Getting Oriented
Stony Lonesome sits off Alabama Highway 69 south of Bremen, in southern Cullman County between Birmingham and Huntsville. Cullman County Parks and Recreation owns and manages the park, which makes it county-authority land rather than state or federal ground. It opened in March 2009 as Alabama's first public OHV park, built in part on reclaimed mining land, and now spans roughly 1,456 acres with about 150 miles of trail. The office and staffed gate sit near the highway at 10075 AL Highway 69 South. Riders check in, sign a waiver, and stage from the main lot before heading into the trail network.
Trail Overview
The trail system covers the full skill range. Beginner ATV and UTV routes stay relatively flat with a few small ledges, ruts, and shallow mud holes, while the hard end climbs steep clay switchbacks and rock faces built for full-size rigs. Trails carry number designations and posted difficulty markers at junctions. Surface changes with the weather: clay and hardpack turn greasy after rain, and low sections hold water, which is part of why the park draws a mud crowd. The Main Access Road links most areas and stays mostly easy, with a 32-degree drop near trail 508 as the exception. The vehicle mix is broad. Dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs and side-by-sides, registered SUVs and Jeeps, and unregistered 4x4s, dune buggies, and rock crawlers all ride here, alongside mountain bikers and horseback riders on shared ground.
Points of Interest
Stony Lonesome is a Jeep Badge of Honor trail, one of a short list of parks Jeep recognizes for hard wheeling. Notable named features:
- Switchback: a steep, hairpin climb near the entrance that weaves above Dorsey Creek, rated 6 on the Badge of Honor scale.
- Gut Buster (508): a near-vertical hill climb with large rock ledges and a pitch around 48 degrees, rated 8 and used for rock-bouncing competitions.
- Trail 404: a tree-lined obstacle trail that stays doable on slick days, a common place to learn how to safely drop a nose down a ledge.
- Little Moab: a rock face on the Main Access Road with lines from mild to hard.
Where to Camp
Camping is on-site and runs from primitive tent spots to RV sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups. Cabin rentals come with a mini refrigerator, microwave, air conditioning and heat, a small bathroom with a shower, and a picnic table and grill outside. A bathhouse with hot showers serves the campground, and a large outdoor pavilion is available by reservation. That setup makes the park a weekend base rather than a day-trip-only stop. Check the park's accommodations sheet for current camping and cabin rates and to reserve.
Permits and Regulations
Entry is a per-day gate fee that doubles as the ride permit: $20 for ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 6 to 12, and free for age 5 and under. Mountain bikers and horseback riders pay $10. Every visitor completes an Assumption of Risk and Release waiver and presents it at registration; the park posts a printable copy so groups can sign ahead and shorten check-in. The park runs Friday and Saturday 8:30am to 6pm and Sunday and Monday 8:30am to 5pm, and it is closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It stays open year-round but closes for severe weather. Standard OHV park rules apply, including posted trail-difficulty markers; review the park's rules sheet and confirm helmet and equipment requirements with the office at 256-287-1133.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Plan around the four-day week. The gate is open Friday through Monday only, so a midweek trip will find it closed.
- Watch the forecast. Clay trails and hill climbs get slick after rain, and the harder lines turn dangerous when wet.
- Air down and bring recovery gear for the rock and hill-climb sections. The Badge of Honor trails assume a built rig and a spotter.
- Sign the waiver ahead of time using the printable form to speed up check-in.
- Confirm cabin or pavilion reservations and current payment options by phone before you drive.
Fuel and Water
Fuel and supplies are in Cullman, about 12 miles north on AL-69, with more services in the Bremen and Hanceville areas along the highway. Top off the tank and buy food, ice, and drinking water before turning in, since the park itself is a trail facility. The campground has a bathhouse with hot showers and potable water; carry your own drinking water and fuel out on the trails.
Nearby
Cullman County has other trail options nearby, including mountain-bike and hiking systems around Sportsman Lake and Hurricane Creek Park. The town of Cullman, about 12 miles north, has lodging, restaurants, and fuel. Smith Lake sits west of the park for boating and fishing. Stony Lonesome is the largest public OHV park in this part of north Alabama; the next-nearest large OHV areas are farther out in the state and across the lines in Georgia and Tennessee.