Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail Wins Top USA Today Spot Again

For the third year in a row, the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail has been chosen as the top recreational trail in the country in the 2025 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The 29-mi. multiuse trail connects Gulf State Park with Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Baldwin County. “This year’s win is especially exciting as we celebrate the Year of Alabama Trails,” said Matthew Capps, state parks director for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Established in 2003, the trail is a system of paved and unpaved paths and boardwalks providing access to several distinct ecosystems and outdoor recreational opportunities. Plans are in the works to expand the trail system. Its recreational opportunities include biking, hiking, wildlife watching, playgrounds, fishing and camping. It took first place over nine other trails from across the U.S., including the 78-mi. Little Miami Scenic Trail in Ohio and the 150-mi. Great Allegheny Passage that connects Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cumberland, Maryland.