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.

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

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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Lost Sink Trail – Keel Mountain Preserve

Lost Sink Trail – Keel Mountain Preserve

Rating: Moderate
Distance: 3 Miles Total
Entry Cost: Free

CAUTION: 
Beware of Sinkholes
Hard to follow trails
Plenty of thorns

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

Lost Sink trail on Keel Mountain Preserve is an uphill hike to a very cool large sinkhole with a waterfall disappearing underground.

More Waterfalls

Lost Sink Trail is located on Keel Mountain in Gurley southeast of downtown Huntsville.

Google Maps Keel Mountain Preserve or look at our map above!

Video by: SparrowDroneHSV

Trailhead/Parking Lot

This parking lot is not marked but is still apparent when you are passing by. Looking in, you will see a gravel parking lot with a trailhead map in the back right corner (shown in picture) and a Keel Mountain Sign. The trailhead is very well marked by a large sign.  The parking lot is big enough to hold about a dozen cars.

Trail

The trail continuously changes from rock path to dirt path the entire way. There are plenty of thorny vines around, so be careful to stay on the path. The path is not always well marked so pay attention! If you lose the path, just backtrack until you find the trail again. The path is heavily uphill, so be prepared to hike hard!

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

Downed Trees

There are several downed trees on the path. Some of these trees appear to have several paths coming off of them. When you see this downed tree (shown), be sure to go down and to the left and not up and to the right. If you feel like there shouldn’t be downed trees, we agree! Help the land trust clear these paths and Volunteer!

Trail Signs

All of the trail signs looked like the picture provided (Yellow arrow with green background). Most of them direct you exactly where you need to go.

WHEN YOU SEE THIS TORN SIGN, GO UP TO THE RIGHT, do not go straight. It is the only sign I found misleading.

Waterfall

CAUTION: Be careful going down to the bottom of the falls and around the falls! The bottom is very slippery and is a 30ft+ drop into a cave where you are not likely to have cell phone service!

The waterfall is visually spectacular and unique, especially Spring/Summer/Fall when everything is very green and there are thick moss and ferns growing everywhere. You can hike up behind the sinkhole, but be sure you respect the no human zones!

Sink Holes

CAUTION: If you are with CHILDREN or DOGS, please keep them CLOSE! There are sinkholes around this area which have provided us with the beautiful waterfall, but also give us dangerous sinkholes that go straight down 100 ft. We repelled into one once and I remember ascending every foot of rope. If you are not an experienced caver DO NOT attempt to repel into these caves. Verticle caving is a VERY DANGEROUS activity and there is plenty that can go wrong. If you are interested in learning how to cave, please join the Huntsville Grotto.

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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)

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