Summary
The area spans over 2,000 acres and features a diverse range of habitats, including wetlands, rivers, and forests. Visitors to the area can enjoy hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and hunting.
Some of the specific points of interest within the Forever Wild Wehle Tract include the Wehle Nature Center, which offers educational programming for visitors, and the Oakmulgee Creek, which is a popular spot for fishing. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkeys, and bald eagles.
Interesting facts about the area include that it was once used as a hunting retreat by wealthy individuals and was later donated to the state to be preserved as a wildlife habitat. Additionally, the Forever Wild Wehle Tract is part of the larger Alabama Black Belt region, which is known for its rich soil and unique biodiversity.
The best time of year to visit the Forever Wild Wehle Tract depends on the activities you plan to participate in. For hunting and fishing, the fall and winter months are ideal. For hiking and birdwatching, the spring and summer months offer the best weather and opportunities to see wildlife.
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