 The county is located within the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, with the highest point in the county being found at Shades Mountain, at an elevation of 1,150 ft. Another significant mountain located within the county is Red Mountain, which runs to the south of downtown Birmingham and separates the city from the suburb of Homewood.Many other mountains and valleys make up 
the majority of the county's diverse geography.The county is home to the Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge.