Length: 3.2-6.1 miles (out-and-back or loop, your choice).
Distance from Mobile: About an hour and 15 minutes
Legend has it that a medicine man once had a potion that natives would sip to become stronger, better hunters. One day, a man snuck into the medicine man's hut and drank the whole bottle. He turned into Catman, ran off with a pack of wild cats, and disappeared. Visitors to Alabama's Gulf Coast insist that you can sometimes see Catman, or hear him at least, as he steals bait and fish from fisherman. And one witness claims to have seen Catman wrestle an alligator to protect his fellow wild cats.
We love a good, spooky story, so when we were looking over the 15 miles of trail options in and near Gulf State Park, we had to walk along Catman Road.
We started our hike along Rattlesnake Ridge and were going to come back along Catman Road, which parallels it. But then when we saw that we were close to some lakes, we decided to double our route to include the Rosemary Dunes trail.
Scenery: These well-developed, paved trails invite you to see Alabama's Gulf Coast in its natural state, free of condominiums, traffic and hotels. We loved the views of Little Lake and the boardwalk bridge over Middle Lake. And we were delighted to see some armadillo who scurried right on by us. We prefer dirt paths to paved ones, but the fact that these are paved make them popular for families to bike. We walked through a forest of oaks, pines and rosemary, as well as along marshes, reminding us of the diversity of Alabama's coastal ecosystems. Some of the trails lead to bayous and beaches, so the choice of scenery is yours.
Wildlife: We did not see or hear the mysterious Catman, but we did enjoy reading about the rarest wild cat on earth, the jaguarundis, on one of the interpretive signs along the trail. The jaguarundis is only 1 or 2 feet tall and 3 feet long. They have small heads and tiny ears, making them almost look like otters. Signs along the Rosemary Dunes trail warn that you may see alligator. There is a butterfly garden at the pavilion located between the Rattlesnake and Catman trails.
Highlight(s): Kudos to the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, as well as to the state of Alabama, for preserving this land for residents and visitors to enjoy and cherish. The trail system was established in 2003 and is a nice respite from the touristy-areas along the beach.
Trail markings: We parked near Fire Station 1 in Orange Beach to start with the Rattlesnake Ridge trail. There is a public restroom, and signs lead you straight to the trailhead. The trail is wide and has several benches and wooden swings in case you need to take a break. You can take Rattlesnake as a 3.2-mile out-and-back, or you can loop back via Catman Road, which would put you at just over 3.2 miles. Signs mark the various trails, and there are maps at the junctions. We doubled our route by going north of Little Lake, where we stopped for a picnic lunch. As we walked toward Middle Lake, we saw two armadillo north of the trail. We crossed over Middle Lake on the boardwalk and took a left to come back via the Rosemary Dunes trail. There is another restroom, an observation tower, a campground, and even rock climbing walls on this trail before you get back to Catman Trail. We walked briefly along Orange Beach Boulevard to get back to our car. Use the AllTrails map to see the many sections of trails here and to decide how far you want to hike.
L says: I thought it was a beautiful trail, and that it is a nice length for good exercise. But make sure to bring some water.
G says: I really liked the tale of Catman. We looked on the internet, and there are multiple stories about him.
We love to get ice cream after a hike, so on this day we stopped at The Yard Milkshake Bar in Gulf Shores on our way home. The boys shared a milkshake with a donut on top, and they loved it. My husband and I tried the cookie dough. It was good, but pricey.
About the trail: These trails are part of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trails, which include 7 trails traveling 15 miles through Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and the Gulf State Park. Besides the three listed here, there are: Twin Bridges, Gulf Oak Ridge, Cotton Bayou and Coyote Crossing. AllTrails lists additional trails through the park. Visit backcountrytrail.com for more information. Gulf State Park (https://www.alapark.com/parks/gulf-state-park) offers tent and RV camping, fishing, a lodge, a beach, and other activities.
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