150060697 3564644780311570 5480096169907522441 N 1 — There’s so much to do at Gulf State Park, like fishing from the park’s pier. Photo courtesy of GSP website.

Gulf State Park has become a destination for lovers of the great outdoors. With over 6,000 acres, there are several activities to do at this wonder on the coast. Here are five activities we recommend for your next trip down to the coast!

1&2. Hiking and Biking

186508077 3828077233968322 8585198468996868951 N 1 — Hikers and bikers have several trails to choose from on their trip. Photo courtesy of Gulf State Park Facebook.

This park has made biking easier for visitors with its free bike share program. There are 50 bikes available to rent. There are several trails available for cyclists and hikers, all easy to find to find and access. My favorite is the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a paved trail that goes through the entire park and its nine unique ecosystems.

Gsp Map Woodsidesmall 200724 — Gulf State Park Map with trails. Photo courtesy of GSP Website.

3. Birdwatching

Indigo Bunting 2 — The Indigo Bunting is one of the several birds species that you can spot in the park. Photo courtesy of Gulf State Park Facebook.

The Gulf State Park is home to nine unique ecosystems, which offers visitors the chance to watch and observe all the residential and migrating birds including herons, owls, woodpeckers and more. Check out the Alabama Coastal Birding Trails to view the range of birds!

Some of the birds you can expect to see at the park include hummingbirds, plovers, sandpipers, pelicans, gulls. If you see a species that isn’t listed in the park’s guide, stop by the Nature Center to find out more from one of the Naturalists!

4. Fishing

171520812 3724542474321799 2968824740512931656 N 2 — View of one of the park’s popular fishing spots. Photo courtesy of Gulf State Park Facebook.

The Gulf State Park offers several spots for fishers, including the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education pier. Not only is it the largest pier in the Gulf of Mexico, it is also Alabama’s only public pier. On the pier, visitors can find a retail store, concession area and shaded seating. The pier sustained damage in Hurricane Sally, but the northern portion has been repaired and is open.

5. Geocaching

Geocaching In Gsp — Geocaching is one of the fun activities that you can do at GSP. Photo courtesy of Gulf State Park Facebook.

Geocaching is a great family friendly activity to do at Gulf State Park. It’s a real life treasure hunting game. The rules are simple: after choosing a cache to find, when given a set of GPS coordinates, you find the hidden cache. Once you find it, sign the logbook and trade items, and return the original item to the original location for others to find.

To ensure the safety and to maintain the park’s natural resources, all geocaches are required to be permitted. To find out more information, click here.