Alabama trails · McKay Hollow Trail

McKay Hollow Trail

A 2.4-mile network in Alabama, with 603 ft of climbing. Reaches Blue Spring. Managed by the state.

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Length

2.4 mi

Elevation gain

603 ft

Difficulty

Moderate

Max grade

32%

Steepest mile

+581 ft

Tread at ≥10% grade

1.1 mi

Shape

network

Bikes

yes

Horses

Managed by

State

Elevation profile

Most of the climbing sits in the final third — 95% of the ascent, between mile 1.6 and mile 2.4. It gives back about 572 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.

3-D terrain

USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5

Reaches

Blue Spring (spring)

Heads up

Stream ford: expect at least one unbridged crossing.

Terrain graded T3 (SAC scale) — exposed or hands-on hiking reported on part of this route.

Getting there

McKay Hollow Trail access — parking nearby. 34.74296, -86.51761 · directions

Daylight at the trailhead

On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 5:52 a.m., the sun rises at 6:18 a.m. and sets at 7:14 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 7:39 p.m. (CDT) — 12 h 56 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 2.4-mile route takes roughly 1 h 11 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 7:29 a.m. — 11 h 45 min before sunset.

Loop options

McKay Hollow Trail + Bucca Trail + Warpath Ridge Trail — 3.5 mi loop, 376 ft gain
Bucca Trail + McKay Hollow Trail + Rocky Nightmare — 4.1 mi loop, 271 ft gain

Nearby trails

Arrowhead Trail — 1.9 mi
Flat Rock Trail — 3.0 mi
Vernado Trail — 5.9 mi
Fanning Trail — 5.9 mi