Maggie's Glen Loop (Oak Mountain State Park) Hiking Guide
Maggie's Glen is a quiet streamside spot in the northeastern part of Oak Mountain State Park, and the park lists it as a popular place to hike to. This 2.2-mile loop reaches it on the White Trail and comes back on the Yellow Trail with little climbing, which makes it one of the gentler outings in a park better known for long ridge trails and mountain biking.
Permit: Oak Mountain State Park admission is per person: $5 for ages 12 and up, $2 for ages 4-11 and 62+, free for 3 and under and for active military, retirees and veterans. Annual passes are sold at the park office.
The Loop
Hiking Project maps the loop at 2.2 miles with about 200 feet of climbing and rates it easy to intermediate. From the North Trailhead, stay right at the first three junctions to join the White Trail (Shackleford Point Trail), which winds southwest through the woods before a final gradual climb to the glen. From Maggie's Glen, return on the Yellow Trail (Foothills Trail), which runs mostly downhill back to the trailhead. The park notes the glen can also be reached from the Red/Yellow connector.
What's at the Glen
The park describes Maggie's Glen as a stream bank where many species of plants and trees grow, and a very quiet place to sit and relax. It is well shaded, so it stays pleasant on warm afternoons. Several trails meet here, and Hiking Project notes it can be busy on popular weekends. The Yellow Trail on the way back is especially pretty when the leaves turn in autumn.
Getting to the North Trailhead
The North Trailhead is on John Findley Drive, about 6 miles inside the park from the front gate, or roughly 1.5 to 2 miles in from the back entrance. The Red, White, Blue and Yellow trails all begin here, so the lot serves hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. The park's main address is 200 Terrace Drive in Pelham.
Admission and Hours
Admission is collected per person at the park gate. Visitors 12 and older pay $5; children 4 to 11 and visitors 62 and over pay $2; kids 3 and under, service members, military retirees and veterans get in free. Oak Mountain opens at 7 a.m. and closes at sunset, so a late-afternoon loop in winter leaves less daylight than it seems once you add the drive to the trailhead.
Numbered Posts and Dogs
Oak Mountain marks its hiking trails with colored posts roughly every quarter mile, each with a number that is not repeated anywhere in the park. White Trail posts run 27 to 51 and Yellow Trail posts 60 to 86. A lost or injured hiker can call 205-620-2520 with the last number passed. State park regulations let dogs come along if they stay on a leash of 6 feet or less, though they are barred from buildings and beach areas.
Hiking tips for Maggie's Glen Loop (Oak Mountain State Park)
- Stay right at the first three junctions from the North Trailhead to get onto the White Trail.
- Pack a snack to eat at the glen.
- Come on a weekday if you want the glen to yourself.
- Photograph the post numbers as you pass them.
- Allow time for the 6-mile drive from the front gate to the trailhead.
Nearby trails to explore
- Peavine Falls and Peavine Gorge (Oak Mountain State Park)
- Narrows Ridge Trail (Turkey Creek Nature Preserve)
- Quarry Overlook Trail (Ruffner Mountain)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Maggie's Glen is a good first hike for anyone new to Oak Mountain. Use TrailMates to find a few people for an easy loop, settle on a start time in the event's group chat, and meet at the North Trailhead on John Findley Drive. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.