Ruffner Mountain Nature Center: Quarry Trail

The Quarry Trail at the Ruffner Mountain Nature trail runs from the wildflower garden at the little picnic pavillion, along the top of the ridge, to the edge of the old quarry. There is a moderate change in elevation during the first part of the hike up until Miner's Junction, and another moderate change in elevation as you approach the quarry end of the trail, but the trail is pretty flat otherwise.

The hike begins by passing the small wildflower and fern gardens, and then heading right at the junction with the Geology Trail. After a brief rise, the trail levels out until you hit the road that heads up to the old fire tower. There is a trail map in a kiosk at the junction of the road with the trails. The Quarry Trail is left off the road, and then right-ish, following the signs and white blazes. The Trillium Trail is behind the kiosk, and the Hollow Tree Trail is left a few feet behind the gate between the Quarry Trail and the road.

After the gate, and passing the start of the Hollow Tree Trail, the moderate rise I spoke of earlierstarts. If you are visiting in the spring, look to your flanks during the rise for wildflowers. I've seen Phlox, Honeysuckle, Firepink, and others along this section of the trail. At the top of the rise you will find a set of directional signs, at a trail intersection called "Miner's Junction". Left is the Five-Mile Trail, straight is the Ridge and Valley Trail, and right is the Quarry Trail (and the Five-Mile Trail). Go right. Your blaze is now white and yellow. The trail becomes relatively flat from this point until near the end, and is flanked with many wildflowers, including Trillium and Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Look up for Cross Flowers, because I saw many that had expired and fallen onto the trail.

You will pass two side trails soon after leaving Miner's Junction. The first leads to an old pit mine, and the second leads to a fairly decent view of the airport, but only when the leaves are off the trees. All trails are signed. Benches are dispursed along the trail, should you get tired, and the trail is well cared for.

You'll pass another side trail, the Silent Journey Trail, which you'll see again. After a while, the trail makes a turn to the left, and then swings around. You'll pass a cleared area, and the soil will begin to show signs of a change, becoming a deep brownish-red. You'll decend down towards a kiosk, and to your right will be the Silent Journey Trail, and ahead of you will be a directional sign that marks the end of the Quarry Trail. Your choices will be to head downhill along the rest of the 5-Mile Trail to the bottom of the quarry (the trail loops around), or uphill on the Hawk's View Overlook Trail, which offers a view of the quarry and Downtown B'ham. I recommend heading up.

The trail distance is 1.3 miles one way, 2.6 miles round trip, not including side trips.

For a trail map see: http://www.ruffnermountain.org/RMNCTrailMap2007.pdf

For more information about Ruffner Mountain, see: http://www.ruffnermountain.org/