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Map and Trail Guide |  |
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Moss Rock Preserve (MRP) is a 250-acre, public nature preserve owned by the City of Hoover. The park is unique in that it preserves and emphasizes many natural features that have been lost to development in other areas. Moss Rock currently contains about 10 miles of hiking trails, including old roads and utility rights-of-way. 5 miles of those trails are new and were recently built by local volunteers. These trails, with the exception of the power line trail, are coded white, blue or red. The white trail primarily provides easy walking along streams but its western end traverses some fairly intense topography, providing a fun and aerobic hike. That section of the white trail is referred to by some as the "cardio trail"! The blue trail leads to hidden valleys and boulders, and the red trail passes by cliffs and wetlands. All trails interconnect to form loops and are excellent for all levels of hiking. Before you enter, please read the Moss Rock Preserve Rules that are posted at each primary trailhead. These rules should serve as a reminder to "TAKE ONLY PICTURES AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS". Also, please take time to learn about Moss Rock's special features, located on the rustic trail map and described below. As new trails get built, the rustic trail map is updated so all your suggestions are welcomed! If the rustic map doesn't quite satisfy your curiosity about Moss Rock, CLICK HERE to view the latest color trail map produced for the park. And if you still want more information CLICK HERE to view the Moss Rock trail guide or HERE to view the new Moss Rock plant and animal species list. NEWS FLASH!!! A new trail has been added to Moss Rock Preserve. The orange or "Boulder Gorge" trail extends from Moss Rock's northeast end into a recently purchased +/- 79 acre tract of land. This trail runs out-and-back, through some of the most scenic area around. The best and quickest access to this trail is from the Simmons Middle School lower parking lot, hiking in on the white trail. CLICK HERE for a map and writeup of this area. Landforms, Natural Plant Communities, Wildlife and Historic Resources Moss Rock Preserve contains an amazing variety of natural plant communities within a compact area. Drier sites contain the now rare longleaf pine forest and more moist sites contain mixed hardwood forests. Mixed, pine/hardwood forests dominate transitional habitats between drier and moister areas. A few wetlands in the form of hardwood swamps are also present. Likely the most unique natural communities in Moss Rock are its sandstone glades. Sandstone glades are composed of scattered trees, grasses and wildflowers growing on large pavement-like rock outcrops. Many of the small, stunted trees are natural bonsai and may be hundreds of years old. The glades also contain several rare plant species, including Nuttall's rayless goldenrod. All of these plants can be killed by light soil compaction, usually caused by excessive foot-traffic. Therefore, the locations of the glades have not been listed on the initial trail map. Special trails will eventually be routed to allow observation but minimize impact. In the meantime, it is best to visit the glades with a trained naturalist. If you do visit the glades, please be conscious to step only on rocks and not on the delicate islands of plants. These plants literally grow between a rock and a hard place and cannot tolerate much disturbance. The various plant communities are inhabited by a great variety of wildlife including gray fox, Barred owls, the harmless gray rat snake, various frogs, sunfish, crayfish and numerous butterflies. Moss Rock Preserve historic resources include a Native American cliff shelter in the Boulder Field as well as what some consider to be the remains of an old moonshine still. For a more complete list of plants and animals found within the park, CLICK HERE..
Your Help is Needed!
For More Information Contact: Kenneth Wills Colin Conner Lee Means
CLICK HERE CLICK HERE CLICK HERE CLICK HERE
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Copyright 2006 City of Hoover, Alabama |
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