Kid-Friendly Archives - Page 6 of 6 - Huntsville Adventurer

Cherokee Rock Village

Difficulty: Easy to Difficult depending on the area you are exploring
Distance: This is more of a place to explore or climb than hike

Cherokee Rock Village is a small park in Leesburg, AL

To get to Cherokee Rock Village, Google Maps Cherokee Rock Village or look at our map above!

Hike

Cherokee Rock Village isn’t well known for their hiking. There aren’t long trails and every trail is there to lead you to a route for rock climbing. However, it is a fantastic place to explore.

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

Climb

Cherokee Rock Village is known for their climbing and is called “Sand Rock” by the climbing community. There is plenty of bouldering, Sport Climbing, and Trad Climbing at Sand Rock. This is a great place to get out and try your climbing skills! Make sure you have experience climbing, have an experienced partner, and bring the right equipment. Check out the routes on the Mountain Project.

Camp

Camp with a view! Camp sites are first come, first serve and are right next to the road for easy access. There are several amazing camping sites along the ridgeline right next to the entrance and several more farther down the road. Each site is marked with a primitive fire pit. The camping along the ridgeline can get very windy so be sure to stake your tents the best you can.

View

The views on Cherokee Rock Village are spectacular. Safely maneuver around on the rocks to get amazing colorful view of Weiss Lake!

Map of Views

Star 4 on Map

Star 1 on Map

Star 2 on Map

Star 3 on Map

Star 5 on Map

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Hippie Hole – Little River Canyon

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.5 miles (Round Trip)
Cost: Free

Hippie Hole is a beautiful swimming hole in Little River Canyon. The trail is very short and the canyon offers a beautiful place to swim. The trail is heavily trafficked and the canyon can get very busy.

Find nearby swimming holes:
Little River Falls
Desoto Falls

Summer hiking is hot. Find out what you need.

More Waterfalls

More Swimming Holes

Hippie Hole is an hour and a half drive East of Huntsville in Little River Canyon.

Update: As of Summer 2020, Hippie Hole Parking is closed. In order to get to Hippie Hole, park at Little River Falls.

Google Maps Little River Falls Parking or look at our map above!

Trailhead

The old trailhead and parking lot is now closed. You will need to park at the parking lot for Little River Falls. There are restrooms available for use.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials
Outdoor Sandal

Trail

The trail is mostly easy. You will follow the boardwalk until its first switchback. There is a dirt path you will follow into the woods. Continue down this dirt path until you reach stone-cut steps that will descend into the canyon. At the bottom of the steps is the Hippie Hole.

The Canyon

The canyon is a great place to relax, swim, and jump from the cliffs. Take some time to explore the area.

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Rainbow Mountain

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate depending on trail
Distance: 3.4 miles available

Rainbow Mountain is a small park in Madison owned by the Land Trust of North Alabama. You can download a trail map here.

Buy Land Trust Maps here

To get to Rainbow Mountain, Google Maps Rainbow Mountain or look at our map above!

Hike

Rainbow Mountain is mostly known for its hiking. The hiking here is absolutely beautiful with awesome rock formations including the famous “Balance Rock”. There is plenty of natural wildlife, beautiful vegetation, and hidden gems to explore. Take your time hiking and observe everything around you!

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials
Outdoor Sandal

Climb

There is limited bouldering on Rainbow Mountain. Huntsville area does not offer a ton of outdoor bouldering nearby, so Rainbow Mountain is a great place to get in some practice. Check out the routes on the Mountain Project.

Playground

The balanced rock is located along Balanced Rock Trail (surprise). It’s a really cool rock structure.

Playground

There is a small playground great for young children near the entrance. The playground is equipped with a toddler play area (shown), rocking horses, a couple of swings, and a bench. This is a great place to wear out your kids while your rest before or after a hike!

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Oak Park Trail

Rating: Easy
Distance: 2.5 Miles
Fee: Free (Donation Box Available)

CAUTION: Be sure to listen for mountain bikers. Several of their turns are blind and they cannot always see you!

Download Trail Map from the Land Trust of North Alabama website!

Oak Park Trail is a short trail at the base of Monte Sano. The land is owned by the Land Trust of North Alabama. The trail is a great place to take a hike or mountain bike. The trails are built up for speedy bikers with plenty of banks and ramps for those of you who like to bike fast. The trail is fairly easy and is about 2.5 miles.

More Waterfalls

The park trail head at Oak Park. There is a large parking lot for the park.

Google Maps Land Trust of North Alabama: Monte Sano Nature Preserve Oak Park Trailhead or look at our map above!

On our journey, we followed Oak Park Trail (Blue on map) until it ended in a “T” and turned left on Bankhead Trail (Red on map). We followed Bankhead trail until it forked. We turned left onto Buzzards Roost Trail (Yellow on map) and followed the trail until it meets back up with Oak Park Trail. We turned right on Oak Park Trail and followed it back to the parking lot.

Trailhead

This is a well-marked trailhead. Walk between the two baseball fields. Behind the baseball fields is the trail head.

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

Oak Park Trail Alternate

The first fork in the trail is between the Oak Park Trail and the Oak Park Trail Alternative. The trail to the left is built up for mountain bikes and the alternate trail to the right is more direct. Feel free to take either trail.

Oak Park Trial Fork

The trail forks again. To stay on Oak Park Trail (Blue on map) take the path to the right, or if you want to do the do the trail in reverse, go left to get on Buzzards Roost Trail (Yellow on map).

Oak Park Trail / Bankhead Trail

When you reach the end of Oak Park Trail, the path makes a “T”. You can turn left and follow our steps on Bankhead Trail (Red on map).

Bankhead Trail / Dallas Branch Trail

The trail to Dallas Branch Trail is hard to see. Dallas Branch trail is the clearly marked trail right in the picture. Dallas Branch Trail is barely visible to the left in the picture. There is a sign that marks the Dallas Branch Trail. Follow the trail to the left Dallas Branch Trail back to Oak Park Trail. Be sure to follow the marked path. There are several paths off to the right that leads back to neighborhoods but do not lead to the parking lot. When you reach Oak Park Trail turn right and follow it back to the parking lot.

Buzzard Roost Trail

Buzzard Roost leads you down a trail to a beautiful waterfall, Dallas Branch Falls. The trail follows the Dallas Branch creek. If you go a bit off-trail you can find another cascade that has a blue tint on the rock and is very beautiful! To get here follow Buzzard Roost. When you cross over Dallas Branch Creek, go off-trail following the creekbed downstream.

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Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1 mile

Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk is a really unique place in Huntsville. It is a fantastic short walk that is located right off of I-565 on County Line Rd. It is about a 1 mile out and back flat trek. The path is split between a gravel path and a boardwalk.

Find nearby hikes:
Rainbow Mountain
Rock House Cave

Fall Hiking Essentials.

To get to Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk. Get off of I-565 on County Line Rd and turn right to go south. Turn right at the second road. There is a sign that reads “Wheeler Wildlife Refuge”. Follow that road until it reaches a dead-end and park.

We went after it had been raining to make sure the swamp was filled with water. It did make it very hot and muggy!

Google Maps Beaver Dam Nature Trail or look at our map above!

Trailhead

This is a well-marked trailhead. Follow the road until in turns into a gravel road and then continue until it turns into a boardwalk. The boardwalk can be slippery when wet so be careful!

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials
Outdoor Sandal

Boardwalk

Continue to follow the Boardwalk until you reach the swamp area. The swamp area very fascinating. There were plenty of animals that live here. The place was covered in butterflies and dragonflies. You can continue down the Boardwalk untill it ends at the river.

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High Falls

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.25 Miles

This is a great place to swim and get your adrenaline going jumping from the waterfalls. Be careful!

Love swimming holes? We do to. Check out local ones.

Swimming holes are a great place to wear quick-dry underwear and outdoor sandals. Find the ones we suggest.

More Waterfalls

High Falls is a great place to get out and Swim. It’s located near Guntersville and is about a 1.25 hour drive from Huntsville.

Google Maps High Falls or look at our map above!

Playground

This is a very easy and short stroll on a paved path to the playground. It is not a big playground, but a playground nontheless.

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

Waterfall

WARNING: The current can be strong and jumping off the cliffs or waterfalls can lead to injury or death. Jump at your own risk.

Continue down the paved path to the waterfalls. There are places to waddle in the water. You can jump from the cliffs into the water below. After you jump, you can climb the rocks or go off to the side and follow the path up. It is a great place to

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Alum Hollow Trail – Green Mountain

What you need to know

Parking

Map It

Difficulty

Easy, Easy to moderate to find

Point of Interest

Map to POI

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.9 miles total
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box Available)

Alum Hollow Trail is on Green Mountain. The land is owned by the Land Trust of North Alabama. The trail head parking lot is located right past the Madison County Nature Trail (assuming you are coming from Huntsville and not Owens Cross Roads).

Buy Land Trust Maps here

More Waterfalls

Alum Hollow Trail is a 1 mile each way (2 mile return) scenic hike to a small waterfall and small overhanging cliff. This trail is well marked. Follow the signs that read “Alum Hollow Trail”.

Google Maps Alum Hollow Trail or look at our map above!

Alum Hollow Trail

This is a very easy and short hike to the waterfall. It is flat and about 2.5 miles round trip. You will follow a ridge where you wander through the woods. In the winter, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials
Outdoor Sandal

Waterfall and Cave

Continue to follow the Alum Hollow trail. The trail forks to the left and to the right. To the right you will be able to see the waterfall. If you follow the trail to the left, you’ll find the overhanging cliffs right around the corner.

Ranger Trail

This is a very difficult hike that ends at the waterfall. It is very rocky with several steep portions of the trail and about 1.25 miles round trip.

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