Gulf Coast Region - Hiking Alabama: A Guide to the State's Greatest Hiking Adventures - page 30

4 Gator Lake Trail
A beautiful, and easy, out-and-back hike that allows hikers of all ages to experience
some of the wonders of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. This 1.5-mile
path takes you past the freshwater Gator Lake over rolling sand dunes dotted with
beautiful black-eyed Susans, wild rosemary, blazing star, and, of course, wildlife
including dozens of species of migratory birds, monarch butterflies, and maybe an
alligator or two.
Start: Trailhead at parking lot
Distance: 1.5 miles out and back
Hiking time: About 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy to moderate due to deep-sand trail bed
Trail surface: Fine sand
Best seasons: Early March-late May, early Sept-early Nov
Other trail users: None
Canine compatibility: Dogs prohibited
Land status: National wildlife refuge
Nearest town: Gulf Shores
Fees and permits: None
Schedule: Year-round, dawn to dusk