Eco-tours to be offered in Orange Beach

Eco-tours to be offered in Orange Beach - Baldwin County NOW - A Gulf Coast Information Source for South Alabama: "ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — With the opening of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, Orange Beach is taking the steps to tap in to the nature tourism industry."

“Nature-based tourism is the fastest growing segment of the industry,” coastal resources manager Phillip West said. “What we have is the ability to explore relatively new and, we believe, fertile ground in the nature tourism segment.”

While West said the plan of the trail was never to capitalize on eco-tourism, the venture is demanding exploration.

“We’re going to be behind the curve of our competitors that realize that if we don’t start taking advantage of opportunities like promoting the Backcountry Trail,” West said.

To kick off promotions, the idea of eco-tours have developed into the newest project.

A two-hour guided trip of the trail is in the works, and the city is hoping it will debut at the end of February.

Larry Ellis, natural resources manager, said surveys left by trail visitors are asking for deeper information of the trail.

Beach Boars Thriving

Monday, December 10, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Motion-sensing trail cameras have snapped mugshots of a wide variety of fauna along the city's 10-mile Backcountry Trail, from bobcats to deer, coyotes and even curious hikers.

But lately another species has made the shutters click with increasing frequency: feral swine.

"Anywhere you go in Baldwin County you're within a few miles of a population of wild hogs," said Kenneth Blalock with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries division.

Click here to read the complete article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Fundraiser Run to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
by Alton Wallace

The 1st Annual Running Scared 5k race, a fundraiser to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail, will be held Oct. 27 at 5:00 p.m. All proceeds will go to trail improvements, which will be implemented by the City of Orange Beach.

Participants can register for $20 and will receive a t-shirt, says Susan Shallow, one of the event’s organizers. “We are trying to raise awareness of the trail, and raise money for it,” Shallow said. “So far, the expenses have been covered by donations, but we can certainly use more help putting on this event. Every penny we raise will go for trail improvements.” Running Scared will be held on the trail, and will begin and end at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

The first male and female to cross the finish line will win an awards package that includes a stay at a gulf-front luxury condominium. Runners finishing first in other categories will also receive prizes. Wheel chair racers may also participate. A post race party beginning at 6:30 will feature the music of Bluz Brothers II, food and refreshments.

Costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for creativity. For more information or to register for the race on-line, go to www.RunningScared5k.com. Those wishing to donate supplies for the post race party should call Susan Shallow at (251)979-0501.

A two-mile portion of the Trail, known when it opened in 2002 as the Catman Trail, has already become a refuge for walkers and bikers. In 2004, the city of Orange Beach partnered with Gulf State Park in a plan to add about 7.5 miles to the trail, a picnic pavilion and restrooms, an additional trailhead on State Park Rd. 2, and expanded parking on Alabama Hwy. 161. A trail segment of about three miles opened along with the picnic pavilion and restrooms last March, and what will ultimately become a 9.5-mile-long trail was officially named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Orange Beach city officials expect that the final trail segments will be paved by early 2008.

Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West, who is overseeing development of the trail, said funds raised from Running Scared will probably be used for water fountains placed near the Sportsplex and/or Alabama 161 trailhead, exercise stations or possibly additional asphalt paving on a spur near Perdido Beach Boulevard.

Click here to register for this event on the Running Scared Website.

Click here for more information about this event.

Click here for a Birdseye-view of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trailhead at Orange Beach Blvd.