Muscle Shoals Reservation Trails

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Pickwick Wilson
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 17 miles total
Coordinates:
Amenities:

  • ADA Accessible
  • Bathroom
  • Biking
  • Hiking
  • National Wilderness Trail
  • Parking
Description:

The Muscle Shoals National Recreational Trail system is a 17-mile paved and primitive trail and bikeway located on TVA’s Muscle Shoals Reservation. This National Recreation Trail System connects numerous historical sites including:

  • Civil War earthworks
  • The Old Railroad Bridge
  • Remnants of a steam plant constructed during World War I
  • The original railroad used during construction of Wilson Dam
  • Structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s
  • TVA’s Old First Quarters

Learn about plants native to the area at the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden. Numerous wildlife habitat demonstrations can be seen from the trails.

The Muscle Shoals National Recreational Trail system is part of the northwest loop of the North Alabama Birding Trail and has received the Wildlife Habitat Council’s Conservation Certification for the enhanced wildlife habitat the area provides. These trails are located on Reservation Road in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, between Hwy. 43 (Hatch Boulevard) and Wilson Dam.

River Heritage Park Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.42 miles
Coordinates: 34.801006 -87.649785

Low Shore Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.17 miles
Coordinates: 34.780341 -87.655159

Bicycle Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.48 miles
Coordinates: 34.801006 -87.649785

Southport Historical Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.29 miles
Coordinates: 34.780341 -87.655159

Native Plant Garden Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.31-mile loop
Coordinates: 34.780341 -87.655159

Energy Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.05-mile loop
Coordinates: 34.780341 -87.655159

Old Railroad Bridge Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.18 miles
Coordinates: 34.780341 -87.655159

Reservation Road Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.6 miles
Coordinates: 34.780341 -87.655159

Gunnery Fitness Trail

Location: Florence, Ala.
Reservoir: Wilson
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: .028 miles
Coordinates: 34.780341 -87.655159

 

See also Muscle Shoals Jogging Trail, Muscle Shoals Rockpile Trail, Muscle Shoals Old First Quarter Trail and Muscle Shoals Waterfall Walk.

Directions (Google)

Trail Map

TVA Trails

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History on Wheels

Two new multi-use, bike-optimized trails near South Holston dam offer fun the whole family can enjoy. Check them out.

Trail Safety

Minimize risks and maximize fun. Get tips for keeping yourself—and the environment around you—safe while you're out on a hike. Read more about trail safety.

Topographical Maps

Most of the trails are overlaid on topographic (or topo) maps. Topo maps are an attempt to show real variations in elevation on a flat map. If you know how to read a topo map, the map itself can tell you a lot. Here are a few tips to help you out.

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TVA manages more than 30 public trails (150 miles) along the Tennessee River and its tributaries and on reservoir lands. You can help us by protecting and monitoring the trails to instill a legacy of conservation. Learn how to volunteer.