Buck’s Pocket

Buck’s Pocket

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.5 mile
Entry Fee: Free

Buck’s Pocket is a secluded park in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It offers amazing views from the parking lot all the way to the cliffs. Currently, the bottom of Buck’s Pocket is closed, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the top!

Buck’s Pocket is located a little over an hour’s drive southeast from Huntsville. It is located near Guntersville Lake.

DO NOT Google Maps Buck’s Pocket. It will take you to the bottom of Buck’s Pocket. Instead, click here or the map above!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is well marked at the end of a small street right before you make the loopback. You can’t miss it. There is enough parking for a few dozen cars including a handicap parking spot. The trailhead has a giant sign that says “Jim Lynn Overlook Area”. You get your first views are from the parking lot, so take it in!

Entrance

The trail is very accessible. It moves from a wooden boardwalk to a gravel path, to walking on flat rock. There are small paths that shoot off the path in both directions as you’re walking to the overlook, but none of the views at the end of these paths are as spectacular as the main overlook area.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Overlook Area

After a short hike, there is a beautiful overlook area. Make sure to bring a camera and look around! When you are done, head back down the same path you came in from.

Camping

There are camping spots along the top portion of the park near the parking lot. The campgrounds follow the road and according to the website are currently walk-in camping only and first come first serve.

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Harvest Square Nature Preserve

Harvest Square Nature Preserve

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.5 miles Available
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box Available)

Harvest Square Nature Preserve is a part of the Land Trust of North Alabama. There are two lovely ponds and several hiking trails in this area.

Download Trail Map here.

Harvest Square Nature Preserve is located Northwest of Huntsville right off of Highway 53.

Google Maps Harvest Square Nature Preserve or look at our map above!

Trailhead

The Trailhead and Parking Lot are both very well marked. There is a large sign in front of the parking lot that says “Land Trust of North Alabama”. Walk across the boardwalk attached to the parking lot to enter the park.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Trails

The trails here are incredibly diverse. You’ll hike on gravel, boardwalks, grass, and dirt through flowers, next to ponds, into thick woods, and even between soybean farms. At the bottom of this post are pictures of different trails you’ll encounter. Each section of this preserve offers vastly different wildlife and features than the other sections. Be sure to check them all out! Click around on our interactive map to check out where we stopped to take photos!

Sunset

This is a great place to watch the sunset, weather permitting. Get there about an hour before to catch some amazing colors!

Want to catch the sunset somewhere else? Try our guide to Ditto Landing!

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

Ditto Landing

Ditto Landing

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 mile
Entry Fee: Free

Ditto Landing has a beautiful walking trail along the Tennessee River called the Tennessee River Greenway. It’s a paved, scenic trail that offers great views of the mountains meeting the water.

Ditto Landing is located in South Huntsville right north of the Tennesee River. Take South Memorial Parkway and turn left onto Hobbs Island Rd. Ditto Landing is on the right about a mile down the road!

Google Maps Ditto Landing or look at our map above!

Parking Lot

 

The parking lot for the trail is not marked. You will pass by the boaters’ parking lot. There usually is plenty of parking.

Trailhead

 

The Trailhead is unmarked. There are 2 paths that lead to the Greenway. Either is fine (the one on the left is shorter). 

Check out our Gear suggestions!
Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Greenway

The Greenway is covered in beautiful views. The Greenway offers a 1 mile stretch of a paved trail with several benches along the way.  The trail is a great place to walk the dogs, bike, or bring your children for a stroll.

Sunset

This is one of the best places to watch the sunset, weather permitting. Get there about an hour before to catch some amazing colors!

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

Green Mountain Nature Trail

Green Mountain Nature Trail

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1 mile

Green Mountain Nature Preserve is a very beautiful small lake in Huntsville. It is a fantastic short walk that is located on Shawdee Rd on Green Mountain. It is about a 1-mile round trip flat trek.

Entry Cost: Free

To get to Green Mountain Nature Trail, head down South Memorial Parkway take Weatherly Road east, right on Bailey Cove Road, left on Green Mountain Road, and right on South Shawdee Road. Follow Shawdee Road for a little over a mile and the park is on your right.

Google Maps Green Mountain Nature Trail or look at our map above!

Fire Tower

The Fire Tower is located before the entrance right next to the parking lot. It’s a pretty place to stop and gaze or take a cool picture!

Entrance

This is a well-marked Entrance. The rules of the park are posted along the entrance path. Entry is free, but you can donate money at the entrance or purchase merchandise.

Fishing is only allowed Monday through Friday for children under 16 and adults over 60 and has a fee of $3.00.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Hiking Trail

The hiking trail goes around the lake and goes between gravel roads, dirt paths, and wooden bridges. There are plenty of places to sit around the edge of the lake and take in the beauty.

Covered Bridge

There is a beautiful Covered Bridge on the property that looks stunning in pictures. The bridge is located right across the lake from where you enter. The bridge is located along the trail around the lake, so you get to walk across it! There are several great vantage points to view this bridge, so explore and take a lot of pictures!

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Fire Tower – Monte Sano

Fire Tower – Monte Sano

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 miles round trip

Monte Sano is located in Huntsville, AL and is a great place to get out, hike and bike. The park is very family friendly and hosts a wide variety of trails.

Entry Fee*:
Adults Age 12+: $5.00
Ages 4-11: $2.00
Seniors 62+: $2.00
Active Military: $2.00
Kids 3 and under are free

Annual Park Pass:
Individual: $100.00
Family: $150.00
Senior: $50.00

*The Broken Road has an “Honor Box” to insert your fees into. The main entrance usually has an attendant manning the entrance to collect fees.

The Hiking and Biking Parking Lot is located here in Huntsville about a 15-minute drive from downtown.

Click on this link or look at our map above!

Trailhead

This trailhead is marked well. There is plenty of parking in the parking lot and plenty of space to unload if you have a bike. If you explore the top of Monte Sano by car, you can find several places with beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Trail

The trail itself is very beautiful. The trail starts at the hikers and bikers parking lot and follows signs to the Fire Tower. There are plenty of “Fire Tower Trail” signs along the way to follow! It is a very flat walk to the tower trail.

Fire Tower

The Fire Tower is an interesting place to visit on your trip to Monte Sano. Unfortunately, it is closed and cannot be climbed but is still a great place to stop and observe!

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

South Loop Trail – Monte Sano

South Loop Trail – Monte Sano

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.4 miles

Monte Sano is located in Huntsville, AL and is a great place to get out, hike and bike. The park is very family friendly and hosts a wide variety of trails.

Entry Fee*:
Adults Age 12+: $5.00
Ages 4-11: $2.00
Seniors 62+: $2.00
Active Military: $2.00
Kids 3 and under are free

Annual Park Pass:
Individual: $100.00
Family: $150.00
Senior: $50.00

*The Broken Road has an “Honor Box” to insert your fees into. The main entrance usually has an attendant manning the entrance to collect fees.

The Hiking and Biking Parking Lot is located here in Huntsville about a 15-minute drive from downtown.

Click on this link or look at our map above!

Trailhead

This trailhead is marked well. There is plenty of parking in the parking lot and plenty of space to unload if you have a bike. If you explore the top of Monte Sano by car, you can find several places with beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Check out our Gear suggestions!
Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Trail

The trail itself is very beautiful. The trail starts at the hikers and bikers parking lot and circles along the south plateau. There are plenty of signs along the way to follow! In the winter, there are a few places you can view the surrounding area. Look at the interactive map for a few places to stop.

Mountain View

There is a beautiful place to sit on the benches and enjoy nature around you. In the winter you get a fairly clear view of the area around you. In the summer, you can still see the tops of the mountains, but your views are mostly blocked.

Rest Area

There are several rest areas along the South Plateau Loop. Two of them are marked on the interactive map. These are a great place to rest or get out of the rain if you get caught in a storm.

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

Broken Road – Monte Sano

Broken Road – Monte Sano

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.5 miles

Monte Sano is located in Huntsville, AL and is a great place to get out, hike and bike. The park is very family friendly and hosts a wide variety of trails.

Entry Fee*:
Adults Age 12+: $5.00
Ages 4-11: $2.00
Seniors 62+: $2.00
Active Military: $2.00
Kids 3 and under are free

Annual Park Pass:
Individual: $100.00
Family: $150.00
Senior: $50.00

*The Broken Road has an “Honor Box” to insert your fees into. The main entrance usually has an attendant manning the entrance to collect fees.

The Broken Road Trail is located here in Huntsville about a 10-minute drive from downtown. To get to the entrance, follow Bankhead Parkway, and at park the first time the road does a switchback.

Click on this link or look at our map above!

Trailhead

This trailhead is marked well. There is plenty of parking along the road. If the main parking has filled up, there is a bit more parking uphill after the switchback. Please be courteous to your fellow hikers and park appropriately.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Trail

The trail is called “The Broken Road” because it is an old road that has begun to erode. Follow the road up 1.25 miles to the overlook. As long as you are following the road you cannot get lost. The road has plenty of places where the ground has fallen out from beneath it, so be sure to watch where you are going!

Top View

At the very top of the trail is a beautiful overlook. Don’t want to hike to get here? This overlook is accessible through the main entrance of the park. You can drive and park right here! Though I do ask you to PLEASE turn your car off so the rest of us can enjoy nature!

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

Rickwood Caverns

Rickwood Caverns

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1 mile

Rickwood Caverns is a beautiful cavern located just north of Birmingham. It is a tour guided cave in a beautiful state park that offers hiking trails, a pool, and campsites. 

Website for Rickwood Caverns.

Rickwood Caverns is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes south of Huntsville with a short drive off of I-65.

Google Maps Rickwood Caverns or look at our map above!

Ticket Office

This building is the ticket office for the cave tour.  Tours are available Jan – Nov.

Ticket Prices are based on age.
13+: $18
5-13: $9
Under 5: Free

Tours are available at 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, and 4PM.

Discounts available when bundled with camping.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Cave Tour

The cave stays 62º F year around. The ground can get very slick, and the staircases can get very narrow. Make sure you wear shoes with a good grip! The tour is 1 mile long with 110 stairs at the end to get out of the cave.

Santa’s Underground Workshop

Ticket Price:
Under 3: Free
Age 3+: $10 per person

Open Nov 23rd – Dec 30th (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day)

Santa’s underground workshop was a blast! They decked the caves with “snow”, lights, and decorations. Along the way, you get to meet your favorite Christmas characters like frosty, the grinch and of course, Santa!!

Other Activities

There is plenty to do at Rickwood Caverns State Park! A list of a few

  • Hike
  • Swimming Pool
  • Camp
  • Gem Mining
  • Playground
  • Picnic Areas
  • Santa’s Underground Workshop (December 1 – 23)

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

DeSoto Falls

DeSoto Falls

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.5 Miles total
Fee: $4 per vehicle

Desoto Falls is a very short hike to one of the tallest waterfalls in Alabama! Parking is right next to the very top of the falls and you can follow the steps down to view the entire waterfall.

More Waterfalls

Desoto Falls is an hour and a half drive from Huntsville.

Google Maps Desoto Falls or look at our map above!

Parking

There are 2 parking areas. The dirt parking lot pictured is the parking for the bottom of the waterfall and the view of the waterfall. If you continue down the road, you can find the asphalt parking lot for the top of the falls.

Top of the Falls Asphalt Parking: Location
Bottom and view of the Falls Dirt Parking: Location

Check out our Gear suggestions!
Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

View of the Waterfall

The hike to the view is fairly easy though it gets tight towards the end of the hike. There is a sign that points you down the correct path. The path splits and comes back together several times. As long as you are following the ridgeline, you will eventually find views of the waterfalls.

Park Here

Hike to the Bottom of the Falls

This is a short but tough hike. There are markers to point you in the right direction. Follow your way down to the river, and follow the river up to the falls. The hike is fairly difficult and is only about a mile. 

Park Here

Waterfalls

It is a very easy hike down to the falls. You can get a great intimate view of the upper falls (Pictured) and get a beautiful view of the main falls (Main Picture).

Kayaking

Kayaks are available for rent at the top of the dam. 

Single Kayaks: $15/hr
Tandem Kayaks: $25/hr

Swim and Picnic

Right next to parking there is a picnic area where you can swim in the Little River. Take some time to get a bite to eat while enjoying nature!

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.