Overview and History of Ross Bridge (the home to the Historical Park)
Ross Bridge Historical Park is located in Hoover, Alabama and is one of the state’s most unique parks. Ross Bridge Historical Park is a tranquil local park featuring a Civil War–era bridge, dense woods, tranquil trails, and a playground. The Historic Ross Bridge Park provides a memorable stopping point along the miles of trail throughout the community. In addition to hiking, a couple of other recreational activities enjoyed by visitors of this trail include road biking and mountain biking. While exploring Ross Bridge Historical Park, you’ll be surrounded by lots of beautiful natural scenery. You’ll also encounter a few foot bridges crossing over the creek. If you feel like sitting and resting a bit, there are plenty of benches located throughout the park. A great place to sit is alongside the creek where the trickling sounds of the water will relax you. And finally, there’s also a train-themed play area, so be sure to bring your kids along to the park with you. They’ll love it!
The History of Ross Bridge dates to 1858, when a Carolinian named James Taylor Ross was so struck by the beauty of the Oxmoor Valley that he settled here to farm and raise his family. During the Civil War, he allowed Southern forces to build a railway supply line through his land. Part of the construction was a massive stone bridge built to span Ross Creek. The war is long since over, but the weathered bridge still stands as a testament to perseverance.
Get Familiar with the Ross Bridge Historical Park Trail
Situated within the park is a 1.9-mile, out-and-back trail that leads through it. It has an easy level of difficulty, meaning it’s the perfect trail for all skill levels. It’s also accessible all year long. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 39 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, mountain biking, and road biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. It is stroller-friendly for the first half. It is great for riding a bike as well. There are no designated accessible spaces in the gravel parking lot off of Ross Bridge Parkway at the north end of the trail. The trail surface is paved asphalt or a natural surface (dirt). It is typically at least 6 feet wide. The most accessible portion of the trail is the paved portion in the first about 0.4 miles when going south. The majority of the trail is estimated to be in the mostly gentle (5% or less) grade category but there are steeper sections at about 0.6-0.7 miles when going south.
Ross Bridge Historical Park’s Most Popular Feature
Ross Bridge Historical Park’s In Vestavia Hills, Alabama most popular feature is its Civil War-era bridge, which spans Ross Creek. This historic stone bridge was a quick way for the Confederate Army to transport men and supplies to Selma during the Civil War. Over the years, it’s also become one of the Birmingham area’s most iconic landmarks.
The Bridge is more accurately termed “a railroad culvert” and this beautifully crafted culvert was built with circular wing walls. The Civil War-era bridge is all that remains of the original railroad causeway designed to bring iron ore from the Oxmoor Furnaces to Confederate arsenals and it is now currently used as a pedestrian walkway in Ross Bridge Historical Park, Hoover, Alabama, United States.
Next place of interest: Hoover Metropolitan Complex
