CULLMAN, Ala. – When it comes to needing some “wind therapy,” sometimes you can only afford a day ride, which is sometimes all you need. I want to share some personal favorite trips of mine and other local roads I’ve seen recommended. If you don’t ride, you don’t have to feel excluded! Drivers looking for a cruise will enjoy these trips, too!
Please note I’ll be using Cullman as the common starting point. And remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the trip! Find the joy in the journey.
Lake Guntersville State Park, 1155 Lodge Dr., Guntersville, AL 35976
There are several ways to ride to Lake Guntersville State Park from Cullman, the average time being around 55 minutes to an hour. When you arrive, take in the view, or pack a picnic and enjoy the lake view while having a lunch.
The three ways to go the park from Cullman are:
- via Alabama Highway 69 North (roundtrip time 1.8 hours)
- via U.S. Highway 278 East onto Alabama Highway 79 North (roundtrip time 1.7 hours)
- via U.S. Highway 31 S onto Alabama Highway 91 N onto U.S. Hwy. 278 E to Alabama Highway 79 North (roundtrip time 3.9 hours)
Bankhead National Forest
I have this route planned out for a ride through Bankhead National Forest. This route spans through Cullman, Winston and Lawrence counties; you’ll start and end in Cullman. This route uses highways. The roundtrip time for this trip is 3.6 hours.
Here’s the route planned out from Cullman:
- In Cullman, start on U.S. Highway 278 West, ride for 36.8 miles to Double Springs, Alabama.
- Turn onto Alabama Highway 33 North off of U.S. Highway 278 West, ride on 33 for 23.6 miles through Bankhead National Forest.
- From 33, turn onto Alabama Highway 36 East and stay on it for 7.7 miles and turn onto Alabama Highway 157 and ride to Cullman for 23.8 miles.
Weave around Smith Lake on County Road 222
This route is plain and simple: exit off of Alabama Highway 69 South onto County Road 222 back to 69 N and either go through Bremen into Dodge City and I-65 N back to Cullman or turn onto County Road 223 and then onto County Road 437 to go through Good Hope to head back to Cullman. The average roundtrip time for this short trip is 56.5 minutes. You could stop by Smith Lake Park for a picnic or stop for food in Dodge City or Bremen, too.
Alabama Highway 91 in Cullman County
Alabama Highway 91 is a 38.161-mile-long highway located entirely in Cullman County. The highway runs through noticeable municipalities and communities like Hanceville, Holly Pond, Colony and Arkadelphia. There are two access points to get onto Hwy. 91. One is turning onto the highway from U.S. Highway 278 in Holly Pond and the other being Alabama Highway 69 in Bremen.
Highway 91 offers a good forest-y view with some nice turns and hills; to me it’s like a very slow uphill and downhill roller coaster with pretty views of the forests in Cullman County.
