Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Maps: USGS Huntsville, AL;
DeLorme: Alabama Atlas & Gazetteer,
page 19 D8;
trail maps available online at the Land Trust of North Alabama website
Trail contact: Land Trust of North Alabama, 2707 Artie St. SW, Ste. 6, Huntsville,
AL 35805; (256) 534-5263; www.landtrustnal.org
Special considerations: To help protect the trails from erosion, the Land Trust asks
that you do not hike the trails after rain. Wait a few days after rain for the trails to
dry before heading out. It is OK to hike if the ground is frozen, but when the tem-
peratures go above freezing again, wait a day or two for the trails to dry out.
Finding the trailhead: From Huntsville on I-565 at exit 21, head south on Mays-
ville Road NE 1.4 miles and turn left onto Pratt Avenue NE. Travel 1.4 miles. The
parking lot and trailhead will be on your right and well marked. GPS: N34 44.610'
/ W86 32.640'
The Hike
Through the years the mountain area around Huntsville has seen its share of busi-
ness and residential development, posing a threat to forests along Round Top and
Monte Sano Mountains. For a time Monte Sano State Park was the only oasis of
preservation. All that changed when a group of volunteers formed the Huntsville
Land Trust (now known as the Land Trust of North Alabama). Their objective: to
preserve nature in Madison County. Through contributions and land donations,
several preserves were established to not only protect beautiful natural settings,
but also provide amazing recreational opportunities for hikers.
The largest and most popular of the trust's sanctuaries is Monte Sano Nature
Preserve. With land purchases and donations plus the land that makes up Monte
Sano State Park, most of the forested hillside of Monte Sano Mountain has been
protected from further development.
I can't say enough about the excellent job the Land Trust and its volunteers
have done with building and maintaining trails on their properties. Each one high-
lights a piece of the preserve's rugged beauty. The trail described here, what I
cleverly call the Monte Sano Nature Preserve Loop, traces the west side of Monte
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