Alabama trails · Golf Course Loop
Golf Course Loop
A 3.4-mile network in Alabama, with 158 ft of climbing. Reaches Taylor Mountain and other summit/viewpoint destinations. Managed by the state.
Elevation profile
Most of the climbing sits in the final third — 61% of the ascent, between mile 2.2 and mile 3.4. It gives back about 192 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.
3-D terrain
USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5
Reaches
- Taylor Mountain (summit)
- Mabrey Outlook (viewpoint)
Getting there
Taylor Mountain Trail access. 34.38865, -86.19222 · directions
Daylight at the trailhead
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 5:51 a.m., the sun rises at 6:17 a.m. and sets at 7:12 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 7:38 p.m. (CDT) — 12 h 55 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 3.4-mile route takes roughly 1 h 19 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 7:36 a.m. — 11 h 36 min before sunset.
Loop options
- Golf Course Loop + Taylor Mountain Trail + Terrell Connector Trail — 7.1 mi loop, 1,388 ft gain
- Nature Trail + Golf Course Loop + Lodge Trail — 6.5 mi loop, 1,169 ft gain
- Golf Course Loop Alt + Golf Course Loop — 1.6 mi loop, 211 ft gain
Nearby trails
- Honeycomb — 9.2 mi
- Vernado Trail — 26.1 mi
- Fanning Trail — 26.1 mi
- Black Creek Trail — 26.2 mi