Ridge Run County Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Ridge Run County Park is a beautiful park located in Shelby County, Alabama.
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Summary
It is a great place to visit for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The park is spread over 350 acres of land and offers a range of activities such as hiking, fishing, picnicking, and more.
One of the main attractions of the park is the extensive hiking trails that lead through the forested areas. Visitors can explore the park's natural beauty and spot wildlife such as deer and birds. The park also has a lake where visitors can fish and enjoy the serene surroundings.
Ridge Run County Park is also home to the Tinglewood Festival of Lights, a popular event that takes place during the holiday season. The festival features a light display that stretches over a mile-long trail through the park. Visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere and take part in other activities such as hayrides, face painting, and more.
Interesting facts about the park include that it was once a hunting ground for Native Americans in the area and that it was later home to a Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Great Depression. Today, the park is managed by Shelby County and is a popular destination for locals and tourists.
The best time to visit Ridge Run County Park is during the fall season when the leaves change colors and the weather is mild. The park is open year-round, but the summer months can be hot and humid, making it less pleasant for outdoor activities.
Overall, Ridge Run County Park is a great place to visit for a day trip or a weekend getaway. With its beautiful natural surroundings and range of activities, visitors are sure to enjoy all that the park has to offer.
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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.
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