Ruffner Mountain Eastern Trailhead
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Ruffner Mountain Eastern Trailhead offers easy access to a variety of well-marked hiking trails, notably the popular, dog-friendly Lizard Loop. It's an excellent choice for families seeking a mix of easy and moderate outdoor activity, although amenities like restrooms and water are not available at this specific trailhead. Becoming a member provides year-round parking benefits.
Key Highlights
- ✓Great access point to several trails, including Lizard Loop and Crusher#2.
- ✓Trails are well marked, aiding navigation for families.
- ✓Offers a good mix of easy and moderate trails, catering to different energy levels.
- ✓The Lizard Loop trail is specifically highlighted as an easy hike and is dog-friendly.
Standout Features
- ⭐Access to the popular, easy, and dog-friendly Lizard Loop trail.
- ⭐Availability of a small trash can and a trail map right inside the gate.
- ⭐Variety of well-marked trails with different difficulty levels (easy and moderate).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Bring your own water bottles as there is no water access at the trailhead.
- →Plan for restroom breaks before arriving, as there are no bathrooms on site.
- →Consider becoming a member for a year-round parking pass, which also supports the facility.
- →Arrive early to secure a parking spot, especially during potentially busy times, due to limited official spaces (6-8 in one lot).
- →If parking is full, unofficial spots across Ruffner Road may be available.
- →Avoid the 'wetlands' trail if you're looking for an aesthetically pleasing water feature.
- →If looking for a longer hike, consider connecting Lizard Loop to other trails like Buckeye Trail and Pipeline Trail as described in Review 4.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No bathrooms or water access directly at this trailhead, requiring visitors to plan accordingly.
- ⚠The "wetlands" trail is described as a disappointing "red clay mud pit" and not worth the parking fee by one reviewer.
- ⚠Parking is limited, with one lot having only 6-8 spaces and the potential for difficulty finding a spot during busy times.
Price & Value
A $5 parking pass is required for non-members. One reviewer found this pass not worth it specifically for the 'wetlands' trail. Becoming a member provides a year-round parking pass, suggesting better value for frequent visitors.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned for special needs.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No water access mentioned, indicating visitors should bring their own drinks. No explicit food policy, but it's a hiking trail, so bringing snacks is standard.
🚗Parking Info
- •Two small gravel lots are available, with one specified as having 6-8 spaces.
- •Unofficial parking spots can be found across Ruffner Road.
- •Parking can be an issue, implying it fills up.
- •A $5 parking pass is required, or a year-round pass for members.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Parking can be difficult, suggesting potential for moderate crowds, especially at peak times.
- •No direct mention of crowded trails, but limited parking can indicate popular periods.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Trails are described as "well marked," which contributes to hiker safety.
- •No other specific safety features like staff monitoring or first aid stations are mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you require on-site restroom facilities or water fountains.
- • If your main goal is to experience impressive 'wetlands' (as the one mentioned is a disappointment).
- • If you are highly sensitive to limited parking or are visiting during peak times without a backup parking plan.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Guided Field Trip (Birmingham City & Jefferson County Schools)
FreeDuration: 2.5 hours (9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
Hands-on, experiential environmental education programs tailored to meet student needs and align with educational standards. Available at Ruffner Mountain, Red Mountain Park, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.
Includes:
- •Tailored educational programs
- •Activities like hiking, visiting old mining sites, exploring creeks
- •Complimentary admission for teachers and teacher aides
Guided Field Trip (Schools outside Birmingham City & Jefferson County)
$15.00 per student, $15.00 per chaperone (minimum $250 per trip)Duration: 2.5 hours (9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
Hands-on, experiential environmental education programs tailored to meet student needs and align with educational standards. Available at Ruffner Mountain, Red Mountain Park, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.
Includes:
- •Tailored educational programs
- •Activities like hiking, visiting old mining sites, exploring creeks
- •Complimentary admission for teachers and teacher aides
Self-Guided Field Trip
$100 reservation feeAllows groups to conduct their own field trip experience. Only available at Ruffner Mountain and Red Mountain Park.
Includes:
- •Reservation of spot
- •Parking costs
- •Access to outdoor pavilion
- •Entry to Nature Center exhibits (at Ruffner Mountain)
Off-site Animal Programs
$250Environmental education programs brought to your school location.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Moth Night
Friday, July 26th from 8 PM - 10 PM
A guided hike, games, and a mothing sheet to learn about moths. Registration required.
Pilates & Hiking Program (Ruffner Mountain)
Sep 28 2025
Free
A 45-minute mat pilates class followed by a 45-minute easy hike, led by Kenyele Harrison.
Volunteer for the Fall Native Plant Sale (Ruffner Mountain)
Oct 04, Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 25 2025
Free
Volunteer opportunity to learn about Alabama's native plants and help at the sale.
Ruffner Mountain Volunteer Docent Orientation & Training
Sep 13 2025
Landscaping with Native Plants Workshop
Sep 13 2025, Mar 29 2025
Sense and Response - Nature Drawing Workshop
Aug 23 2025
Nighttime Spider Hike
Aug 22 2025
A History of Our Greenspaces
Aug 16 2025
Meadow Restoration and Invasive Plants Walk & Talk
Aug 15 2025
🍎Food Policy
- • The outdoor pavilion is available for individuals, friends, and families to enjoy snacks on a first-come-first-serve basis.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • No entry before or after preserve hours.
- • Large groups (11 or more) must divide into smaller groups: walk in groups of 10 or fewer, run in groups of 6 or fewer.
- • Stay on marked trails and do not walk near or along cliff edges to prevent erosion.
- • All wildlife on Ruffner Mountain is protected; the killing of any wildlife species is strictly prohibited.
- • The exploration of all mines and caves on Ruffner Mountain is strictly prohibited.
- • Collecting mine artifacts, relics, rocks, or fossils is prohibited.
- • No rock stacking; practice Leave No Trace principles.
- • All dogs must be on-leash at all times, and owners must pick up after their dogs.
- • Filming or professional photography (including drones) requires advance approval and a signed waiver; location fees may apply.
- • Ruffner Mountain is not a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility and cannot accept wildlife drop-offs. Contact a licensed rehabilitator for injured wildlife.
📅Booking Policy
- • Field trips are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis; booking three months in advance is recommended.
- • Field trips can accommodate up to 3 classes total per day; for more than 3 classes, book multiple days.
- • Meeting room is available to rent Tuesday - Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Rental requests and pricing information require a facility rental request form.
🚗Parking Information
- • Visitor parking permit required for non-members: $5.00 per vehicle per day, valid for one day only, covers everyone in the vehicle. Purchase via ParkMobile app or vending machine at the pavilion.
- • Member parking permit provides free entry to the preserve; must be visible with a legibly written license plate number.
- • Parking is shared with other visitors at Ruffner Mountain’s Main Entrance & Nature Center; directional signage leads to the greenhouse.
- • No parking along 81st Street.
- • Exclusive parking at Ruffner Mountain is a benefit for members.
- • A parking permit is required to park at Ruffner Mountain at all three trailheads.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 8 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Andy Mcmahon
2 years agoGreat access to some awesome trails. Plenty to see. Become a member for the year round parking pass and support Ruffner.
Buck Dingler
2 years agoVery nice trails. Well marked and good mix of. Easy and moderate trails. Can’t wait to go back
Brianne Britzius
2 years agoI love the Lizard Loop trail that can be accessed from this trailhead. Easy hike and we can take our dog too. There are two small gravel lots for parking and we’ve not had issues finding a space though I’m sure it happens. No bathrooms or water access here though there is a small trash can and trail map right inside the gate.
Gottfried Kibelka
6 years agoSmall Parking Lot with 6-8 spaces. (Across Ruffner Road are a few unofficial parking spots). The gravel road provides easy access to Lizard Loop and Crusher#2. I like to follow Lizard Loop to its Eastern turning point and continue hiking up the mountain on an unmarked neighborhood trail that merges with the access road that comes up from Roebuck Springs Road and leads to the water tower. From the water tower I follow a trail down the mountain towards the old fire tower to circle back to the trail head using Buckeye Trail and Pipeline Trail.
Tanner FitzPatrick
4 years agoVery easy trail for kids and such, but the "wetlands" was a joke - just a red clay mud pit. Not worth the $5 parking pass imo. I'm sure the other trails were but I was specifically recommended that trail rather than the quarry trail by the person who sold me the pass .. 🤷🏻