Pelham: Nature, Sports and Culture

Pelham offers travelers a variety of themes to consider when planning their stay: nature at Oak Mountain State Park, trails and green spaces, sports, and cultural offerings. If you’re looking for a hotel in Pelham, you can start by considering which of these interests will shape your trip. The destinations differ not only in theme, but also in the specific details that may be important when making your choice.

Nature and wildlife at Oak Mountain State Park

Peavine Falls is a naturally fed waterfall about 65 feet high on the highest ridge of Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham. The waterfall represents the park’s scenic side. Another nature-focused attraction is the Treetop Nature Trail Boardwalk, which features six enclosures housing twelve non-releasable birds of prey cared for by the Alabama Wildlife Center.

The Oak Mountain Interpretive Center serves as the park’s hub for educational programs, the work of park naturalists, and interactive exhibits. The Alabama Wildlife Center also offers guided tours. If a tour is important to your plans, check the current schedule in advance. The different offerings have different focuses: the boardwalk is associated with birds of prey, while the Interpretive Center brings together educational programs and exhibits.

The Red Trail is also part of the park’s nature appeal. It is included in the International Mountain Biking Association’s EPIC Rides list. This listing adds a specific mountain biking connection to the waterfall, bird-of-prey enclosures, and educational offerings.

Trails and green spaces in Pelham

The Pelham Greenway Trail is a six-and-a-half-mile trail system. A specific route is given for Phases I and II: it runs from Bearden Road through the City Park Complex to beyond the Dog Park. These two phases opened in summer 2020. The stated length and route help define this offering as a trail system with a described path.

Park 124 offers a different setting for spending time outdoors. This green space is located on Campus 124 in Pelham and includes walking paths, open areas, and places to relax. While the Greenway’s defining features are the length of the trail system and the route of its first two phases, Park 124 is characterized by its green space and its different areas.

Sports highlights

The Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena is located right off I-65 in the center of Pelham. The facility includes two NHL-sized ice rinks and a skating school. The Ballantrae Golf Club in Pelham is described as an 18-hole, par-72 course. For those comparing sports offerings, these provide different points of reference: ice rinks and a skating school on the one hand, and the golf course’s size and par on the other.

At the Pelham Racquet Club, the focus is on the number and surface of the courts: it has 20 outdoor clay courts and five hard courts. Together with the details about golf and ice sports, this gives a nuanced picture of the sports represented in Pelham, although these facilities do not offer the same kinds of activities. When planning your trip, you can therefore start by looking for the sports that are actually relevant to your stay.

Culture and programs

Pelham has established an Arts & Entertainment District to promote culture, creativity, recreation, entertainment, and dining in the city. The Pelham Public Library offers educational, cultural, and recreational programs; individual programs and dates vary. These two offerings have different emphases: the District brings together several themes, while the library offers programs in education, culture, and recreation.

The range of travel themes therefore extends from nature and wildlife to trails and sports, as well as culture and educational offerings.

Discover more destinations: Calera, Alabaster.

View the broader travel overview: Shelby County.