Oak Mountain named 5th most affordable and scenic state park in U.S.

Birmingham metro’s own Oak Mountain State Park ranks 5th among a list of 150 state parks across the U.S. for its beauty and affordability.

The “best state parks” survey was conducted by HomeToGo, a national and global vacation rental group. The index looked at six things that matter most to park-goers: 

• Affordability
• Visitor satisfaction
• Scenic appeal
• Wildlife diversity
• Trails
• Emerging travel interest

State Parks ahead of Oak Mountain

The state parks that ranked ahead of Oak Mountain include:

• Humboldt Redwoods State Park in California
• Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada
• Custer State Park in South Dakota
• Silver Falls State Park in Oregon 

Two other Alabama parks also made the list – Alabama’s Gulf State Park at #9 and Huntsville’s Monte Sano State Park ranked #32.

Key facts about Oak Mountain State Park

A fun fact about Oak Mountain State Park: In the early 1930s, the National Park Service acquired 8000 acres with the intention of making it a national park! 

World War II put an end to that vision.

Other interesting facts about Oak Mountain State Park:

• It is the largest State Park in Alabama at 11,000+ acres
• There is a rare tree called the Boynton Oak that had been discovered on the park grounds
• More than 500,000 people visit Oak Mountain annually
• The park is home to the Alabama Wildlife Center

Have you visited Oak Mountain State Park? What is your favorite outdoor activity? Let us know on social media by tagging us in the comment section at @bhamnow