more stats
3,645 ft
Distance
31 ft
Climb
-233 ft
Descent
00:05:04
Avg time
-203 ft
Altitude change
583 ft
Altitude min
786 ft
Altitude max
786 ft
Altitude start
584 ft
Altitude end
-5.6%
Grade
-15.9%
Grade max
18.3%
Grade min
253 ft
Distance climb
3,264 ft
Distance down
128 ft
Distance flat
00:05:04
Avg time

Lightning Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
  • Riding Area
    Oak Mountain State Park
    Pelham, Alabama
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (7 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in E-Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #22977 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #2660 in E-Biking
  • State Ranking
    #82 in Mountain Biking · Alabama [+]
    • #1 in E-Biking
  • Blaze Color
  • Trail Type
    Machine Groomed
  • Bike Type
    AM
  • Direction
    Downhill Only[+]
    Popular Direction Shown
    • Downhill Only for E-Biking
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    All Season
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Drop, Jump, Roller Coaster
  • Land Owner
    Alabama State Parks

The trail starts with a test- a skinny with a 2 ft. drop to give you an idea of what you're getting into. This is optional, but recommended way to test how prepared you are for the trail ahead. Lots of Flow Immediately the trail drops into medium rollers and doubles, winding it's way back down the mountain with steep downhills, and a brief rolling climb. Lots of opportunities for big air. There is an optional drop 1/2 way down. The trail finishes in switchbacks coming down the mountain with some good berms.

Ideal bike: 5-6in Trail bike

Tags
BermsDropsFlowyJumpsRollersSkinnies

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 4 rides
  • 46.3 km average
6 Months
  • 85 rides
  • 22.6 km avg distance
All
  • 1,026 rides
  • Last: Nov 10, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Status:
on Jul 26, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.46 (20 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (7,323)
close
      Directions to lightning-53478 trailhead (33.341450, -86.723860)
      View on Discover Map 3D Tour

      Photos

      18 more »
      mtb
      119 |
      Nov 25, 2025 @ 3:03pm
      Nov 25, 2025
      mtb
      116 |
      Nov 25, 2025 @ 3:00pm
      Nov 25, 2025
      mtb
      181 |
      Mar 4, 2023 @ 9:10pm
      Mar 4, 2023
      mtb
      604 |
      Sep 4, 2022 @ 2:30pm
      Sep 4, 2022
      Drops 1Trail Sign 1

      Videos

      3 more »
      Best Flow Trail in Oak Mountain State Park? |...
      mtb
      4:01 | 326 | Apr 30, 2026 , Pelham
      First drop in years.
      mtb
      0:16 | 1280 | Aug 29, 2017 , Pelham
      Oak Mountain
      mtb
      0:14 | 465 | Sep 28, 2015 , Pelham

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      67
      LIMITLESS Lightning Lap Featured
      ★ 5.0 • 3 miles • 347 ft • 3 • Out & Back •
      Lightning is a directional Flow/Jump trail. PRE-Ride, RE-Ride, THEN FREE-Ride. Lips, Table tops, Box Drop....
      225
      Thunder and Lightning Loop (Short)
      ★ 5.0 • 8 miles • 986 ft • 9 •
      This loop starts with a Red Road lung buster before getting to the fun stuff headed down Thunder and...
      406
      Oak Mountain Tech Loop
      ★ 5.0 • 27 miles • 2,424 ft • 14 •
      Longer ride through some of the best technical trails in Oak Mountain State Park
      4.6 ★★★★★
      20 Ratings
      5 ★ 75%
      4 ★ 10%
      3 ★ 15%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      11 Reviews & Comments

      kolbirke
      I'd give this six stars if I could, Lightning was SO MUCH FUN!
      tbone12345
      Probably the best short trail in Alabama, it’s like a rollercoaster on a bike.
      G2aXyr4f
      Bad ass fast flow big jump. But you can roll everyone of them. Except the drop which has a path around it. A lot of fun and the ride up the access road isn't to bad. It gets a little steep but put your big boy pants on and push thru it. No rest till the top or the ride down.

      We hope you've been enjoying Trailforks!

      Create a FREE account to view all trail reviews and much more.

      Create a Free Account

      Nearby Trails

      Oak Mountain State Park

      • By caleb93TF Pro & contributors
      • #53478 - 8,698 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Lightning located?
      Lightning is located in Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Oak Mountain State Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 33.34145, -86.72386.
      ▼ How hard is Lightning?
      Lightning is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 5.6%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Lightning?
      Lightning has 31 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 233 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 583 ft to 786 ft.
      ▼ Is Lightning a point to point trail?
      Yes, Lightning is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is machine groomed.
      ▼ How long is Lightning?
      Lightning is 3,645 ft long. The trail type is machine groomed.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Lightning?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on Lightning. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Lightning?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Lightning are:
      • November (51 activities)
      • March (47 activities)
      • April (46 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Lightning? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Lightning are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Lightning?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 5 minutes to ride Lightning. The trail is 3,645 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Lightning?
      Lightning is a very popular trail. There have been 6,401 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 7,323 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

      Hit the Trail

      Open in App

      Get this trail on your phone instantly.
      open trail in app

      Download Trail

      Save to wishlist, Garmin & download.
      save the trail

      Find Related Routes

      Find routes and users activities that include this trail.
      find routes for this trail

      You must enter a description before submitting.