, we were still able to experience and enjoy the park and its trails. My favorite part was Cambrian Overlook. Even though I'm scared of heights, I knew I had to push myself to the edge of the cliff to take in the view--and I'm so glad I did. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous and worth every bit of bravery it took to snap a photo. If I find myself back in the area, I would definitely be open to returning and exploring more of what the park has to offer. It's a beautiful spot and a great option for hikers of all levels.

Ample parking close by trail ($5; can pay by Park Mobile app). The there multiple trails to choose…read morefrom that are well marked and well maintained. There are restrooms on site.

Well well well. Finally made it to the Vulcan walking trail. This trail did not disappoint. I was…read moresurprised at the number of people on the trail, but all seemed pleasant. I thought that it was interesting that the apartments below the trail had stairs leading up to the trail. Nice benefit to living in the area. I noticed a few of the residents heading up and down the trail with their dogs. Yes, this is a pet friendly trail with waste bins along the trail. The trail seems well maintained without being manicured. The overgrowth of brush is seen along the path without impeding the trail. The views over the city is great when walking, running or walking is nice. Great trail for bike riding, leisurely walks or increased cardio workouts. Bring your kids, pets and or family to capture some city views and get in a good workout. I will be back, definitely wearing a hat! The sun is bright up there!!

I'm a recent transplant to Alabama and have been wanting to check out the Vulcan Trail. It's paved…read moreand flat (or at least the one mile i walked up and back was). I saw several people walking along, a couple joggers and one person with a dog. Everyone was polite and respectful. I did have a gentleman stop and warn me about a man that was up the trail a bit that could potentially be troublesome or make me uneasy. I really appreciated him warning me and telling me to be safe. Aside from that, I had no concerns walking the trail alone. I took in all the beautiful city views and the random flowers along the way. I do wish it was kept up a bit better, however. There are downed trees that have been cut but not cleared, a trash can fallen over, etc It's a great place to get some movement in and take in the views!

East Lake Park has the potential to be a nice Park, but (at least on the morning that I was here),…read moreit seemed unattended and could use a bit of cleaning and upkeep. There were overturned garbage cans and trash strewn about. Maybe it was just from an event or something. Still, again, it is a nice enough park and I enjoyed walking around the lake.

With some improvements, this could be a really nice park. It is a place that I had not even known…read moreabout in the past. But when they provided an opportunity for kids to come get and fly a kite over spring break, we jumped at the chance. The side of the park we were on just had street parking or you could park further away at the community center. We opted for the street. The park itself seems like it could really use some updated. I bet when this park first opened, it was amazing. But years of wear and tear are inevitable. And at some point, a large overhaul is in order. The lake was really cool and my kids enjoyed seeing the ducks. I had no idea we had a lake like this with a park in the city. Overall a really cool park that really needs updates. That leaves it A-ok in my Yelp book.

Cahaba Greenway Trail at Riverchase is a great trail for dog walking or a simple scroll. You can…read morestay on the concrete pavement or get adventurous and explore the wooded hiking trail. There are several benches if you need to rest, but nowhere to use a bathroom/portal potty. The grounds are clean and well maintained.

I have always been a big fan of Lakeshore Trail since my now 20+ year olds were little. The trail…read moreis long and paved and perfect for bikers, walkers, and families with young kids. Shades Creek runs along the side of the trail, so it is pretty. Along the way, there are plenty of entrances and parking lots, but because of the large, beautiful trees, the concrete and asphalt are hidden from the trail, and there is a lot of shade. My only wish is that, because of the distance of the trail, that they would put a few port a potties along the way.

I come out here a lot!! It is very shaded and the miles were marked to help you keep up! As a…read morewoman, I feel completely safe coming out here alone. There are always lots of people out! If you are looking for a safe, long walking trial then this is it!