The Details
Your first task is to find the park. This is really very easy, from Birmingham you take I65 South to exit 246. When you get off get in the far left lane going west, and make the first left. Just follow this road under the interstate to a stop sign, turn left, and in half a mile you will get to the gate of the park. There are signs all the way from the interstate.
Once you get to the park you will be confronted by a toll booth, the price of entrance has gone up to $2 per person, so have cash ready. If you haven't printed out my map, you can buy one at the visitors center to the right just before the toll booth. I think they also cost $2, correct me if I'm wrong. As you will see, the map is of moderate quality. It does list all the marked trails, which is a plus, but they were drawn in by hand and can be difficult to see and follow. The map was made by the Vulcan Trail Association, the road map on this page comes from the Oak Mountain official home page.
Camping is allowed at 4 designated places in the backcountry, cost is $3.33 per person per night. The rules are listed on the
Oak Mountain Homepage. I'm not sure from their description where these sites are on the map. I will draw them in once I verify their existence (after rehiking the trails I still can't verify the existence of the official sites). You are to reserve your campsite at the country store, which is apparently the entrance to the car campground. There is also a telephone there, and I believe there is one near the park office in case of emergency.Park hours are from 7AM till Sunset, the gates do close after dark and you can not get out.
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Last Updated: April 2003
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