The Second Sunday Ride
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    • 2023 Rides >
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      • Gator Ride
      • West Point Dam 2023
      • Fall Line Trace 2023
      • Old Cahawba
      • Gulf State Park Weekend
      • Stone Mountain Trail 2023
      • Callaway Gardens FIL 2023
      • Opelika Christmas Lights 2023
    • 2022 Rides >
      • Ride with the King 2022
      • Fall Line Trace 2022
      • Providence Canyon 2022
      • Opelika Floral Trail 2022
      • Bunny Hop 2022
      • Callaway Gardens 2022
      • Blueberries and Wine 2022
      • Frog Ride 2022
      • Wetumpka 2022
      • Chattahoochee River Walk 2022
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      • Murfreesboro 2022
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      • Callaway Gardens FIL 2022
    • 2021 Rides >
      • Yoholo Micco 2021
      • Stone Mountain Trail 2021
      • Chattahoochee River Walk
      • Horseshoe Bend 2021
      • Silver Comet
      • Arabia Mountain
      • Callaway Gardens FIL 2021
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      • Stone Mountain
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      • West Point Dam
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Gulf State Park Weekend
October 6–8, 2023

Gulf State Park's bike trails have always been a great ride, but they're even better now with money from the 2010 Deep Water Horizon oil spill that funded trail improvements and additions, rebuilt the Lodge, built bicycle/ped bridges over the highway to the beaches, and added restaurants. We visited the Park on the Sunday of our first ever weekend ride in 2011, but this time we'll devote the whole weekend to this great place.

USA Today recently named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail the Best Recreational Trail in the country for 2023.

You're spoiled for choice at the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail complex, which offers 27 trails across nine different ecosystems. You can trek through wildflowers and tall pines on the Rosemary Dunes trail, take in the views from the overlook on the Gulf Oak Ridge trail, and enjoy the abundance of complex amenities, like the Butterfly Garden and the Pavilion.

The Park includes about 30 miles of bike trails, several restaurants, a lodge, fishing pier, bike/pedestrian bridges connecting the bike trails to the beach, nature center, interpretive center, beaches, and other amenities. The trails are flat. Ride share bikes are available for anyone without their own bike.

Our Weekend Itinerary
Friday evening

Gather in Gulf Shores, about four hours drive from Auburn/Opelika. In the evening, meet up at a restaurant for grub and grog, tall tales, and planning for the weekend.

Saturday
Ride the Park, visit the beaches, fishing pier, nature centers, etc. Several restaurants to choose from in the Park and outside in Gulf Shores and Orange 
Beach. In the evening, we'll meet up at a restaurant for grub and grog, tall tales, etc.

Sunday
Check out of the hotel and continue exploring the Park by bike. Lunch together for those who like. Travel home in the afternoon/evening.

Lodging
Our Second Sunday Ride Headquarters is the fabulous Quality Inn Gulf Shores.
213 W. Fort Morgan Rd.
Gulf Shores, AL 36542

The Quality Inn is less than a mile from the Park. An off-road bike path connects the Inn to the Park. The Inn is across the street from a shopping center and is the only hotel I know with a Pedersen bike hanging in the lobby.
​​ 
More information:
Gulf State Park – https://www.alapark.com/parks/gulf-state-park
USA Today's Ten Best Recreation Trails in the U.S. – https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-recreational-trail/
Gulf State Park Map – gulf_state_park_map_2022.png
Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Vacation Guide – https://www.gulfshores.com/plan/vacation-guide/

Dining, etc.
Gulf State Park Restaurants – https://lodgeatgulfstatepark.com/eat-drink/
  • Woodside Restaurant – https://woodsideatgsp.com/
  • Perch – https://perchgsp.com/
  • Woodcraft – https://foodcraftgsp.com/
Cosmo's Restaurant – https://cosmosrestaurantandbar.com/
Big Beach Brewing – ​https://www.bigbeachbrewing.com/
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  • Home
  • Past Rides
    • 2025 Rides >
      • Ride with the King 2025
      • Opelika Crekline Trail and Wood Duck Preserve 2025
      • Opelika Azalea and Dogwood Trail 2025
      • Carrollton 2025
      • Man O' War Trail 2025
      • Blueberries and Wine 2025
    • 2024 Rides >
      • Ride with the King 2024
      • Man O' War Trail 2024
      • Auburn Floral Trail 2024
      • Callaway Gardens 2024
      • Providence Canyon 2024
      • The Thread 2024
      • Blueberries and Wine 2024
      • Frog Ride 2024
      • Valley RT 2024
      • Silver Comet 2024
      • Chattahoochee River Walk 2024
      • Kolomoki Mounds 2024
      • Tallahassee Weekend
      • Willie's Ride
      • Callaway Gardens FIL 2024
      • Horseshoe Bend 2024
    • 2023 Rides >
      • Ride with the King 2023
      • The Thread 2023
      • Tammany Trace 2023
      • Man O' War Trail 2023
      • Opelika Azalea and Dogwood Trail
      • Yoholo Micco 2023
      • The Wine Ride 2023
      • Gator Ride
      • West Point Dam 2023
      • Fall Line Trace 2023
      • Old Cahawba
      • Gulf State Park Weekend
      • Stone Mountain Trail 2023
      • Callaway Gardens FIL 2023
      • Opelika Christmas Lights 2023
    • 2022 Rides >
      • Ride with the King 2022
      • Fall Line Trace 2022
      • Providence Canyon 2022
      • Opelika Floral Trail 2022
      • Bunny Hop 2022
      • Callaway Gardens 2022
      • Blueberries and Wine 2022
      • Frog Ride 2022
      • Wetumpka 2022
      • Chattahoochee River Walk 2022
      • Selma/Old Cahawba 2022
      • Murfreesboro 2022
      • Carrollton 2022
      • Callaway Gardens FIL 2022
    • 2021 Rides >
      • Yoholo Micco 2021
      • Stone Mountain Trail 2021
      • Chattahoochee River Walk
      • Horseshoe Bend 2021
      • Silver Comet
      • Arabia Mountain
      • Callaway Gardens FIL 2021
    • 2020 Rides
    • 2019 Rides >
      • Tanglefoot Trail
    • 2018 Rides >
      • Mobile Bay
      • Chattanooga
    • 2017 Rides >
      • Gettysburg
      • Pensacola Beach
    • 2016 Rides >
      • Vicksburg
    • 2015 Rides >
      • Dauphin Island
      • Stone Mountain
    • 2014 Rides >
      • Blueberries and Wine
      • Tammany Trace
      • Matt's Ride
      • West Point Dam
    • 2013 Rides
    • 2012 Rides
    • 2011 Rides
    • 2010 Rides
  • About
  • Links
  • Contact