KEEL MOUNTAIN

Keel Mountain isn’t the kind of place that makes it onto travel guides or Instagram reels. But for the rider who pays attention—for the one who reads topography lines the way some folks read poetry—Keel has a quiet authority.

At just over 1,200 feet, it’s not the tallest in Alabama, but it rises sharply from the Paint Rock Valley floor, gaining more than 600 feet in less than a couple of miles. That kind of vertical rise makes for a punchy ride—one minute you’re down low in the farmland, and the next you’re snaking through hardwood forest, your tires flirting with the edge of limestone outcrops. 

Roads like McMullen Road and Cherry Tree give just enough curve to stay alert, with occasional gravel patches to keep you honest. 

There’s no fanfare on Keel Mountain. Few scenic overlooks. No tourist-friendly trailheads. But if you’re the kind of rider who likes a route that feels like it’s been forgotten by everyone but the wind, then this stretch of plateau might be exactly what you’re looking for. 

It’s narrow, it’s wild, and it feels like it was left off the map on purpose. But here it is.

Having trouble finding your way home? This video tutorial will guide you how to leave Dug Hill Motorcycles and Outdoor Shenanigans and enjoy the beautiful Green Mtn and Monte Sano Mtn mountain tops might help. 

Or you might just end up back where you started. Again. And again.