NOW OPEN: Fort Morgan, Gulf State Park trail extended 4.4 miles

Hikers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts, this one’s for you: the Fort Morgan Trail recently celebrated the opening of a 4.4 mile extension, bringing the Gulf State Park trail’s total length to approximately 10.5 miles! The trail, which extends westward from Plantation Boulevard to a new terminus near Fort Morgan Pizza, will provide locals and visitors alike more opportunities to experience the coastal landscape by foot or bicycle.

Here’s a quick look at the trail:

• New trail terminus location: 30°14’23.2″N 87°51’07.1″W
• Length:
  • Extension: 4.4 miles
  • Total length: 10.5 miles
• More info on Alabama State Parks

The trail is paved and 10 feet wide along its entire length, making it accessible to walkers, runners, cyclists and visitors of all ages and abilities. The extension also features 12 new bridges, crafted to help preserve critical coastal wetlands along the route.

At the new terminus, visitors will find a parking lot and a new bathhouse featuring four private, family-style suites for trail users.

On Friday, Aug. 28, community leaders, elected officials and Alabama State Parks staff gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the trail’s newest section.

“This is a great day for south Baldwin County. Extending the Fort Morgan Trail gives residents and visitors more opportunities to walk, bike and enjoy the beauty of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Projects like this create new ways for people to experience the outdoors, support tourism and enhance the quality of life for the communities we serve.”

Chris Blankenship, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner

The Fort Morgan Trail also connects with the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system, allowing visitors to have access to a bigger network of about 28 miles of paved trails throughout Gulf State Park that connect to Orange Beach.

The $5.6 million project was made possible by the federal Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act, which uses civil and administrative penalties paid under the Clean Water Act by companies responsible for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Under the act, the funding supports programs, projects and activities designed to restore and protect the environment and economy of the Gulf Coast region.

This trail extension is just one of the projects Alabama State Parks has undertaken recently. Check out their other exciting improvements across the state:

• The new RV Resort at Gulf State Park
• Construction of a new access road at Rickwood Caverns State Park in Warrior, Alabama
• The total renovation and re-opening of Lake Lurleen State Park
• A new, 32-room bluff-side lodge at Cheaha State Park opening later in 2026

“We’re thrilled to see the Fort Morgan Trail extended because trails like this one bring people outside, connect them to nature and give everyone another reason to spend time on our gorgeous Gulf Coast.”

Alabama State Parks Director Matthew Capps