Orange Beach, Ala. - (OBA) - The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Alabama has been named the best recreational trail in the US by the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Beating out other competitors, including the Great Allegheny Passage and Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, the 28-mile trail through nine ecosystems in Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park, and Orange Beach was nominated by a panel of relevant experts, including editors from USA Today, editors from 10Best.com, and other contributors.

Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chris Blankenship, said that the recognition by USA Today’s readers confirms Alabama’s diverse natural landscapes, and their recreational trails are the best way to explore the state from the mountainous northeast to the coastal habitats. Blankenship encouraged everyone to visit Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Gulf State Park to experience the trail themselves.

The trail system, spanning nearly 30 miles and connecting the City of Orange Beach to Gulf State Park and to Gulf Shores, attracts visitors who love to experience the coastal wilderness just minutes from the beach. The trail offers a balance between development and nature and provides the opportunity to experience the Gulf Coast as it was before the development of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

The President & CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, Beth Gendler, said the award confirms that Alabama’s Gulf Coast is truly more than just a beach, and it's a testament to the vision and partnerships of the two cities, Gulf State Park, and the state's conservation and natural resources team.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon agrees. “The public investments in our Backcountry Trail here on the Alabama Gulf Coast have paid off for nearly two decades,” said Mayor Kennon. “We started with one section less than two miles long and now have a trail system reaching nearly 30 miles, connecting the City of Orange Beach to our 6,150-acre Gulf State Park and to our sister city, Gulf Shores. People clearly come to our destination seeking the beautiful beaches, but the trail system  now attracts people who love to experience our coastal wilderness just minutes from the beach. Once on the trails, you experience a whole new world away from the busyness of the main highways, and we see the positive feedback from our visitors and residents.

 We have nearly 8 million visitors to Baldwin County annually, and the number of bikers, walkers, runners, and wildlife enthusiasts is remarkable as they choose our destination because of the trails and their offerings. We are so pleased to be recognized for the decades of hard work made by our staff and community into this special amenity." 

For Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft, the Backcountry Trail provides a vital balance between development and nature. “The Backcountry Trail provides the opportunity to experience the way the Gulf Coast was prior to the development of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach,” said Craft. “Gulf State Park and the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system are an amazing buffer to the developed coast and creates a vital balance between the natural environment and our developed communities.”

According to Coastal Resources Director for the City of Orange Beach, Phillip West, the honor of being named the best recreational trail in the country by USA Today's readers would not have been possible without the dedication, hard work, and passion of the staff and community who have developed the trail system.

Here is the full Top Ten list of Best Recreational Trails, which can also be found here.

1. Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail (Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Ala.) 
2. Katy Trail (Missouri) 
3. Chessie Trail (Lexington, Va.) 
4. B-Line Trail (Bloomington, Ind.) 
5. George S. Mickelson Trail (Black Hills, S.D.) 
6. Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail (Austin, Texas) 
7. Little Miami Scenic Trail (Cincinnati, Ohio) 
8. Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail System (Greenville, S.C.) 
9. Great Allegheny Passage (Maryland and Pennsylvania) 
10. Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes (Idaho)