GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Gulf State Park Pier will re-open to sightseers and anglers on Monday, Aug. 19 at 7 a.m., as the renovation work that began in November 2023 has been completed.

Although it took two tiebreakers, 12-year-old Bryson McGlynn of Opelika was once again crowned a champion for his age-defying culinary skills. Last December, McGlynn won the Gordon Ramsay Master Chef Junior competition, which aired on Fox in May. Last weekend, McGlynn was crowned champion of the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Wild Game Cook-Off State Finals at […]

The 2025 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest will begin accepting entries at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The contest is a joint project between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama Tourism Department. The deadline to enter is October 31, 2024. The 2025 photo contest will focus on traditional […]

In July of last year, voters residing in unincorporated West Mobile voted overwhelmingly to be annexed by the Port City. While the move to reclassify the rural areas garnered support from many, some citizens were less than enthused over the change.  

For more than a decade, outdoorsmen have called for improvements to the Mount Vernon boat ramp and their wish has been granted. The ramp was set to close Monday for renovations expected to take about three months, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Upgrades will include a new launching slab, new […]

With more than $150 million available for renovations, repairs and construction, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) State Parks System is in the middle of major upgrades and enhancements to help State Parks’ guests embrace and enjoy Alabama’s natural beauty. State Parks Director Greg Lein said those projects span the entire state, […]

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced that one of the state's public fishing lakes will be shutting down temporarily due to the spread of a highly invasive aquatic plant.

One of Alabama’s most popular paddling destinations recently received a significant upgrade. State and local officials celebrated the opening of the renovated Garden City River Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 24. The renovations were made possible by a settlement against Tyson Farms for a wastewater spill into the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior […]

For 11-year-old Zandyn Merritt, holding a small bull shark in his hands has taken on a new meaning as he caught it too close to home along the banks of the Alabama Tombigbee River. Alisha Richardson said the discovery and catch in the early hours of July 21 surprised everyone when the 10-pound, three-foot shark […]

“There’s a story everywhere you look for one,” says Fred Hunter. And he’s always looking. While viewers of Birmingham television station WBRC have long appreciated his delivery of timely and accurate weather news, it’s not meteorology that Hunter is best known for. People across the state recognize the man under his trademark Stetson hat as […]

Nobody was more pleased when the 91st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) added flounder to the CCA Alabama Live Weigh-In competition than Dr. Sean Powers, head rodeo judge and Director of the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Alabama. Powers watched the southern flounder populations plummet in the 2010s […]

Alabama State Parks offer lots of opportunities for fun, adventure, and family escapes, especially in summer. Known for its rich history and stunning landscapes, Monte Santo offers diverse outdoor activities and miles of scenic hiking and biking trails.

Since the mid-1970s, one thing has remained constant at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR): Fred Harders is hard at work in the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division. Harders was recently celebrated for 50 years of service to the State of Alabama, 48 of those with WFF in one capacity or […]

Adventure is a way of life in DeKalb County, Alabama. Everyone knows it’s a place where you keep your feet on the ground while your hands get to work. Whether climbing, hunting, fishing, hiking, off-roading, mountain biking, or zip-lining, there’s no shortage of fun for an adventurous spirit.  It’s an outdoorsman’s (and outdoorswoman’s) paradise. DeKalb […]

Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth got the opportunity to speak with Donald Trump Jr. at a recent campaign event hosted in Mountain Brook. The conversation between the two centered on the state of the economy and the possibility of a second term for President Donald Trump.

Fortunately, the number of people in Alabama who participate in the traditional outdoor endeavors of hunting and fishing has remained relatively steady, but one activity is on an upward trajectory – shooting sports. That fact has definitely been noticed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, […]

Get ready to support Alabama farmers and celebrate all things local with Sweet Grown Alabama Day, this Saturday, July 13th.  Each summer the event is hosted by Sweet Grown Alabama, a nonprofit foundation that seeks to enhance marketing opportunities for Alabama farmers by connecting retailers and consumers to Alabama-grown foods and other agricultural products. Farmers […]

Congressman Jerry Carl of Mobile has announced that legislation to help protect and promote the Underwater Forest in the Gulf of Mexico has officially passed the U.S. House of Representatives as of Monday.

A partnership of conservation groups, state agencies, the city and private groups cut the ribbon this week on a new boat launch, docks and a tournament pavilion in Selma, providing an enhanced venue for recreational activities, fishing tournaments and other uses in Alabama’s Black Belt. Partners that contributed to the projects include the Alabama Department […]

Facing against the river current, the boat drifted slowly backward, despite the whirling trolling motor prop slashing to gain headway against the flow. As the boat glided past a hump 50 feet below, the rod tip twitched ever so slightly. Then, the stout rod bent over double as a river monster inhaled the offering. Big […]

A new dock and boardwalk, a new live weigh-in category and a new species for catch and release are among the highlights for the 91st annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR), set for July 19-21 at the rodeo site on Dauphin Island. The new dock and boardwalk will increase the capacity for the number […]

If you’ve been to Lake Martin, Alabama, you have probably visited the beautiful Kowaliga area. Whether to eat, boat around, or visit the marina, the area is a mainstay of Lake Martin and is held dear in the hearts of many. But beneath the favorite vacation spot of many Alabamians lie the ruins of a […]

Alabama is home to an incredible range of state parks that have something to offer adventurers year-round. Our Alabama State Parks Passport series highlights all of the stunning outdoor spaces throughout the state that make for the perfect seasonal getaway. The seventh in our series is Monte Sano State Park. OVERVIEW According to Alabama State […]

PELHAM, Ala. – The Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils presented a $25,000 grant to Alabama State Parks on Friday, June 21, during the Pollinator Festival at Oak Mountain State Park (OMSP).