Monte Sano State Park, Camping, Hiking & More!

We recently found ourselves exploring more of Monte Sano State Park, in Huntsville, AL.
This beautiful park has a plethora of activities for everyone to enjoy. From just the basics of camping, whether you're going in style in a RV/Camper, or roughing it with primitive camping or somewhere in between you'll find hookups, bathrooms with hot showers, a general store and so much more. For nature lovers and those suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder, Monte Sano is great for day use, weekend getaways, week-long adventures and team building exercises. Everyone will embrace some or all of this 2,100+ acre southern Appalachian forest.

Mountain Mist Trail Bike Rider

With more than 30 miles of trails, mountain bikers, trail runners, avid hikers or those just starting out, these trails offer something for every one. Monte Sano is home to the 50K Marathon/trail run on Mountain Mist Trail, (3.5 miles), which is challenging in and of itself without adding running and cold weather to the menu. A popular day use trail as it can be accessed from a trailhead outside the park (Fern & Bankhead Pkwy), many locals regularly run here for the challenging workout as well as the scenic beauty of rocks and cliffs, deep sinkholes and hardwood forest.  Mountain Mist intersect other trails along the way as it makes a wide 1/2 loop around the campsites, cabins and fire tower. The best time for these trails is during the spring, when everything is in bloom and during the fall when all the leaves are changing with vivid color; red, burnt orange and brilliant yellow.

 All of the trails are fun to explore as they are well marked, even if the trail might be slightly obscured with fallen leaves, or from little use. One of our favorites is by starting at the observatory and following the North Plateau trail to the Sinks Trail, (from 1500' down to 1300'), follow this to Stones Cut. Here you will find huge boulders (Boulder Squeeze) with crevices to squeeze through as you continue along the path, following white markers along the two-story rocks. (Don't worry, you can also walk around these, it's not a cave, so no need to get claustrophobic.)
 There is a trail that takes you to a vertical cave shaft and cavern, The Natural Well.
Once you've traversed the latticework of trails, delight in the Japanese Tea Garden, near the main office and general store.
Test your aim on the 18-hole Disc golf course, also located near the main office. Go treasure hunting with the geocaches, download the waypoints to find your booty.
There are programs almost every Saturday night at the Observatory.

Happy Trails!