University of Alabama Walking Tour: Solve Puzzles Across Campus

Walk 3 miles solving mysteries to find the missing mascot

A self-guided puzzle tour of University of Alabama blends a scavenger hunt and escape room across 12 campus landmarks. You download an app, follow clues to iconic spots like Denny Chimes and the Gorgas Library, solve puzzles at each location, and unravel the mystery of Big Al—the beloved elephant mascot—while learning campus history and traditions. The walk covers roughly 3 miles and takes about 90 minutes, though you set the pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore University of Alabama campus

• Buy ticket and start adventure
• Visit 12 iconic campus locations
• Solve puzzles and uncover clues
• Explore Denny Chimes and Mansion
• Discover trivia at The Quad areas
• Walk approximately 3 miles

The Experience

You arrive with the app already loaded on your phone. The premise is straightforward: Big Al has gone missing, and as a detective for Crimson Confidential (with help from Archie, a trusty Basset Hound), you're tasked with tracking him down. The hunt takes you to 12 different spots across campus, each one a real location with its own puzzle to solve. At Denny Chimes, the President's Mansion, the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, the Quad, Woods Quad and others, you'll uncover clues and piece together the larger mystery—no guide narrating, no group waiting for stragglers, just you moving through the campus solving what's in front of you.

The walk itself covers around 3 miles, and most people finish in about 90 minutes, though the app lets you move at whatever speed works. You can stop and linger at a location, grab coffee between stops, or push through faster if you want. The puzzles are built into the app experience, so you're not hunting for physical objects hidden in bushes—you're solving riddles and challenges that unlock the next clue. Along the way, you'll pick up trivia about Alabama's traditions and campus history, learning why certain buildings matter and what makes the place tick. Solo travelers work just fine, but groups can play together, making it work for a friend visiting campus or a family with kids old enough to engage with the puzzle-solving.

Strollers and prams are welcome if you're bringing younger children, and service animals can join you. The route is manageable for most fitness levels since you're setting your own pace and can rest whenever you need to. The whole experience lives in the app—no printed materials, no QR codes to hunt down—so as long as your phone has battery and a data connection, you're ready to go.

What’s included

• The app-based puzzle hunt across all 12 campus locations.
• solving challenges and uncovering clues at each stop.
• learning about University of Alabama's traditions and campus history as you play.
• the ability to go at your own pace and take breaks whenever you need them.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by The Great Game

Is this one for you?Since you navigate entirely through the app at your own pace, this works whether you're visiting campus for the first time and want to learn the layout, you have a free afternoon and want something more engaging than a standard walking tour, or you're bringing kids who need something interactive to stay interested. The puzzle-solving keeps the focus on discovery rather than just walking from point to point.

Top questions

How does the puzzle hunt work on the app?

The app guides you to each of the 12 campus locations and presents a puzzle or challenge to solve at that spot. Once you solve it, the app unlocks the next clue and directs you to the next location. You're solving riddles and challenges within the app itself, not searching for hidden objects around campus.

Can I bring my young children on this tour?

Yes—children are welcome from age 1 onward. Younger kids can ride in a stroller or pram while older children can participate in solving the puzzles alongside you. The pace is entirely up to you, so you can take breaks whenever needed.

What are the 12 locations I'll visit?

The tour includes Denny Chimes, the President's Mansion, the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, the Quad, and Woods Quad, plus seven other iconic University of Alabama campus spots. Each location has its own puzzle tied to the mystery of finding Big Al.

Do I need a guide, or is this completely self-guided?

This is entirely self-guided. You navigate using the app on your phone, solve puzzles independently, and move at your own pace. There's no group to keep up with and no scheduled meeting times—you start whenever you want and finish whenever you solve the mystery.

How long does the whole experience take?

Most people complete the hunt in about 90 minutes, but since you control the pace, it could take longer if you want to explore each location more thoroughly or shorter if you move quickly through the puzzles. The walk itself covers around 3 miles.

What should I know about the walk itself?

You'll walk approximately 3 miles across campus, visiting 12 different locations. The route is suitable for all fitness levels since you set the pace and can rest at any point. Strollers and prams work fine, and service animals are allowed.