Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Maps: USGS Pruitton, AL;
DeLorme: Alabama Atlas & Gazetteer,
page 18 B7;
trail maps available online at the Forever Wild website
Trail contact: Alabama State Lands ADCNR, 64 N. Union St., Montgomery, AL
36130; (334) 242-3484; www.alabamaforeverwild.com
Special considerations: Hunting is permitted on the property from fall through
early spring. Please visit the Forever Wild website for dates and restrictions.
Finding the trailhead: From Florence at the intersection of US 72 (Florence
Boulevard) and Darby Drive, head north on Darby Drive / Old Jackson Highway
south 4.4 miles. Turn left onto CR 61 (Butler Creek Road) and travel 2.6 miles. A
small sign is at the turn into the preserve on the right. Turn right and head down
the gravel road 0.5 mile to the trailhead. GPS: N34 54.437' / W87 37.233'
The Hike
Tucked away in northwest Alabama just north of Florence is the 298-acre Shoal
Creek Preserve. This beautiful water-feature-filled property once faced possible
development, and it might have ended at that until grant money awarded to
Forever Wild by the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund
and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, along with
several financial and in-kind donations made by the city of Florence and Lauder-
dale County, put the property out of reach of developers. The property is now
managed by Forever Wild.
The goal of acquiring this property was “to preserve natural plant and animal
species and habitats while providing opportunities for hiking, horseback riding,
fishing, hunting, canoeing, picnicking, bird watching, photography and nature
study.”
Since the acquisition 4.5 miles of trail have been created, including two hiking
trails (this hike and the Jones Branch Loop) and a horseback-riding trail. The ad-
dition of these trails has made the preserve a popular place, thus fulfilling one of
the state's goals for purchasing the tract. The trail system here was named a Na-
tional Recreational Trail in 2012.
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