Cold Springs Cave

Cold Springs Cave

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Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Distance: 0.25 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.

This cave requires a permit from Monte Sano State Park. You can get a free permit at the front office located here.

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Directions to Broken Road Huntsville Alabama

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.

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!

Cave Entrance

Its a fairly short hike downhill following the stream. The stream itself is beautiful and has a few smaller waterfalls along the way. You’ll come across the cave entrance. It will be hard to miss.

Waterfall in the Cave

I believe this is a very small cave. I don’t know where the water exited or where it came in. It was very slick getting down into the cave so be careful. 

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Lodge Falls

Lodge Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip

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

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.

Check out Nearby Hikes:
Stone Cut Trail
Broken Road
Dallas Branch Falls from Oak Park

Hiking in the Fall? Find out what you need to bring.

Directions to Monte Sano Trailhead

Click here for directions to the Hiker’s Parking lot

Parking Lot/Trailhead

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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.

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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Bridge

From the parking lot, you will be heading directly to the trailhead. There is a map located there. You will begin by following North Plateau Loop towards Fire Tower Trail/towards the lodge. Get on North Plateau and follow it until you hit the bridge pictured. It should be a very short walk and you should pass Fire Tower Trail.  Once you get to the bridge pictured, follow the creek downstream. 

Lodge Falls

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

Following the creek downstream is not easy and requires you to walk around ridgelines and down steep hills. This is not on a marked path and can get difficult to navigate especially when there are fallen leaves and/or wet ground. After following the creek, you will come across Lodge Falls. Go back out the way you came in.

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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Railroad Bed Trail

Railroad Bed Trail

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box Available)

Railroad Bed Trail is a local trail that follows an old railroad bed.

Find nearby hikes:
Natural Well
Dallas Branch Falls

Summer hiking essentials

Railroad Bed Trail is a local trail here in Huntsville. The Trailhead is located along Bankhead Parkway at the Land Trust of North Alabama parking lot.

Click here for directions on Google!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is well marked with plenty of parking spaces. The trailhead is in the back of the parking lot and is well marked.

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Railroad Bed Trail

This is a fairly narrow trail that takes you down to the creekbed and back around crossing over the creekbed again. Around the creekbed, you can see where they build up the land for the old railroad bridge. 

Waterfall

If you follow Railroad Bed Trail, you will come across a waterfall. You can also access this waterfall by following Wildflower Trail. There are a couple more waterfalls if you follow the creek downstream. After you hit the waterfalls, find the trail “Alms House” and follow it back to the cars.

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Wildflower Trail

Wildflower Trail

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.25 miles total
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box)

The Wildflower Trail is located right here in Huntsville.  The trailhead is in the Blossomwood neighborhood. It is a rocky trail that follows a creekbed through bushes covered in wildflowers.

Buy Land Trust Maps here

Find nearby hikes:
Three Caves
Railroad Bed Trail

The best gear for hiking during fall.

More Waterfalls

The Wildflower Trail is located here in Huntsville on Land Trust of North Alabama land about 7 minutes from downtown.

Click here for directions to the parking lot!

Parking

The parking lot is very small and can hold 4 or 5 cars. You are in a residential neighborhood, so try to carpool and if you have to park along the street, be courteous about where you park.

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Trailhead

The trail begins at the end of the road. There is a trailhead sign located where the trail begins. 

Waterfalls

There are 3 waterfalls NEAR the Wildflower Trail. For the first one, when you get to the end of Wildflower Trail, take a left onto Feagan Spring Trial. You should be able to shortly spot the waterfall pictured. Then you can follow the creek upstream to the second and third waterfall. 

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Natural Well

Natural Well

Difficulty: Moderate (Biking – Hard)
Distance: 3.5 miles round trip
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box)

Natural Well is located in Huntsville, AL and is a great place to get out, hike and bike. 

The Monte Sano South Parking Lot is located here in Huntsville about a 10-minute drive from downtown.

Click on this link or look at our map above!

Parking Lot/Trailhead

The parking lot is located after Burrett on the Mountain on Monte Sano Blvd. There is a small brown sign that reads “Hiker’s Parking Lot” along the street. This trailhead is marked well. Follow the sign that points you towards the Natural Well Trail and Tough Springs Trail.

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Trail

The trail itself is very beautiful. The trail starts on Tough Springs Trail and quickly turns onto Natural Well Trail. Natural Well Trail is generally flat and rocky. You will come across a portion of the trail that had a landslide and slightly more tricky to cross. This crossing is only about 100 ft. After you cross the landslide, the trail continues as a flat rocky path. On the way back, look for the signs for Arrowhead trail for different views and beautiful boulders.

Natural Well

The Natural Well is a 150 ft drop in the middle of the woods. It is fenced in and the ground has been built up around it for safety. Do not repel into the well unless you are experienced or are with people from the National Spelunking Society. For information on caving in our area, please join the Huntsville Grotto!

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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!

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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.

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Stone Cut Trails – Monte Sano

Stone Cut Trails – Monte Sano

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 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 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.

Trail

The beginning trail is called “The Broken Road” because it is an old road that has begun to erode. Follow the road up 0.25 miles and turn left on the first beaten path you find called “Mountain Mist Trail”. You will come to a trail passing over Mountain Mist called “Sinks Trail”. Turn left on Sinks Trail. Continue onto “Logan Point Trail and turn right when you see the sign for “Stone Cuts Trail”

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Stone Cut Trails

The Stone Cut Trail has a “bypass”. Be sure you go on the trail marked “Stone Cut Trail” and not the bypass. On the Stone Cut trail, you weave in and out of beautiful rocks towering over you. To get back, you can turn around and head back the way you came, or you can follow Mountain Mist back to the Broken Road.

Alternate Route

Here is an alternate route starting at the top of Monte Sano.

Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

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Oak Park Trail

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.

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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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