Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve

Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate depending on the trail
Distance: 3.28 miles of trail total
Entry Cost: Free (Donation Box Available)

Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve is a very beautiful small park in Huntsville. It is a fantastic short walk that is located off of Highway 72 on Chapman Mountain – Land Trust of North Alabama (Land Trust Website).

Download Trail Map Here

Buy Land Trust Maps here

Getting to Chapman Mountian Nature Preserve is a bit tricky. You must be driving East to West on Highway 72 coming over Chapman Mountain (driving towards Huntsville from Gurly). There is a guard rail on the right-hand side that begins after Moores Mill Road. When the guard rail ends on the right, the turnoff is immediately afterward. You cannot really see the turnoff from 72. You will need to just slow down and pull over when the guard rail ends to find the turnoff. 

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

Parking Lot / Trailhead / Pavilion

The Parking lot has plenty of parking and a nice pavilion with plenty of picnic tables. There are a bunch of trails leading from this area.

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Mossy Falls

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.

Moonshine Area

The Moonshine area is at the end of Moonshine Trail and is a nice flat area with creekbeds around it. This area supposedly was used to brew moonshine.

Disc Golf

There’s a Disc Golf area at the Chapman Mountian Nature Preserve! There’s trees with some low underbrush and its a very scenic area. Get out there and give it a try!

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Pisgah Gorge

Pisgah Gorge

Difficulty: Easy to Difficult depending on the trail
Distance: 1.5 miles
Entry Fee: Free

Pisgah Gorge is a secluded park in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It offers amazing views and a few different waterfalls.

More Waterfalls
Pisgah Gorge is located an hour’s drive east from Huntsville. It is located near Guntersville Lake.

You can google Pisgah Gorge, but we have the exact location of the parking area linked here.

Parking Lot

This parking lot is very POORLY marked for Pisgah Gorge. There is a small sign that says “Pisgah Gorge on it with an arrow pointing into the park, but it is better to look for the larger sign that reads “Pisgah Civitan Park”. We advise parking next to the street even if the gate is open. From here you will walk through the park, past the abandoned baseball field, and to the pavilion with picnic tables. The trail begins behind the pavilion.

Pisgah Gorge Upper Falls Overlook

The Pisgah Falls Overview area is located right behind the Pavilion. A trail leads to the left and the right when you get to the overview. If you are looking at the waterfall to the left takes you to the top of the falls and the trail to the right takes you to the bottom of the falls and the canyon views.

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Bridge

This unmonumental bridge is a marker for the “trail” that leads down to the bottom of the falls. It really isn’t much of a trail, it is mostly a creek bed to follow. When you get to the bottom, you will be standing at the top of a waterfall. You can follow the river upstream to the upper falls or downstream to the middle and lower falls as well as the arch. If the water is low enough to navigate, head upriver to get to the bottom of Pisgah Gorge Upper Falls.

Pisgah Gorge Falls

To get to the bottom of these falls, you have to navigate upriver. If the river is too high, getting to the bottom of these falls will not be possible. Trecking upriver can be difficult as you will be walking on slippery rocks and steep banks. Be careful hiking to the bottom of these falls. If you can manage to get here, you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of Pisgah Gorge Upper Falls. To get out you will have to go back the way you came.

Bottom of Pisgah Gorge Upper Middle Falls

Instead of going up stream to get to the upper falls, you can go downstream to get to the bottom of the upper middle falls. This is a bit of a scramble. Hug the right side (looking downstream) of the canyon. There may be a path that others have taken or not. you will hug this sid until you can find a scramble down some rocks. You may need to bring about 30 ft of rope and tie it off to a tree. ONLY do this is you are capable and comfortable doing a dangerous scramble.

The Arch

After you get to the bottom of the upper middle falls, you’ll need to cross the stream and find your way down the left side of the stream. Theres a short waterfall (Lower Middle Falls not pictured) and you will need to find your way down it and down stream. You can see the arch from the Lower Middle Falls. After you get to the arch there is one more waterfall downstream (Lower Falls not pictured). This is all very difficult to navigate especially with higher water levels. I suggest being comfortable getting your shoes wet!

Pisgah Gorge Lower Falls Overview

If you continue straight across the bridge (or come back up from the bottom of the falls and turn left) you will come across a path heading off to the left. Take the path to the left and you will have a view of the lower falls and can see a bit into the canyon. Head back up the way you came after you are done with this view.

Pisgah Gorge Canyon View

After you get back up the trail from the Lower Falls Overview, take a left and continue to follow the main trail. There is another trail that veers of to the left. This is not a well-kept trail and is not marked. It may be so overgrown that it looks like a small rabbit trail. This is not one you want to miss though. You may have to push a bush or two out of the way to get here, but keep your explorer cap on and you’ll find it.

Do Not Enter

If you come across this sign, you have gone too far. Everything in this guide is located off of private. If you missed something in this guide, turn around and go find it!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Summer Hiking Essentials
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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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