Visualize wet pine flatwoods, scrub oaks and palmettos covering acres of sandy swells. You will find these along the Rattlesnake Ridge Trail.  Catch a gopher tortoise forging Rattlesnake Ridge, an armadillo, named for its armored shell, digging for an afternoon snack or a woodpecker drumming to make its mark.

Explore the natural beauty of the trail, and the home it makes to many reptiles and mammals alike, while observing indigenous wildflowers, such as orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants. Spend a day of adventure relishing in the uniqueness of our diverse coastal landscape.

The trail is popular for a variety of activities such as walking, biking, inline-skating and bird-watching.

About the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail

Seven trails among six distinct ecosystems make up more than 15 miles of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail complex through Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Alabama and the Gulf State Park. Explore the timeless beauty of the Butterfly Garden, the mystical Freshwater Marshes and the Coastal Hardwood Swamps. Catch a glimpse of a Bobcat on the Twin Bridges or a White Tailed Deer on Gulf Oak Ridge. View an Alligator basking in the sun and be sure to bring your camera to capture the adventure. Courtesy: www.backcountrytrail.com