Meaher State Park: Boardwalk Trail (Blog Hike #1040)

Trail: Boardwalk Trail
Hike Location: Meaher State Park
Geographic Location: east of Mobile, AL (30.66625, -87.93194)
Length: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: 0/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A short boardwalk over Mobile Bay.
Park Information: https://www.alapark.com/parks/meaher-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=979493
Photo Highlight:

Short Video: (coming January 27, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: In the middle of Mobile Bay, take I-10 to US 90/98 (exit 30).  Exit and go east on US 90/98.  Drive US 90/98 east 3 miles to the signed entrance for Meaher State Park on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the small entrance fee, and park at the boat ramp parking lot at the rear of the campground.

The hike: Located on an island in the north end of Mobile Bay, Meaher State Park protects 1327 acres along the estuary created by the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta and Mobile Bay.  The 5 Rivers Delta Center, which is described elsewhere in this trail journal, is technically part of this park and is located directly across US 90/98.  The Delta Center contains several short hiking trails and many interesting exhibits about the large estuary.  Meaher State Park is named for Augustine Meaher, who donated the land to the State of Alabama for recreational use in 1989.

            Perhaps this park's best amenity is its 61-site developed campground, which provides easy access to the bay for fishing and boating.  Mobile Bay also makes this park a major birding destination.  For hikers, the park has only the short boardwalk trail described here, but this boardwalk is a nice one that provides good wildlife viewing and scenic views across the bay.

Trailhead for Boardwalk Trail

            From the boat ramp parking lot, walk south on the campground road, following signs for the Delta Boardwalk.  After less than 500 feet, you exit the campground and begin walking on a dirt road, still heading south.  A small parking lot sits at this corner of the campground, and you could park here to skip the walk through the campground if you wanted to.  I walked through the campground to make the hike longer, thereby doing more bird watching, and to avoid overcrowding at the small trailhead parking lot.

Starting the boardwalk

Mobile skyline

Boardwalk loop

            Just shy of 0.3 miles, you reach the start of the boardwalk.  This boardwalk forms a short lollipop loop around a small island that would be accessible only by boat otherwise.  I saw many common songbirds here, and the City of Mobile's skyline can be seen across the bay to the west on a sufficiently clear day.  Only constant traffic noise from nearby I-10 mars the ambiance.  A west-facing bench allows you to sit and enjoy the saltwater marsh.  After hiking the short boardwalk loop, retrace your steps to the campground to complete the hike.