A new park in Springville, Alabama, rolled out its green carpet with a ribbon cutting in February 2024 and is wide open for exploring its more than seven miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. The Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve covers 422 acres and includes its namesake creek, which we’ve told you about before as one of Alabama’s best places for easy kayaking.

Now, you can easily explore much of the land to the south and east of the creek, thanks to the dedication and hard work of many public entities, private donors, and community volunteers for well over a decade. The level of collaboration that went into this preserve is remarkable, and once you see this natural wonderland just northeast of Birmingham, you’ll understand why.

The preserve itself is a Forever Wild Land Trust property, now managed by the City of Springville in collaboration with St. Clair County. 
Even Wildinger/AllTrails
The trust, city, and county are just a few of the groups who worked over several years to make this preserve a place the public can enjoy. The support was evident at the grand opening, with over 400 people showing up to celebrate.
Asa Sargent-Springville Police Department via Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve/Facebook
The preserve has over seven miles of well-marked and carefully maintained trails – four trails in total. Three of them are rated easy by AllTrails, and the fourth is moderate. They include the easy-rated Slab Creek Trail (2.7 miles), the Fallen Oak Trail (1.2 miles), and the Easy Rider Trail (2.6 miles), plus the moderate Creek Loop Trail (1.4 miles).
Karl Hopfensperger/AllTrails

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These tidy new forest paths are excellent for all skill levels, allowing you to focus more on nature than wearing yourself out! If you do need to stop for a break, there are plenty of benches along the way. You may not even need a physical rest but simply prefer to pause a bit to take in the surroundings. And that's the point here, considering the biodiversity you'll see.
Karl Hopfensperger/AllTrails
Plant life you'll see among these hardwood and pine forests includes many blooming native plants such as wild azaleas, oak leaf hydrangeas, mountain laurels, and buckeyes. If you hear rustling off the path, it's likely eastern wild turkey, white-tailed deer, or perhaps beavers when you're close to water. There, look for spotted bass, blacknose dace, and goldstripe darter, among more than 50 other fish species. You may also see the protected trispot darter (the real deal, beyond the cool, color-changing one on the entrance gate sign).
Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve/Facebook
Then there's the birding, and many might say I saved the best for last. At least 83 bird species have been spotted at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve so far, including the Summer Tanager, the only totally red bird in North America. Needless to say, you'll want to bring your binoculars!
Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve/Facebook

As for your own animals, friendly pups on leashes (with owners who clean up after them) are welcome. Admission to the preserve is free, and it is open daily except for Monday and Tuesday. Hours vary a bit by season, so check the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve website or Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve Facebook page for the latest information before planning a visit. You can also get more information about this trail with your very own AllTrails Plus membership!

Last, if you are not familiar with the area, Springville is easy to access from major highways. It’s just 30 miles northeast of Birmingham, off Interstate 59.

Let us know if you’ve been to this new park in Springville, Alabama, or fill us in afterward if you check it out soon! We’d love to hear about your adventure.

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Featured Addresses
Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve, 1700 Murphrees Valley Rd, Springville, AL 35146, USA