West Bluff Trail
- 0.8 mi
- round trip
- 362 ft
- climb
- 1,510 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
West Bluff Trail is an easy, 1.6-mile out-and-back hike in Alabama's Blevins Gap Preserve, a non-governmental organization-managed preserve. The route gains about 74 feet in elevation, with the high point at 1,510 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.5 miles in, where the grade reaches about 9%. The most comfortable time to go is fall, when typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 74°F in October with lows near 47°F. That station sits about 920 feet lower, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. Bikes are allowed. The trail makes an easy pairing with Sugar Tree Trail, just 0.3 miles away, and Smokerise Trail at 0.5 miles. For something longer, Varnedoe Trail is about 0.9 miles off, and Walsingham Trail is about 1.6 miles away.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit West Bluff Trail
Best months: February–May and September–November. 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
50° / 30°
11 wet
Feb
55° / 32°
11 wet
Mar
63° / 39°
11 wet
Apr
71° / 46°
10 wet
May
78° / 56°
10 wet
Jun
86° / 64°
10 wet
Jul
88° / 68°
11 wet
Aug
88° / 67°
9 wet
Sep
84° / 59°
7 wet
Oct
74° / 47°
8 wet
Nov
62° / 36°
9 wet
Dec
53° / 32°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Owens Cross Roads 3s, AL, 7.8 mi away at 590 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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