Alabama BIking Trails- Buck's Pocket State Park

Alabama BIking Trails- Buck's Pocket State Park

Fall 2008 I decided to start riding mountain bike and have rode some of hardest trails in Alabama. My first ride was at Buck's Pocket State park in Northeast Alabama!

With over 18 miles of hiking around the beautiful South Sauty Creek there are plenty of trails to keep you busy! I haven't explored all the hiking trails in the area but only have rode my bicycle along a few miles of the trail! When you are in the pocket near the camping area and office, leave go to the right at the stop sign. When you get to the creek there will be a trail that runs along the creek and leads to the primitive camping area that it is on Morgan's Cove!

You will want to park to the right off the roadway! There are a few other areas around the bridge you can park also. Parking has never been a problem so there is plenty!


Before you park you might want to stop by the office and say hey and get a map! Wondering what to expect? Well I have hiked along the road and it has been dry and easy to get around. This summer it was slick as can be and was a muddy ride! At one point I though it would be funny to try to ride through the mud and it turned out to be up to my knees! There are alot of rock on the road and when it is so moist they are slick as can be! You might be temped to fly down the first hill but be aware of the large rocks, they will hit your pads or gears if you are not careful!

A good half mile in I started to run across some really large mud holes. One of them was almost 30 feet long and maybe 10 feet wide! Along the way you there are a few places where it is easy to get to the creek! You will want to see the creek, it makes it all worth it, there are some rocks as big as houses. During the summer you can expect the creek to almost be dry. You will also see butterflies, flowers, mushrooms, turtles, snakes, birds, plants, lizards, and if you are lucky a coon!

During late fall to winter you can expect the creek to be flowing after the rains come! You will also see the creek rise above the bridge a few times each year. Don't ever try to pass over it, some have failed! If I were you I might wait a few days after a rain before you go and let the water chill.

Just when you think you can't ride anymore you will come to the primitive camp area. You will see alot of sand and the head of Morgan's Cove. By now you will be by the creek watching the family of Turtles on a log across South Sauty Creek! If you look to the right you can see beautiful South Sauty and to the left Morgan's Cove!

You might want to bring a fishing rod cause I saw some big waves from some big ole fish! One looked so big I thought it might have been something bigger! I know they are some big cats from the Tennessee River, bring good test line!

After a few minutes you will decide to ride some more and you will see all the old Picnic Tables to the left and some to the right. You will be dodging trash from the prior campers and there may be a few half burned fires. To the left you will find more of the trails and it will start to split up and there will be many big mud holes. Just be sure to keep to the right and it will lead to the cove. Expect it to be hard to through; it isn't too far through maybe 1/4 mile from this point.