Old Cahawba Archaeological Park Trail

Old Cahawba Archaeological Park preserves the evocative ruins of Alabama’s first permanent state capital, a once-thriving city now reclaimed by forest. The trail system wanders through the ghost town, passing column remnants, cemetery plots, and the foundations of buildings that once housed the state’s government. Interpretive signs explain the town’s rise as a cotton shipping center, its brief glory as the capital, and its slow decline after the government moved to Montgomery. The location at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba rivers provides scenic water views, while the reclaimed town site supports diverse wildlife. This is one of Alabama’s most atmospherically compelling historical sites, where nature and history intertwine in haunting beauty.