A 1,500-acre park on Birmingham's Red Mountain ridge, with over fifteen miles of trails traversing former iron ore mining operations. The park contains mine shafts, ore cuts, and the ruins of the industrial infrastructure that helped make Birmingham. Tree canopy walks, ziplines, and a children's play area make it more of a full-day destination than a quick hike.
The park opened in 2012 on land that was mined for iron ore from the 1880s to the 1960s. The ore here — combined with limestone from nearby mountains and coal from the surrounding valleys — is what made Birmingham the "Pittsburgh of the South." Red Mountain Park does a good job of weaving that history into the trail experience. Admission is free for the basic trail access; the tree canopy walk and ziplines carry a separate fee.