Iron Works Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Hike the old Iron Road (ca 1861) down which pig iron from the Tannehill Ironworks was hauled by eight-team mule wagons 18 miles to the railhead at Montevallo. There it was put on the cars of the Alabama & Tennessee Rivers Railroad headed for the Selma Arsenal.

The north half of this trail is comprised of the Old Montevallo Stage Road (ca 1830). From this perimeter trail, hikers can access many of the other trails in the park to create a longer or shorter outing as desired.

This trail has three possible trailhead points. The official starting point is on the north side of the park near the Boy Scouts of America camp. You can also access this trail from the Collins House point or the tension bridge that can be found just past the main parking area.

This trail will not end where you began, so plan on hiking the Slave Quarter Trail (approximately 1 mi) or the Sidewalk/Grist Mill Trail (approximately 1.5 mi) back to your starting point.

Note that after heavy rain, parts of this trail become marsh, and you'll find several small streams suddenly crossing the trail.

Deer, squirrels, chipmunk, birds, fox, and coyotes. Pine, elm, cedar, and wildflowers.