Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, aptly named for the French phrase for “safe harbor,” serves as a rugged sanctuary for Alabama wildlife and a vital waypoint for migratory birds on their long journeys. Its landscape shifts from ancient maritime forests and scrub habitats to shimmering salt marshes and dunes.
If you want the trails to yourself, winter is your season. The weather can be unpredictable, but the mosquitoes are gone. During our January 2026 visit, we had sun and temperatures in the 50s.
Jeff Friend Trail
The Jeff Friend Trail is a perfect introduction to the refuge. This 1-mile loop is an easy, relaxed stroll through the forest before transitioning into a scenic boardwalk along the edge of Little Lagoon.
While coastal barrier habitats often take the brunt of tropical storms, maritime forests anchor the landscape, providing a vital foundation for the fragile dune ecosystems nearby.
We hit the trail early, hoping for a few songbird sightings, and it didn’t disappoint – we spotted blue jays, brown thrashers, Carolina chickadees, Carolina wrens, eastern towhees, gray catbirds, northern cardinals, ruby-crowned kinglets, tufted titmice, wood ducks, and yellow-rumped warblers.
Centennial Trail
If you are looking to hike some extra miles, the Centennial Trail is the perfect connector trail. This moderate, 2-mile path bridges the gap between the Jeff Friend and Pine Beach trails, making it the longest stretch in the refuge.
It wanders deep into the forest and through swampy wetlands. Keep an eye on the ground as you go, we found the trail edges carpeted in pale green lichen.
On our hike, the boardwalk was under repair, and we had to turn back toward Jeff Friend.
The birding only got better as we moved deeper into the pines. We managed to add pine warblers, red-breasted nuthatches, and red-shouldered hawks to our morning tally.
Gator Lake Trail
Gator Lake offers a dreamy landscape of rolling dune ridges. Here the forest puts up a brave front against the shifting sands, marked by weather-beaten, twisted oaks and salt-pruned shrubs. We also came across plenty of sandhill rosemary – a dark green shrub dotted with bright yellow berries that thrives in this environment.
I consider the 1-mile Gator Lake Trail a moderate hike because the sandy terrain can be a workout for your calves.
As we trekked through the dunes, we found blue-gray gnatcatchers, eastern towhees, northern cardinals, pine warblers, red-bellied woodpeckers, ruby-crowned kinglets, tufted titmice, and yellow-rumped warblers.
For most of the route, we could peer through the trees at Gator Lake. Eventually, the path leads you right to the shores of Little Lagoon, where it meets up with the Pine Beach Trail.
Gator Lake ended up being our favorite trail of the day. It probably helped that we had two incredible sightings along the way.
On the stretch toward Little Lagoon, we noticed a small group of hikers gathered and staring intently into the trees. As any wildlife lover knows, that is the international sign for “stop what you’re doing and look up.” I followed their eyeline and found a great blue heron in a nearby tree. Looking closer, I realized it wasn’t just one – there were three nests with herons. It was such a treat to find a rookery so visible from a hiking trail; usually, I have to be on a boat to get a view like this.
By far the most exciting find happened on our way back to the trailhead. We heard a pair of great horned owls performing a duet of alternating calls. Mom was determined to catch sight of one as neither of us had ever seen one in the wild. After a bit of hide-and-seek, she finally spotted one tucked away in the shadows on a distant branch. It took off the moment we found it, so we were happy to catch a brief glimpse. While that was good enough, not 5 minutes later we heard another hoot closer to the trail. This one we spotted in late afternoon sun! It was patient enough to let us stare and take some photos.
Surrounding Sites
Beyond the borders of Bon Secour, the Alabama Gulf Coast offers historical spots and nature gems. There is plenty to see and do just a short drive from the refuge.
Gulf State Park has more than 28 miles of trails and lots of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. We walked a portion of the Lakeview Trail around Lake Shelby. American coots and double-crested cormorants swam in the water. We also jumped on Eagle Loop to find a bald eagle in its nest.
Wade Ward Nature Park, in the heart of Gulf Shores, offers elevated boardwalks over salt marshes and waterways connecting Little Lagoon to Lake Shelby.
Fort Morgan State Historic Site is a 19th-century masonry fort which played a pivotal role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge isn’t just a place to hike; it is a reminder of the wild beauty we have a responsibility to protect.
What a trip! Never underestimate January hiking trails.