What brought more than 200 people out to hike on a bright November day? And what keeps them coming back for mountain bike and hiking tours across four miles of Red Mountain ridges?

It could be the chance to catch a unique view of Oxmoor Valley to the south or Birmingham skyscrapers in Jones Valley to the north.  Or the chance to see old mining structures up close, from the Redding Hoist House or the portal to No. 14 mine which once provided ore to support our nation’s military needs.

Thanks to supporters, volunteers and staff of Red Mountain Park, you can already access part of property that is larger than New York’s Central Park and sample trails that one day will be part of amenities that include a recreational lake, camping and picnic areas and miles of interconnecting, multi-purpose trails across more than 1,200 acres.  Full access is still a few years away, but you can already appreciate the beauty and history of Red Mountain Park by exploring with a guided tour or through the newly designed website.

As executive director Dave Dionne explains, Red Mountain Park is a place with local and national significance. The mines illustrate the reason why our city developed in this place and took such an important role in the economy of our state and region. Miners here brought out the important iron ore which, combined with naturally occurring coal and limestone, turned Birmingham into the Pittsburgh of the South.

 “The ore mined here helped to build a nation,” Dionne said. “Red Mountain mines were the supply house to build the arsenal that supported our nation during two world wars. They also served as the incubator for the Civil Rights movement as black and white miners worked side by side.” 

Red Mountain Park staffers and interns from UAB and Samford University are collecting oral histories from former employees of U.S. Steel and their families who worked in the mines and lived in nearby mining camps like Wenonah and Redding. This helps accomplish what Dionne calls “building the park in the community and building the community in the park,” because the two are so closely connected.

The community connections also come through Friends of Red Mountain Park, the volunteer group which supports the hikes and assists in cutting new trails and clearing mine sites. 

You can plan to join regular hikes on the third Sunday of each month, plus specialty hikes which can be organized through park staff. Upcoming dates include December 20, January 17, February 21, March 21 and April 18, with tours starting at 2 p.m. in the cul-de-sac at the end of Frankfurt Drive, 1.4 miles west of the intersection of Lakeshore with with West Oxmoor Road. 

The first mountain bike tour is set for early December, so e-mail now to find out more about that event. Or you can explore the master plan using the interactive map viewer on park's website.

You can support Red Mountain Park in a variety of ways, including as a member of the Friends organization, which provides e-newsletters and event reminders throughout the year, as well as opportunities to volunteer to assist with hikes and workdays. To learn more, contact David Dionne by e-mail  or call 254-1909.