Lake Lurleen State Park: Lakeside Trail to Dam (Blog Hike #1127)

Trails: Lakeside Trail, aka Tashka Trail
Hike Location: Lake Lurleen State Park
Geographic Location: northwest of Tuscaloosa, AL (33.29661, -87.67633)
Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: May 2026
Overview: An out-and-back along Lake Lurleen to the lake's dam.
Park Information: https://www.alapark.com/parks/lake-lurleen-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 8, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 43 and US 82 on the north side of Tuscaloosa, take US 82 west 5.1 miles to Upper Columbus Road (CR 21).  Turn right on Upper Columbus Rd.  Drive Upper Columbus Rd. 2.3 miles to Lake Lurleen Road and a sign for the state park.  Turn right on Lake Lurleen Rd.  Drive Lake Lurleen Rd. north 2.2 winding miles to the park entrance on the left.  Take a soft left to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and park near the far/south end of the large blacktop parking area beside the lake on the left immediately after passing the park entrance station.

The hike: For my general comments on Lake Lurleen State Park, see my hike on its Ridge Loop Trail from 2019.  While that hike explored this park's ridgetop areas, this hike explores the park's lakeside area.  This hike is an out-and-back on the most scenic part of the Tashka Trail, which forms an 11 mile loop around the lake.  The lake breezes keep this trail relatively cool, and I had a pleasant hike when I came here on a hot 90-degree afternoon in mid-May.

South Trailhead

            From the parking area, pick up the Tashka Trail as it heads south with the lake on your right.  An information kiosk marks this trailhead, and some park maps call this point the South Trailhead.  The Tashka Trail has mileage markers at 0.5 mile increments, but it is otherwise mostly unmarked.  Nevertheless, the single track dirt trail is wide and easy to follow.

Short boardwalk

            You pass a ranger residence uphill to the left as your meandering lakeside excursion begins.  Short boardwalks take you over wet areas, and the first 0.8 miles of the trail never stray more than a couple hundred feet from the lake.  The lake makes for good bird watching.  I saw a heron gliding over the water and heard an owl on my hike.  Ignore side trails that exit left; they lead to parking areas along the park road.

Hiking along the lake

            Just past 0.8 miles, the trail curves left to begin a gradual climb away from the lake.  As you start the climb, an arm of the lake can be seen downhill to the right.  When you pass the Tashka Trail's 1 mile marker, the lake is out of sight and only nice broadleaf forest dominated by oaks and sweetgum trees surrounds you.  I saw a raccoon, a scarlet tanager, and many other small songbirds in these woods.  I also found a timber rattlesnake laying across the trail; I waited patiently for it to clear before I carefully moved on.

Hiking the upland section

            The trail traces a winding course around the rim of a ravine before descending back to lake level.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is about 100 feet, so all of the grades are manageable.  Near 1.7 miles, you come out on an old dam construction road, where signs tell you to turn right.  A few hundred feet later, you reach the dam that forms Lake Lurleen.

Lake Lurleen, as seen from the dam

            Dams usually give the best lake views, and this one is no exception: you can peer down the length of Lake Lurleen's reflective waters.  The Tashka Trail keeps going and forms an 11 mile loop around the lake, but for a reasonable-length dayhike, the dam is a good point to turn around.  Retracing your steps 1.75 miles to the South Trailhead completes the hike.