Rattlesnake Ridge to Rosemary Dunes to Shelby Lake Loop

This paved, fairly flat trail winds its way through a few different ecosystems, providing an awesome glimpse into mother nature on the gulf coast. Rattlesnake Ridge to Rosemary Dunes is flat and open to full sun exposure as you go through a lightly forested area followed by shrubs and dune-ish sand. Towards the end of Rosemary Trail, you choose not to head to the left towards the beach boardwalk, but to the right to take an elevated wooden walkway through the marsh. In this way, you avoid having to get close to the Highway/Perdido Beach Boulevard. As you reach the edge of Shelby Lake, the trail turns into a campground road that you take to the County Road inside the park. You turn right and head north on County Road. Here you see wildflowers and insects flying through and around the dense shrubs, marsh and lake to your right. You turn right at Gulf Oak Ridge Trail, heading East, where you find yourself suddenly in a hardwood forest with trees overhead, shading out the sun. There is still marsh ever present to your right. At Powerline Connection Trail, you take a right and travel South to Catman (Campground) Road, which links back up with Rattlesnake Ridge for the return to the parking lot. This route is great for biking or a long day's walk.