The Inside Scoop

No need to spend money to have fun, instead consider taking a short walk or taking a bike ride. Not only are you getting fresh air, but you are increasing strength, stamina and cardiovascular health. It’s also a good time to relieve stress, clear your mind and reflect on your goals you need to accomplish. Walking and biking is also enjoyed by the entire family and gives you the opportunity to teach your kids about the environment, the plants and the animals you discover on the trail. Huntsville has many great walking and biking trails, greenways and nature parks. Try rotating between them so there is always something new to see and explore.

Top Walking and Biking Trails:

#1 Big Spring

• 200 Church Street
• Huntsville, 35801 United States

Big Spring park is located in the center of downtown, next the Von Braun Center and the Huntsville Arts Museum. This park has a rich history to the city as it was the first location that John Hunt, the founder of Huntsville decided to settle down in 1805. Big Spring Park was taken from the Cherokee and Chickasaw, who described a place with an abundance of wildlife and having a great water source.

For those who have visited this park knows the great value it brings to the downtown area. The walking path follows a large crystal clear Koi pond which literally has over 10K koi fish along with several different species of migratory ducks and geese. Park benches are located throughout the park along with some large trees scattered throughout the area to provide some shade. For those who may work up an appetite, Pane E Vino Pizzeria is located in a building attached to the north side of the Art Museum. This is a great park to take the kids as there are coined feeding stations to feed both the koi fish and ducks. Make sure you bring some pocket change during the weekdays as parking near Big Spring Park have coined meters.

Website: Big Spring

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#2 Green Mountain (Madison County Nature Trail)

• Green Mountain Rd SE
• Huntsville, AL 35803

Madison County Nature Trail or most commonly known to locals as Green Mountain Park is located in South Huntsville, just off Baily Cove Rd. There are several nice trails throughout the 72-acre park with the main trail being 1.5 miles. This trail follows the 17-acre Sky Lake. The main feature of the hiking trail is the old Covered Bridge, which is a great place to take a family photo. My favorite time to visit the park is during the fall when the beautiful maple and red oak trees put on an amazing display of fall colors.

The park has a huge picnic area with a large pavilion for rent, great for small gathering and weddings. The restrooms, located in the picnic area are clean and well-maintained. Fishing is allowed on weekdays for kids under 16 years of age and seniors over 60. Almost the entire park is covered by trees, making this a great place to hike during the hottest time of the year. The park is free to visitors and opens at 7am and closes 30 minutes before sunset. No bikes are allowed.

P.S. - Above is a picture of my kids and I just a few years ago sitting on one of the docks at Green Mountain. The docks are a great place to take pictures, have a picnic or just for relaxing..

Website: Green Mountain

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#3 Monte Sano State Park

• 5105 Nolen Ave
• Huntsville, AL 35801

Monte Sano State Park is a huge park with over 2,140 acres and 14 miles of hiking and biking trails. Before it became a state park, it was known as the “mountain of health.” In the mid-19th century, well before the age of antibiotics, people who suffered from illnesses such as diphtheria, cholera and yellow fever traveled to the springs of Monte Sano for healing. There was even a Queen Anne-style hotel with 233 rooms, croquet and lawn tennis for the guest who stayed while they were being treated. A full service railroad line was also built and ran during 1888-1896 to ferry the patients to the top of the mountain but sadly it bankrupted shortly thereafter. Digressing back to the main point, this is a beautiful place to walk, hike, run or bike. The trails range from easy to moderate, so the entire family can come out and enjoy the walk. There is a huge playground for the younger kids and planetarium worth visiting (check for their show times). For those who enjoy camping, the park has 89 modern sites and a few primitive ones. The cost to get in is $5 for adults and kids 11 and under and senior citizens being just $2.

Website: Monte Sano State Park

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#4 Huntsville Botanical Garden

• 4747 Bob Wallace Ave SW
• Huntsville, AL 35805

When people think of Huntsville Botanical Garden, they think of flowers, plants and manicured gardens, but this place is so much more, especially for those who like to venture off the main theme of the park. The board members of the gardens wanted to make this place a diverse ecosystem with poppy and wild flower meadows, rare and unusual plants, wetland species and a large shade forest filled with unique ferns and interesting plants. The park has 112 acres of trails and most are in the shaded areas. It is a wonderful place to bring the entire family, especially for those who may want to teach their kids about Alabama’s distinct ecosystem.

trail guide: map

Website: Botanical Gardens

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#5 Indian Creek Greenway

When we once lived in Madison, Indian Creek was literally in our backyard. We probably walked this trail hundreds of times for the few years we were living there. It is a beautiful trail with lots of trees and nice creek that follows the greenway. The entire trail is paved and covers about 3.5 miles each way. It is wide enough for both bikers and those who would like to walk. The trail runs from Cummings Research Park off Old Madison Pike and continues north to the Providence area. You can enter the greenway at Creekwood Park, Providence or on Old Madison Pike.

Website: Indian Creek Greenway

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#6 Hays Nature Preserves

• 7161 US-431
• Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

We love Hays Nature Preserve! I have been bringing my kids here for years and it’s just as fun for them as when they were little kids. The park is one of Huntsville’s largest undeveloped parklands and stretching over a 100 acres with 10 miles of dedicated trails. Most of the trails follows the Flint River and sits adjacent to Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is home to the state champion shellbark hickory and the state champion water tupelo tree. The park is free and pretty flat making it easy for young children, bikers and runners. There is also a natural playground and large picnic areas for large groups. Hays Natural Preserve also offers fishing, and it is a great place for those who like to kayak or canoe. Horses and dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash. Yes, horses too.

Website: Hays Nature Preserves

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#7 Monte Sano Nature Preserve

• 2442 Bankhead Pkwy NE
• Huntsville, AL 35801

Monte Sano Nature Preserve is located next to the state park but managed by the Land trust of North Alabama. The nature preserve offers 1,107 acres and 25 miles of trails for recreational purposes such as hiking and mountain biking. The main trail connects from Monte Sano State Park to Burritt on the Mountain. Most of the trails are light moderate – moderate.

Website: Monte Sano Nature Preserve

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#8 The Flint River Greenway

• 7153 Old Hwy 431 SE
• Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

The Flint River Greenway is one of the newest greenways offered by the city. It is located in the Hampton Cove area and has almost 3 miles of walking and biking trails. The greenway currently connects to Hays Nature Preserve but when fully completed, it will extend south of the Flint River and connect to the Tennessee River Greenway. In total length, the greenway should be around 36 miles with several canoe launch sites spreading throughout various locations. The entire greenway is pretty flat and great for parents with strollers, joggers and cyclist. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash.

Website: Flint River Greenway

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#9 Aldridge Creek Greenway

• Aldridge Creek Greenway
• Huntsville, AL 35803

Aldridge Creek Greenway is nicely paved greenway connecting Ken Johnston Park to Ditto Landing located on the Tennessee River. Nice and flat, great for kids or parents with strollers. Majority of the 4-mile trail is open so there is not much shade but wide enough for people who would like to leisure walk, ride bikes or jog. You can enter the park and enter the trail at South Huntsville, near Bailey Cove Road or at Ditto Landing.

Website: Aldridge Creek Greenway

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#10 Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve

• 230 Stoneway Trail
• Madison, AL 35758

Rainbow Mountain is another loop trail. Very easy to navigate. We took our four kids on this trail often when they were toddlers. While the trail does not offer a unique feature, it does offer some neat rock formations for the kids to explore and have fun. The trail can be a little muddy at times, so if you bring the kids make sure they wear boots.

Website: Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve

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#11 Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary

• Taylor &, Terry Drake Rd
• Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

This is a nice easy trail for the entire family to include your little ones. The park is located adjacent to Hays Nature Preserve and follows the Flint River. This beautiful park has over 375 acres of preserve and is home to a variety of wildlife to include an abundant of unique bird species. It is great for biking or taking a leisure walk. It has a nice picnic area and provides parking.

Website: Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary

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#12 Harvest Square Recreational Preserve

• 111 Allyson Sadie Blvd
• Harvest, AL 35749

With just over 2 miles of walking and biking trails, Harvest Square Nature Preserve offers lots of shady areas to keep cool from the hot summer days and provides several picnic tables, rental pavilion and gravel trails. The preserve also has two nice fishing ponds and covers just over 69 acres of wildlife. The property is maintained by Land Trust of North Alabama.

Website: Harvest Square Recreational Preserve

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#13 Bethel Springs Nature Preserve

• 2641 Cherry Tree Rd
• New Hope, AL 35760

Bethel is located on a 360 acre preserve on Keep Mountain. The loop trail is about 2 miles long and has a nice creek and beautiful view of the farmland below. The highlight of the trail is Madison County’s largest waterfall, well worth the short hike. There is room for about 20 cars in the free parking lot. This trail is an easy hike but can be really slippery by the waterfall and the wet rocks.

Website: Bethel Springs Nature Preserve

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#14 Blevins Gap Nature Preserve

• 2275 Cecil Ashburn Dr SE
• Huntsville, AL 35802

This preserve consists of 10 miles of hiking trails covering 971 acres. The preserve is divided into parts, located at the north and south part of Cecil Ashburn Drive. The main trail is Blevins Gap Trailhead which covers about 8 miles of woodlands. The south portion of the preserve is largest and boast one of the most scenic view of the valley below. The trails are free and opens from dawn to dusk. The picture above is Fanning Trail. Access to this trail is behind the Church of the Nazarene.

Website: Blevins Gap Nature Preserve

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#15 Wade Mountain Nature Preserve Spragins Hollow Trailhead

• 10130 Spragins Hollow Rd NW
• Huntsville, AL 35810

Wade Mountain Nature Preserve Greenway covers about 1 mile of unpaved hiking trails. Great place for a short walk or a nice jog. The preserve is maintained by the Land Trust of North Alabama.

Website: Wade Mountain Nature Preserve

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#16 Three Caves Loop

• 901 Kennamer Dr SE
• Huntsville, AL 35801

Three Caves is a man-made cave, dug in 1945 as a limestone quarry but shutdown a few years later in 1952 due to the skyrocketing operation cost. It was once open to the public to explore but was closed a decade ago due to falling rocks and obvious safety concerns. The cave is now a backdrop for concerts, sponsored by the Land Trust of North Alabama. The trails are still open to the public and has a fantastic bluff view of the three caves below.

Website: Three Caves Loop

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#17 Big Cove Creek Greenway

This greenway is in east Huntsville’s Hampton Cove subdivision. It runs along the Big Cove Creek and will eventually connect to the Flint River Greenway. The greenway is great for both walking and biking and covers about 3 miles. Future city plans has the trail extending to the Arrowhead Trail leading up to Monte Sano Mountain.

Website: Big Cove Creek Greenway

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#18 Little Cove Road Greenway

Little Cove Road Greenway is about 5 miles long and connects to the Big Cove Creek Greenway. The greenway travels along Little Cove Road on Old Hwy 431.

Website: Little Cove

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#19 Chapman Mountain

• 1263 Hwy 72 E
• Huntsville, AL 35811

Located in northeast Huntsville. This greenway will eventually connect Monte Sano State Park to Alabama A&M. The greenway currently offers 3 miles of hiking trails with plans for 10 more miles of trails.

Website: Chapman Mountain

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#20 Jones Family Park

• Carl T Jones Dr SE
• Huntsville, AL 35802

The park offers 33 acres of nice paved greenway with two moderately sized pavilion areas to take a rest or have a picnic. The walking path follows two 4 acre lakes but doesn't offer much shade from the heat. The greenway is located behind the large Target and the AMC Valley Bend 18 movie theater.

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Any question or need further information? Send me a note.