Whether you’re a birding enthusiast, a passionate nature lover, or just looking for great places to hike, the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail offers miles and miles of adventures through scenic habitats. Spanning two counties, there’s a total of six different trail loops, each featuring several sites, and interpretative signs noting points-of-interest along the way. All of the loops are close enough to each other to easily drive from one to the next.

The Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Loop begins at the bridge over Perdido Pass and includes trails through Gulf State Park, Boggy Point, the Catman Road Trailhead, the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail and more. The Fort Morgan Loop begins on the Jeff Friend Trail in the Bon Secour National Wildlife Preserve and includes five sites before ending at the marsh and field area south of the fort. The South Baldwin County Loop begins in Foley and includes the Lillian Swamp Forever Wild Tract, the Weeks Bay Reserve, Graham Creek Nature Preserve and several other nature sites.

Other loops include: the Eastern Shore, Mobile Bay Causeway and Blakeley Island Loop; the East Mobile River-Tensaw Delta Loop; and the Dauphin Island-Bayou La Batre Loop. Bring your camera and photograph native blue herons, pelicans, egrets, migrating bird species, and other woodland creatures. For complete directions, descriptions of each loop, and to download a free birding guide, go to www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com. For more area information, visit www.gulfshores.com.