Gulf Coast Region - Hiking Alabama: A Guide to the State's Greatest Hiking Adventures - page 35

This hike concludes at the end of the Gator Lake Trail, but if you have the time, I
highly recommend you make a left turn here onto the Pine Beach Trail. Follow the
trail north between Gator Lake and Little Lagoon for 0.4 mile to visit the huge el-
evated birding platform located on the north side of Gator Lake. The view is won-
derful, especially for birders, and it's a great place to eat lunch.
Another option is to turn right at the Pine Beach Trail (at 0.8 mile) and head
south to the Gulf. This adds another mile to this out-and-back hike. At mile 0.9 ar-
rive at a Y in the trail. Take the right fork (south). A sign here points the direction.
The left fork is private property. You now begin walking on beautiful, fine white
sand dunes. The walking becomes tougher from here to the Gulf in the deep sand.
The trail is now marked with 4-by-5-inch hiker signs mounted on 4-by-4-inch
posts. ( FYI: Make sure you stay on the path! The dunes are federally protected
habitats.) At mile 1.0 pass the foundation of a house to the right (west) destroyed
by Hurricane Frederick. In 0.1 mile come to another Y in the trail. Take the right
fork to the south. The left fork is closed to hikers. In a few yards you will come to
another house foundation. At mile 1.2 climb over sand dunes to get your first
glimpse of the Gulf of Mexico. The trail is lined with ropes to keep hikers off the
dunes. In 0.1 mile arrive at the Gulf of Mexico. Feel free to walk the beach, ex-
plore, collect some shells, and enjoy the serenity that the Pine Beach Trail offers.
When you're ready, turn around and retrace your steps to the trailhead.
Hiking Information
Local Information
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism, 3150 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores,
AL 36542; [phone]; www.gulfshores.com
Local Events/Attractions
National Shrimp Festival, 3150 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores; [phone].
Held annually in March on the white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the festival
features a variety of entertainment, arts and crafts, and lots of fresh Gulf shrimp.
Lodging