Red Mountain Park
Daily, 5am-7pm
Closing times may vary during holidays.
All aerial adventures remain closed at this time.
Entrances with parking
- 2011 Frankfurt Drive (main)
- 2019 Venice Road
Birmingham, AL 35211
Download a trail map here
No parking or admission fee, but our Membership Program is a wonderful way to support the park and our ongoing work.
Activities
Groupings of picnic tables can be found at Regions Quarry Picnic Area and Protective Life Picnic Area (are these official names). Additional picnic tables and benches are scattered throughout the park.
All of the trails at Red Mountain Park are multi-use. Please keep hikers in mind as you ride. For a more adventurous downhill mountain bike ride, visit RideBHM.
Red Mountian Park hosts the Butler Snow sensory trail for visitors with developmental differences, people with low vision and/or low hearing and for those who use wheelchairs.
Red Mountain Park is dog friendly. When on the trails, for the safety of your pet and others, we ask that your dog remains on-leash. Once you are within the fences of Remy’s dog park though, your furry friend is free to run. Please pick up after your dog to keep our greenspace clean for all. Waste bags and trash cans are located at Remy’s dog park and each main trailhead.
Red Mountain Park provides several different habitat types which offer opportunities to observe a variety of birds in the lowlands or from the overlooks.
Trails traverse our greenspaces and offer spectacular views, at all elevations. While some of our our trails are rough, rocky, and narrow, every skill-level of hiker can find an enjoyable trail.
Points of interest
Two entrances with parking lots are available. The FRANKFURT DRIVE ENTRANCE: 2011 Frankfurt Drive, Birmingham, AL 35211 and the VENICE ROAD ENTRANCE: 2019 Venice Road, Birmingham, AL 35211
Portable restrooms are available at several trailheads. Please remember to bring your own drinking water as there is no running water in the park.
Three bike repair stations are located throughout Red Mountain Park for your convenience.
An Automatic Emergency Defibrillator is mounted on the trailhead kiosk by the Regions Quarry Picnic Area. The AED begins directing the user as soon as it is opened, so no special training is required to render aid to someone in distress. In addition to providing a shock if needed, the AED is a CPR coach. It provides audible prompts which guide chest compressions and evaluate the patient. Park staff have scheduled the recommended monthly tasks to ensure that the AEDs remain in ready condition. We hope that they are never needed, but for someone experiencing a heart attack, the AED provides the extra minutes that make all the difference before EMS arrives.
**During cold weather periods, the AED is moved into the office. Always call 911 first for any emergency.
Our pollinator gardens adds color to the area all year round in addition to providing the native plants that our pollinators need to eat, find shelter, and lay their eggs. Join us for volunteer work days to help maintain our gardens and learn more about the plants. We also offer plant sales twice a year so that you can create a pollinator oasis in your own yard.
Benches are scattered along many of the trails to offer a rest or take in the view.
Remnants of mining operations dot the mountain and are often spotted along the trails. All mine openings closed to the public for safety.
Happening at
Red Mountain Park
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FAQ
Frankfurt Drive Entrance: 2011 Frankfurt Drive, Birmingham, AL 35211
From Interstate 65: Take Lakeshore Parkway Exit (Exit 255) headed west (toward Bessemer) for approximately three miles, turn right onto Frankfurt Drive. Park entrance is at the very end of the street in the cul-de-sac. Parking is directly across the street from the entrance; veer to the right onto Lyon Lane and immediately turn right into the parking area.
Venice Road Entrance: 2019 Venice Road, Birmingham, AL 35211
From Interstate 65: Take Lakeshore Parkway Exit (Exit 255) headed west (toward Bessemer) for approximately 3.5 miles (past RMP sign). Right on Sydney Drive/Wenonah Oxmoor Road. Right on Venice Road. Straight for approximately 0.5 miles. Right into parking lot.
From Ishkooda Wenonah Road:
Southeast on Venice Road from Dan’s Grocery. First left into the parking lot.
They are not open at this time. We are currently evaluating options for the future of the adventure courses.
History
Red Mountain’s history is deeply tied to Birmingham’s rise as an industrial powerhouse. In the early 1800s, the area’s rich deposits of hematite iron ore were discovered, though it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that mining efforts began in earnest. By the Civil War, Red Mountain’s ore was fueling iron production for the Confederacy, and by the late 19th century, it became the foundation of Birmingham’s booming steel industry—earning the city its nickname, “The Magic City.”
For nearly a century, mining operations thrived, with industrial giants like U.S. Steel shaping the region’s economy. However, by the mid-20th century, the industry declined, and the last ore mine on Red Mountain closed in 1962. The land remained largely untouched for decades until 2007, when conservation efforts led to the creation of Red Mountain Park.
Today, the park spans over 1,500 acres, preserving the remnants of Birmingham’s mining past while providing trails, outdoor recreation, and a refuge for native wildlife. Red Mountain Park stands as a testament to the city’s industrial roots and its commitment to conservation.
More history on Red Mountain Park coming soon!
