If you’re planning a motorcycle trip to Birmingham, Alabama, you will want to add Bankhead National Forest to your list of places to visit. This sprawling forest includes over 180,000 acres filled with canyons, bluffs, waterfalls, lakes, springs, and more. Better yet, it’s just a 90-minute motorcycle ride from Birmingham.
Read on to learn more about taking a Bankhead National Forest motorcycle ride.
What Is Bankhead National Forest?
The William B. Bankhead National Forest — also known as Bankhead National Forest — is one of four national forests in Alabama. This forest covers 181,230 acres throughout Double Springs, AL, and is home to some of the state’s most beautiful scenery.
Alabama’s only National Wild and Scenic River, the Sipsey Fork, runs through Bankhead National Forest. The forest also consists of over 90 miles of recreational trails, beautiful canyon and waterfall views, and many other natural attractions.
Many people spend several days exploring Bankhead National Forest and camping in campgrounds around the area. However, you can also enjoy this forest by taking a scenic motorcycle ride around the grounds.
Taking a Motorcycle Ride Near Bankhead National Forest
Bankhead National Forest includes gorgeous scenery that makes for excellent car rides and motorcycle trips. While you can take several routes in and around the forest on your bike, we recommend taking the following route to enjoy as much of the forest and surrounding areas as possible.
This motorcycle route stops at eight of the best attractions around Double Springs and the surrounding small towns in the area. The final stop is Bankhead National Forest, where you can stretch your legs and spend as much time within the forest as you’d like.
We recommend putting each of these attractions into your GPS to navigate from place to place during your Bankhead National Forest motorcycle ride:
1. Ave Maria Grotto
The Ave Maria Grotto is a 4-acre park on the historic grounds of St. Bernard Abbey. This park is unique in that it includes 125 miniature replications of some of the most famous religious landmarks in the world.
2. Cullman County Museum
The Cullman County Museum, located in Cullman, Alabama, showcases the area’s civil war history along with some German heritage. The museum is located in a replica of the house of Colonel John Cullmann, an immigrant from Germany and the city’s namesake. John Cullmann founded the city of Cullman in 1878.
The museum features something for everyone and can easily fill a few hours along your Bankhead National Forest motorcycle ride.
3. Evelyn Burrow Museum of Wallace State College
The Evelyn Burrow Museum, located within Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL, features a unique collection of historical items. You’ll find porcelain pieces, decorative arts, artifacts from the area, and more in this museum.
4. Goat Island Craft Brewing
Next, you can stop at Goat Island Brewing, a craft brewery in Cullman.
5. Houston Historic Jail
The Houston Historic Jail, located in Houston, AL, is the only surviving log jail in northern Alabama. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
6. Jesse Owens Museum
The Jesse Owens Museum in Danville celebrates the life of Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens. This museum depicts the moments that brought Owens to fame as one of the most celebrated Olympic medalists of all time
7. Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center
The Oakville Indian Mound is a 27-foot-tall, 2,000-year-old Woodland Indian Mound. You’ll also find an education center nearby where you can learn more about the prehistoric Indian mounds.
8. Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness
Finally, you can complete your Bankhead National Forest motorcycle ride at the sprawling forest itself.
Don’t forget to sign up for your free Law Tigers Rider’s Benefit Kit. If you ever become a motorcycle accident victim, contact our Law Tigers team at 1-888-863-7216 for a free case evaluation and assistance.
