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Hurricane Isaias: Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings for coastal Baldwin County. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach urge non-residents to leave. Storm desk →NHC Advisory 6, 11 p.m. ET Wed., Oct. 7 (10 p.m. CT)

Sugar Sand Line
Fort Morgan to the state line.
Flags (official report, opens in a new tab)

Beach access

Pets and accessibility

Where dogs can and can't go, and how to get onto the sand with a wheelchair or walker. Rules are quoted from the cities' own pages.

Information as of Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, 10:30 p.m. CT.

Dogs and the beach

  • Orange Beach: "dogs are not allowed on Gulf Beaches." The city points dog owners to Unleashed, its community dog park, and The Dog Pond at Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park.
  • Gulf Shores: "Pets are welcome at Gulf Place, but they may not travel on the sand beaches."
  • Fort Morgan: the Fort Morgan Civic Association posts dog-owner guidelines for its beaches; Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge has its own rules.

Source: orangebeachal.gov + 2 more

Beach access mats and wheelchairs

  • Gulf Shores has four beach access mats: three at Gulf Place and one at East Gulf Place near resident parking, plus a 20-foot-wide concrete promenade. The mats stop short of the water because the slope is too steep to return.
  • Beach Safety officers and lifeguards will help; Gulf Shores Beach Safety Chief Joethan Phillips: 251-968-9828.
  • The tourism office keeps a list of wheelchair-accessible beaches and trails across both cities, including beach-wheelchair options.

Source: gulfshoresal.gov + 1 more

Sources

  1. City of Orange Beach: FAQ on dogs and the beach (opens in a new tab) · orangebeachal.gov
  2. City of Gulf Shores: Beach rules & regulations (opens in a new tab) · gulfshoresal.gov
  3. Fort Morgan Civic Association: Dog owner guidelines (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · fortmorgancivic.org
  4. Alabama State Parks: Lake Shelby at Gulf State Park (opens in a new tab) · alapark.com
  5. City of Gulf Shores: Beach accessibility (access mats) (opens in a new tab) · gulfshoresal.gov
  6. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Wheelchair-accessible beaches and trails (opens in a new tab) · gulfshores.com

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