Alabama features a diverse range of ecosystems, supported by state and national protected areas.
* **National Forests:** The state has four national forests: **Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega, and Tuskegee**, offering extensive wilderness for camping and hiking. * **National Preserves:** **Little River Canyon National Preserve** features one of the deepest gorge systems in the Southeast. * **State Parks:** The Alabama State Parks system includes 21 parks. **Gulf State Park** offers coastal environments, **Oak Mountain State Park** is the largest and features extensive mountain biking trails, and **Cathedral Caverns State Park** boasts a massive stalagmite mountain. * **Wildlife:** The **Mobile-Tensaw River Delta** is known as "America's Amazon" due to its staggering biodiversity, encompassing wetlands, cypress swamps, and countless bird and amphibian species.