Great Spring Hikes around Huntsville

I love to hike and try to go every weekend. That being said, I still consider myself a beginner to novice hiker, as I tend to keep my hikes to about 2 hours. There are many great trails in this area and the ones I mention below are a mix of what I do regularly with some that I do once or twice a year.

I frequently hike with my dogs, which can make things a bit more challenging, and is part of the reason I stick to shorter hikes. All of the hikes below are dog-friendly, as long as they are on a leash and picked up after. Since I often go hiking alone (human-wise) I always let someone know when I head out and which trail I am going to be on. To be appropriately equipped for hikes I wear hiking boots and comfortable clothing, as well as put bug spray on. I also bring a hydration pack filled with water, a small First Aid kit, flashlight, protein bar, dog food bar & water container, and a charged phone with me. It isn’t likely that one would get lost on these trails, but it’s good to be well prepared.

Shout out to the Land Trust of North Alabama for all their work in preserving 9,000 beautiful acres and 73 miles of trails to explore. I used their website to supplement my knowledge of the listed trails they manage. If you’re not a member, check out how you can become one and other ways you can support them! All of these trails are free, though many have a place you can put a donation for the Land Trust.

I hesitate to put the difficulty levels on the trails I am writing about, as I think that is subjective, but I have utilized the website/app AllTrails to give you an idea of the difficulty level

Before you head out, download the trail map or snap a picture of the map at the trailhead, so you have something to reference on your hike. Have fun and be safe out there!

Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve

Moonshine Trail (0.5 miles)
Whole Planet Trail (0.2 miles)
Terry Trail (1 mile) Easy

This is a fantastic area to hike in for the spring! Moonshine Trail leads to a magical-looking area with a stream that was supposedly used to make moonshine. From there you connect to the short Whole Planet Trail, and then to the one-mile Terry Trail. Terry Trail has a bit of elevation, but it is a slow and steady increase/decrease. The trail also has the informative Big Tree Tour, which identifies numerous types of trees along the way.

While I love this area of trails that also has a disc golf course and pavilion, be aware that the mosquitoes are brutal come the summer. Also, a bonus for mountain bikers and horse riders, is that both are allowed on the trails. This does mean you should be on the lookout for large piles of manure along your hike.

Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve

Rainbow Loop Trail (1.53 miles) Moderate

This is a fun trail with lots of beautiful rock formations, and a small stream/waterfall this time of year. I have often found Rainbow Loop Trail to be muddy and you will cross water, so I highly suggest hiking shoes for this one. You will get to a point of 350 feet of elevation change, which can be a challenge, so go slow and take breaks if you need to!

Monte Sano Nature Preserve

Old Railroad Bed (1.7 miles) Moderate

This trail is off of the Bankhead Trailhead and includes a free audio trail tour that plays automatically via your GPS location. This is one that I go on often, though I regularly use this one for a quick one-hour hike and time 30 minutes out and then retrace my path back. You will see small waterfalls, the original Monte Sano Railway stone bridge supports and a great view of Huntsville, including the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on a clear day.

Note- This is the only trail that I have gotten turned around on of the Landtrust Trails, so be on the lookout for the trail signs and follow these steps as listed on the Landtrust website: From the Bankhead trailhead, take Bluff Line Trail to Old Railroad Bed Trail. Turn right onto Old Railroad Bed Trail, which you’ll follow for the majority of the tour. Right after you cross Fagan Creek, take a right onto Alms House Trail to return to Bankhead Trailhead.  

Bethel Springs Nature Preserve

Carpenter Trail (0.4 miles) 
Falling Sink Trail (0.5 miles) 
Mill Trail (0.4 miles) Moderate/Difficult

These trails combine for a 1.3-mile loop on the back of Keel Mountain. This is the most difficult trail of the ones I’ve listed. Heading up the mountain is an increase of 400 feet (and it was blazing hot the day I went.) The waterfall you see is one of the largest in Madison County. When I was on this hike, the descent was very challenging, as it was quite slippery. There was a section where I basically flung my body down while running and yelling (I did get quite the applause from other hikers.) This is another trail that I highly recommend having hiking boots for.

Blevins Gap Nature Preserve

Jones Valley Loop Trail (0.73 miles) Easy or Fanning Trail (2.04 miles) Moderate/Difficult (Both are at Blevins Gap North, park at Church of the Nazarene- no parking Wednesday evenings or Sundays before noon)

Jones Valley Loop is an enjoyable trail for the family or when you want to get a hike in without a long time commitment. During the wet months, you will get to view a running stream with some small waterfalls.

Fanning Trail is a bigger commitment, with about two miles of narrow and rocky trails. There is also a steep incline of a few hundred feet at the beginning of the trail, luckily there are benches to rest along the way! I find this trail to be very tranquil and a great way to get your cardio in while enjoying nature.

Green Mountain Nature Trail/Madison County Nature Trail

(1.5 miles) Easy

This area is managed by Madison County Parks & Recreation and is located in southeast Huntsville. You will immediately notice the picturesque covered bridge and lake as you enter the park. I really like this hike, as there are many interesting stops along the way- along with the bridge there are little fairy treehouses, a chapel, a wishing well, a cabin and small waterfalls. There are lots of picnic tables and benches to enjoy a meal, or to take in the views around the lake. This is a family-friendly hike and you can also fish for a $3 fee.

Bonus: Noccalula Falls Park

Gorge Trail (About a 15-minute easy hike to get underneath Noccalula Falls)

If you are up for a day trip, head to Gadsden, Alabama (about a 1.5-hour drive from Huntsville) to Noccalula Falls Park and Campground. There is a $6 fee per adult to enter the 500 acres of park, which includes a petting zoo, animal habitats, botanical garden, historic buildings and trails. For additional fees, you can play mini-golf and ride a train (currently out of order as of April 2022 while they replace the old trains.)

The Gorge Trail is what you take to get to the cavern behind the 90-foot waterfall. I can’t find an exact mileage for this, but you can get to the waterfall in about 15 minutes from the trailhead. It is a spectacular sight this time of year and many people took a seat on a rock to enjoy the sites and sounds of the falls.

Within the park, there are the Black Creek Trails, which consist of 15 trails and connectors for those who enjoy walking, running, hiking and bicycling. On this visit, I was only able to do the Gorge Trail and some exploring along the creek, but I will certainly go back to check out the additional trails.

I hope you love these hikes as much as I do. Hiking has become one of my favorite activities and is a fantastic way to get away from all of the noise (literally and figuratively) and be one with nature.  We are very fortunate to live in an area that offers such a variety of hikes for all skill levels!