Lightning Loop
- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 112 ft
- climb
- 318 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Oct–May
- best months
Lightning Loop is a short, easy loop in Lake Lurleen State Park in Alabama, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is 0.41 miles long and sits at a low point of 264 feet, with a high of 318 feet. It is a front-loaded climb, with the steepest stretch at about 0.25 miles in, and the total gain is 33 feet. The route is best suited to a quick outing, and the estimated time is about half an hour. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tuscaloosa show October highs around 79°F with lows near 55°F, while July highs reach about 94°F. Storm Loop and Tornado Loop are both about 0.2 miles away, and McFarland Trail is about half a mile off. For a longer walk, the Lake Lurleen State Park National Recreation Trail is about 1.1 miles away.
Best time to go · Oct–May
Best time to visit Lightning Loop
Best months: October–May. 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.
Jan
57° / 36°
10 wet
Feb
62° / 40°
10 wet
Mar
71° / 47°
10 wet
Apr
78° / 54°
9 wet
May
85° / 63°
8 wet
Jun
91° / 70°
9 wet
Jul
94° / 73°
11 wet
Aug
93° / 73°
10 wet
Sep
88° / 67°
7 wet
Oct
79° / 55°
7 wet
Nov
67° / 44°
8 wet
Dec
59° / 39°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuscaloosa Acfd, AL, 7.8 mi away at 169 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
