Alabama · Hiking

Highlands Trail

0.4 mi
round trip
153 ft
climb
710 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–May, Sep–Dec
best months

Highlands Trail is an easy, short outing of about 0.74 miles, with an elevation gain of 128 feet and a round trip of roughly 153 feet up and down, all within Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Alabama. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the route is an out-and-back that reaches a high point of 710 feet. It is a gentle climb, with the steepest stretch at about 0.15 miles in, where the grade reaches 12 percent, and the trail is best suited to a half-hour walk or a quick detour. Fall is a comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Pinson put October highs around 75°F with lows near 50°F, and April runs similarly mild. Spring and fall are also the driest seasons, with about six wet days in each month. Several other trails sit within a short distance. The Turkey Creek Nature Preserve National Recreation Trail and Thompson Trace Trail are each about 0.3 miles away, and the Narrows Ridge Trail is about half a mile off. Paddlers can find Turkey Creek roughly 1.4 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Feb–May, Sep–Dec

    Best time to visit Highlands Trail

    Best months: February–May and September–December. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      54° / 31°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      58° / 34°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      67° / 41°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      75° / 48°

      8 wet

    5. May

      82° / 56°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      88° / 65°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 68°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      90° / 68°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      85° / 61°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      75° / 50°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      64° / 39°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      56° / 34°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pinson, AL, 1.3 mi away at 608 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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