Summary
Geneva State Forest is a 7,100-acre forest located in Geneva County, Alabama. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife and offers opportunities for hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. The forest is managed by the Alabama Forestry Commission and is considered a working forest, meaning it is actively managed to promote healthy forests and provide a sustainable supply of forest products.
One of the main reasons to visit Geneva State Forest is for outdoor recreation. The forest has several hiking trails, including the 2.5-mile Black Creek Trail, which follows the banks of Black Creek and offers scenic views of the forest. The forest also has a campground with 13 campsites, as well as several picnic areas and a fishing pond.
Another point of interest in Geneva State Forest is the Piney Woods Covered Bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1900 and was moved to its current location in the forest in 1971. The bridge is open to pedestrians and offers a unique glimpse into the past.
Interesting facts about Geneva State Forest include that it was established in 1935 and was one of the first forests in Alabama to be managed by the state. The forest is also home to several rare plant species, including the endangered Alabama snow-wreath.
The best time of year to visit Geneva State Forest is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the forest is open year-round and offers different activities and sights throughout the seasons.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References