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GULF STATE PARK
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama
| Gulf State Park A cottage at Gulf State Park overlooks a beautiful coastal lake. The high rise condos and hotels of Gulf Shores can be seen in the distance. |
Nature on the Gulf Coast of Alabama
Gulf State Park preserves more than 6,000 acres of coastal
scenery and wild habitat on the historic Alabama Gulf Coast.
The park adjoins the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
and features spectacular views of natural lakes, wilderness
areas and white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
The surrounding area is rich in hiistory and archaeology. It
was a popular place for fishing and gathering food during
prehistoric times. Native Americans gathered shellfish and
other natural foods.
scenery and wild habitat on the historic Alabama Gulf Coast.
The park adjoins the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
and features spectacular views of natural lakes, wilderness
areas and white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
The surrounding area is rich in hiistory and archaeology. It
was a popular place for fishing and gathering food during
prehistoric times. Native Americans gathered shellfish and
other natural foods.
Spanish, French and British troops and explorers passed through the area during Colonial times and nearby Mobile
Point became the scene of significant fighting during the War of 1812.
The HMS Hermes and other British ships passed within view of the park as they sailed west from Pensacola for an
attack on Fort Bowyer at Mobile Point. This little fort stood at the site of today's Fort Morgan State Historic Site. It
withstood a coordinated land and sea attack by British forces on September 15, 1814. The victory was hailed as one
of the most heroic American efforts of the war.
The British withdrew back to Pensacola and their defeated land forces retreated somewhere through or near Gulf
State Park.
Please click here to learn more about the Battle of Fort Bowyer.
Point became the scene of significant fighting during the War of 1812.
The HMS Hermes and other British ships passed within view of the park as they sailed west from Pensacola for an
attack on Fort Bowyer at Mobile Point. This little fort stood at the site of today's Fort Morgan State Historic Site. It
withstood a coordinated land and sea attack by British forces on September 15, 1814. The victory was hailed as one
of the most heroic American efforts of the war.
The British withdrew back to Pensacola and their defeated land forces retreated somewhere through or near Gulf
State Park.
Please click here to learn more about the Battle of Fort Bowyer.
Gulf State Park was frequently transited by soldiers during
the Civil War, especially after 1862 when Pensacola was
evacuated by the Confederates and fell to Union forces. The
Federals carried out scouting missions west from Pensacola
towards Mobile Point that passed through the park area, but
no fighting took place there.
In March of 1865, General Gordon Granger's XIII Corps
(USA) marched east from Fort Morgan in the beginning
stages of the Mobile Campaign.
The order to march came down on March 16, 1865, and the
thousands of Union soldiers prepared four days rations
consisting of a daily allowance of three-quarters pound of
salt pork as well as bread, salt, coffee and sugar. With these
provisions packed into their knapsacks, the soldiers started
east down the long sandy peninsula.
the Civil War, especially after 1862 when Pensacola was
evacuated by the Confederates and fell to Union forces. The
Federals carried out scouting missions west from Pensacola
towards Mobile Point that passed through the park area, but
no fighting took place there.
In March of 1865, General Gordon Granger's XIII Corps
(USA) marched east from Fort Morgan in the beginning
stages of the Mobile Campaign.
The order to march came down on March 16, 1865, and the
thousands of Union soldiers prepared four days rations
consisting of a daily allowance of three-quarters pound of
salt pork as well as bread, salt, coffee and sugar. With these
provisions packed into their knapsacks, the soldiers started
east down the long sandy peninsula.
Gulf State Park preserves more than 6,000 acres of coastal
scenery and wild habitat on the historic Alabama Gulf Coast.
The park adjoins the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
and features spectacular views of natural lakes, wilderness
areas and white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
The surrounding area is rich in hiistory and archaeology. It
was a popular place for fishing and gathering food during
prehistoric times. Native Americans gathered shellfish and
other natural foods.
scenery and wild habitat on the historic Alabama Gulf Coast.
The park adjoins the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
and features spectacular views of natural lakes, wilderness
areas and white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
The surrounding area is rich in hiistory and archaeology. It
was a popular place for fishing and gathering food during
prehistoric times. Native Americans gathered shellfish and
other natural foods.
| Gulf State Park A sailboat skims across a blue coastal lake at Gulf State Park, a beautiful Alabama state park in Orange Beach & Gulf Shores. |
They also carried 150 rounds of ammunition per man and five batteries of field artillery accompanied the column.
The soldiers knew that heavy fighting lay ahead, particularly as they approached Spanish Fort on the east shore of
Mobile Bay.
The march of Granger's men took them from Fort Morgan east through present-day Gulf Shores and probably the
very northwest corner of Gulf State Park. XIII Corps camped at Bayou Portage just north of the park on the night of
March 18, 1865.
From this campsite Granger and his men went on to fight at the Battle of Spanish Fort and the Battle of Fort
Blakeley. It was not until they were well past the Gulf State Park area, however, that they encountered Confederate
resistance.
Please click here to learn more about the Mobile Campaign.
The soldiers knew that heavy fighting lay ahead, particularly as they approached Spanish Fort on the east shore of
Mobile Bay.
The march of Granger's men took them from Fort Morgan east through present-day Gulf Shores and probably the
very northwest corner of Gulf State Park. XIII Corps camped at Bayou Portage just north of the park on the night of
March 18, 1865.
From this campsite Granger and his men went on to fight at the Battle of Spanish Fort and the Battle of Fort
Blakeley. It was not until they were well past the Gulf State Park area, however, that they encountered Confederate
resistance.
Please click here to learn more about the Mobile Campaign.
In addition to its proximity to important sites of the War of 1812 and Civil
War, Gulf State Park is a great place to learn more about the natural
history of the Alabama Gulf Coast.
In a cooperative effort with the City of Orange Beach, the park has
opened a series of trails through its wilderness preserve. Named the
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry trails, they feature outstanding views of
marches, lakes, creeks, sand dunes and swamps. The 6.8 miles of trails
are popular with hikers. Please click here for a downloadable map.
In addition to its backcountry trails, the park also offers shorter hikes
along the Hurricane Ridge, Middle Lake, Bear Creek, Allligator Marsh,
Bobcat Branch, Tallow, Holly, Middle Lake Overlook and Armadillo
Trails.
Outdoor lovers should be sure to visit Gulf State Park's Nature Center.
It is a living museum that interprets the unique plants and animals of the
Alabama Gulf Coast.
Other amenities in the park include a very nice oak-shaded picnic area
bordering Lake Shelby, a 750 acre freshwater lake. It is one of three
natural lakes in the park, all within sound of the rolling waves of the Gulf.
The park has large areas of beach access on the Gulf of Mexico, an 18
hole champion-ship golf course, lakefront campgrounds and camp
store. Fishing, birding and Geocaching also are popular activities and
add to the list of things to do.
War, Gulf State Park is a great place to learn more about the natural
history of the Alabama Gulf Coast.
In a cooperative effort with the City of Orange Beach, the park has
opened a series of trails through its wilderness preserve. Named the
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry trails, they feature outstanding views of
marches, lakes, creeks, sand dunes and swamps. The 6.8 miles of trails
are popular with hikers. Please click here for a downloadable map.
In addition to its backcountry trails, the park also offers shorter hikes
along the Hurricane Ridge, Middle Lake, Bear Creek, Allligator Marsh,
Bobcat Branch, Tallow, Holly, Middle Lake Overlook and Armadillo
Trails.
Outdoor lovers should be sure to visit Gulf State Park's Nature Center.
It is a living museum that interprets the unique plants and animals of the
Alabama Gulf Coast.
Other amenities in the park include a very nice oak-shaded picnic area
bordering Lake Shelby, a 750 acre freshwater lake. It is one of three
natural lakes in the park, all within sound of the rolling waves of the Gulf.
The park has large areas of beach access on the Gulf of Mexico, an 18
hole champion-ship golf course, lakefront campgrounds and camp
store. Fishing, birding and Geocaching also are popular activities and
add to the list of things to do.
| Cottage at Gulf State Park A breeze blows through the pines that surround one of the park's three-bedroom cottages. |
Gulf State Park offers both wilderness and lake cabins and its new lakefront 3 bedroom cottages are among the
finest to be found in any state park. Click here for reservations.
The park address is 20115 State Highway 135, Gulf Shores, Alabama. There is no fee to enter and day use areas
are open 7 a.m.until sundown.
Please click here to visit the official park website for more information.
finest to be found in any state park. Click here for reservations.
The park address is 20115 State Highway 135, Gulf Shores, Alabama. There is no fee to enter and day use areas
are open 7 a.m.until sundown.
Please click here to visit the official park website for more information.