Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL (Blog Hike #879)

Trails: Red and Black Trails

Hike Location: Choccolocco Park
Geographic Location: south side of Oxford, AL (33.60123, -85.78804)
Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: December 2021
Overview: A loop hike on asphalt trail around a lake and along Choccolocco Creek.
Park Information: https://choccoloccopark.com/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=895615
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: In eastern Alabama, take I-20 to Leon Smith Parkway (exit 188).  Exit and go south on Leon Smith Pkwy.  Drive Leon Smith Pkwy. south 0.8 miles to the Choccolocco Park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park and park at the trailhead parking area, which is located to the right of the traffic circle near the park's entrance.

The hike: Although planning for Choccolocco Park began only in 2007, people have been coming to Choccolocco for thousands of years.  Settlement of this valley began by 1250 B.C., and by 100 B.C. construction started on two earthen mounds located on this site.  The Creek people called this settlement Choccolocco, and they lived here until the 1830's when they were forcibly moved to Oklahoma as part of the Trail of Tears.  The name of the park and its adjacent creek come from the Creek word for this place.

            For the next 150 years this land would be farmed by the Carter, Christian, and Davis families.  Today two Creek mounds have been reconstructed on this site, and the well-amenitied park is owned and maintained by the City of Oxford.  The park features a small lake, baseball, softball, and soccer fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, 2 playgrounds, and 2.7 miles of trails.  This hike uses the park's asphalt trails, and it features a loop around the lake together with visits to the reconstructed mounds and an historic bridge over Choccolocco Creek, thus sampling all of the trail system's main attractions.

Main trailhead

            From the back of the trailhead pavilion and restroom building, head down the asphalt path that leads to the walking track, then turn right to begin heading counterclockwise around the lake.  Some interpretive signs tell you about Choccolocco's history, and an information board with a trail map introduces you to the various possible hiking routes.  Two lakeside shelters offer fantastic views across the lake.

Lakeside trail shelters

            At the first trail intersection, turn right on another asphalt trail to head away from the lake.  Upon reaching an old road that runs along Choccolocco Creek, turn left to begin hiking downstream.  At 0.3 miles, you pass a mound of rocks.  This mound was built by the Creek people atop nearby Signal Mountain, and it was moved here upon construction of the park.  You can look across the flat mowed-grass plaza to see a larger dirt Creek mound that has been reconstructed here.  Some swinging benches located beside the creek allow you to enjoy the setting.

Stone Creek mound

            Continue heading downstream to find another piece of history: an old steel bridge with wooden deck that used to carry vehicles over Choccolocco Creek.  Known locally as Hells Gate Bridge for its alleged paranormal activity, the bridge is barricaded with signs that warn against trespassing.  Nevertheless, good views of the bridge can be had from the trail.

Hells Gate Bridge

            The asphalt trail continues downstream before curving left to leave the creekside area.  1 mile into the hike, you get back to the lakeside walking track.  Turn right to continue the loop around the lake.  The walking track crosses the lake's outlet on a bridge before passing some interpretive signs about this area's farm and charcoal-making history.

View across park lake

Blue heron

            The rest of the hike stays close to the lake with the park's ball fields to the right.  The proximity to the lake makes for good bird viewing, and I saw 2 herons and some other birds on the rainy afternoon that I came here.  At 1.8 miles, you close the walking track around the lake.  Angle right and climb slightly to return to the trailhead and complete the hike.