Moss Rock Preserve Orange Trail
Photo: EricEricson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 1.5 mi
- distance
- 207 ft
- climb
- 801 ft
- high point
- Lollipop
- route
- Oct–May
- best months
Moss Rock Preserve Orange Trail is an easy hike of about 1.5 miles in Alabama, set within Moss Rock Preserve and about half a mile from the community of Verdue Knolls. The trail climbs from roughly 750 feet to about 800 feet at its high point, with a total one-way elevation gain of about 207 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Helena weather station put October highs around 76°F with lows near 52°F and September and October each averaging about eight wet days. That station sits well below the preserve, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The trip takes about half an hour, and the trail is easy to fit into a visit. The Moss Rock Preserve White Trail is about half a mile away, and the climbing areas at Moss Rock Preserve, Grass Man and Ozzy are each under a mile off.
Best time to go · Oct–May
Best time to visit Moss Rock Preserve Orange Trail
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
55° / 35°
11 wet
Feb
60° / 38°
11 wet
Mar
68° / 45°
12 wet
Apr
76° / 51°
10 wet
May
83° / 60°
10 wet
Jun
90° / 68°
11 wet
Jul
92° / 71°
12 wet
Aug
92° / 70°
11 wet
Sep
87° / 64°
8 wet
Oct
76° / 52°
8 wet
Nov
65° / 42°
9 wet
Dec
57° / 37°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Helena, AL, 8.3 mi away at 480 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: EricEricson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Moss Rock Preserve White Trail
Next door
Scenic 2.69-mile loop through Alabama's Moss Rock Preserve with quartzite formations.
Photo: EricEricson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Moss Rock Preserve Red Trail
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
