Congrats, Gulf State Backcountry Trail: Number 1 According to USA Today!
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail photo by Laura Grier / @LauraGrierTravel
It began with one section less than two miles long. It now boasts a trail system of 28+ miles of coastal wilderness just minutes from the beach. And it spans nine Alabama ecosystems through Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park, and Orange Beach. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail beat out a lengthy list of national competitors, including the Great Allegheny Passage across Maryland to Pennsylvania and Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in Idaho, to win the nationwide competition and earn the coveted title.
“We are excited that USA Today’s readers have chosen the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail inside Gulf State Park as the number one recreational trail in the U.S.,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.
