Gulf State Park Unveils Plan to Extend Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail with New Boardwalks and Bike Lanes

19 October 2026

Plans to expand the multi-use, ADA-accessible Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail at Gulf State Park build on the park's ongoing initiatives to improve paved paths, boardwalks, and bike access. The project, part of a broader strategy to enhance connectivity within the park, will add approximately 9.5 miles of new walking, cycling, or running trails and about 3.5 miles of enhancements to existing park trails. The overall goal is to provide a seamless and accessible visitor experience across the park's 26 trails spanning more than 28 miles and nine distinct ecosystems.

This latest phase comes on the heels of a $5.6 million federal RESTORE Act-funded project that recently extended the Fort Morgan Trail by 4.4 miles. The new trail expansion, when completed, will stitch together the Fort Morgan Trail and the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system, improving access to the broader Gulf State Park trail network and providing a crucial link between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

"We're really focused on closing loops and providing a truly interconnected trail experience," said Mark Collection, chief of operations at Gulf State Park. "This project, and the preceding phases, are all part of that vision—to make it easy and safe for folks to get around the park, whether they're walking, biking, or just looking for an accessible spot to enjoy the scenery."

Phase 2 Focuses on Education and Accessibility

Phase 2 of the master plan, as it's been dubbed, will incorporate educational learning elements, incorporating specific points of interest along the trail. This includes adding a Pitcher Plant Bog Boardwalk and a Canopy Bypass along Gulf Oak Ridge, according to the park's master plan document. The aim is to provide visitors with an immersive experience while keeping pests at bay, using features like the boardwalk and canopy bypass to prevent upheavals and keep stems, leaves, and moss intact.

"This extension adds more than just miles of trail," said Judith Vandyke, trail systems manager for the Alabama State Parks. "By incorporating boardwalks and the like, we're increasing accessibility and protecting our ecosystems. We're also ensuring future growth and change in the park can adapt with the trail."

Beyond the physical improvements, the park has also launched a bike-sharing program with 50 bikes available at stations scattered throughout the park.

"Bike-sharing isn't just convenient, it's a vital part of making the inclusions a success," Vandyke said. "Folks can set out from bike stations in Orange Beach and get to the Branyon Trail, ride through Gulf State Park and into Gulf Shores, all while our program supports maintenance of the infrastructure."

The Backcountry Trail has been hailed as a joint enterprise of the City of Orange Beach, Gulf State Park, and the City of Gulf Shores, in cooperation with local property owners. It's expected this collaboration will continue as the park endeavors to expand the trail system, all culminating in a highway 180 connection being included in their trail infrastructure down the line.

"We're all aligned on reducing pollution by discouraging car travel for short-distance trips, especially on-peninsula itineraries," said Mark Jackson, environmental manager for the City of Orange Beach. "Our goal is to create a smooth off-road vehicle path, secured and supervised, so people feel safe to travel and explore locally without their cars."

The Fort Morgan Trail extension is part of a $2.6 million project to expand the coastal trail by 11.7 miles. Funded by $1.3 million in Alabama Department of Transportation funds and $1.3 million from the RESTORE Act, the project will create walking, running, and biking paths from Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay through six miles within the park; 1.7 miles in the Fort Morgan area outside of Gulf Shores and into Orange Beach; and an additional four miles within the neighboring city.

Gulf State Park's trail system has expanded to 29 miles of paved trails or boardwalks with the addition of the Fort Morgan Trail, and now includes 26 trails among nine distinct ecosystems. Funded through the federal RESTORE Act, the master plan includes approximately 9.5 miles of new walking, cycling, or running trails and approximately 3.5 miles of enhancements to existing park trails, providing a continuous trail between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.