This Alabama City Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers

Between 2010 and 2020, Huntsville, Alabama, saw a 20% population increase, a clear sign that this city is getting noticed. A major draw? It has incredible natural beauty. Situated in Alabama’s Appalachian Region, the city has several beautiful natural attractions, including the Tennessee River, Flint River, and Monte Sano Mountain. The green spaces within town provide residents with numerous places to relax, including the centrally located Big Spring International Park and Huntsville Botanical Garden. If you haven’t had the chance to visit Huntsville yet, it should definitely be on your list for your 2025 outdoor adventures.

Parks And Green Spaces

With over 65 parks, it is clear that Huntsville values its green spaces. In the heart of the city, travelers will find Big Spring International Park, which covers roughly 12.5 acres and features a spring in the middle, home to geese, ducks, and koi. This park also hosts various events and festivals, including the Concerts in the Park series and the Panoply Arts Festival. In addition to its beautiful pond, the park has a striking red bridge and cherry blossom trees that were gifted to Huntsville from Japan.

While in Huntsville, travelers should make sure to plan a visit to the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Covering 118 acres, this garden is filled with diverse ecosystems, ranging from wooded paths and flower gardens to grassy meadows and aquatic ecosystems. There is also an amphitheater on the premises that hosts cultural gatherings, theater performances, and concerts. In addition to the garden spaces and amphitheater, a permanent troll garden exhibit opens on April 1, featuring a massive troll sculpture that encourages guests to explore its magical gardens and maze!

For a friendly game of golf, visitors have various options in Huntsville. The Links at Redstone Course, located in the town’s southwest, is an 18-hole course with several amenities for a comfortable afternoon, including a pro shop, modern clubhouse, restaurant, practice green, and driving range. The course also offers private lessons for those wanting to improve their skills.

Hiking And Biking Trails

The Huntsville area currently has about 73 miles of trails, with plans to add more in the future. Lying in eastern Huntsville, Monte Sano State Park, meaning “Mountain of Health”, has been attracting visitors since the 1820s. Rising over 1,600 feet above sea level, the mountain is topped with oak-hickory forests that gradually transition into a mixed forest ecosystem. In addition to the park’s picnic areas, pavilions, camping sites, and cottages, there are 22 miles of hiking and biking trails to explore. Each trail ranges in difficulty in length. For a longer, more challenging hike or bike ride, the 4.7-mile Arrowhead Trail is a great choice. However, many trails are under a mile, like the easy-rated Mist Opportunity Trail, which stretches just an eighth of a mile long.

Blevins Gap Nature Preserve, just a 15-minute drive from downtown Huntsville, is another conveniently located place to spend the day hiking. This 1,086-acre preserve features a couple of prominent, yet distinct trailheads. The Blevins Gap Trailhead offers eight miles of trails winding through wooded areas and leading to some of the best valley views in Huntsville. The Fanning Trailhead, stretching 4.5 miles, takes hikers up a rocky incline and past breathtaking wet-weather waterfalls.

Water-Based Recreation

A day on the water is a classic Huntsville experience, with four commercial outfitters and more than 60 miles of waterways to explore. The Flint River is one of the most popular places to kayak, offering 50 miles of floatable water. The recreational season for the Flint River usually runs from March to November. Two outfitters, Brown Bear Canoe and Kayak and North Alabama Canoe and Kayak (NACK), each cover different sections of the river.

In the far south of Huntsville lies Ditto Landing, a marina along the Tennessee River. This area is abundant in catfish, bass, and bream, making it a great spot to spend the afternoon fishing. The marina, which rents out powerboats, is also a popular spot for wakeboarding and skiing. In the summer, travelers can attend one of the marina’s community events or festivals. On June 13th and 14th, for example, there will be a barbecue competition, in which contestants can compete for the iconic Ditto Landing Trophy and prize money!

Wildlife And Birdwatching

There are plenty of preserves, parks, and wildlife sanctuaries where visitors can spot some of Huntsville’s local wildlife. The Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary, situated about 15 minutes from downtown Huntsville and covering over 375 acres, contains an abundance of ecosystems and bird species. Throughout the sanctuary, travelers can venture through bottomland hardwoods, swamps, farmland, sloughs, and open fields, home to species like herons, egrets, owls, kinglets, ducks, sparrows, vultures, and migrating songbirds. With three miles of trails to explore, visitors can hike or mountain bike their way through.

The Hays Nature Preserve, to the southeast of Huntsville, is largely undeveloped, resulting in a thriving bird population. Similar to the Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary, the Hays Nature Preserve features bottomlands, sloughs, and swamps which travelers can explore via 10 miles of hiking and biking trails. A few of the bird species that you might spot on the preserve include red-headed woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, prothonotary warblers, barred owls, great blue herons, ducks, and migrating songbirds. Deer, raccoons, and rabbits are also commonly found on the preserve’s lands.

If you decide to plan a hiking trip in Monte Sano State Park, make sure to keep an eye out for some of the unique bird species that live there. As you explore the park’s hardwood forests, you may see Great Crested Flycatchers, Indigo Buntings, and Red-eyed Vireos. The park’s overlook is also the perfect spot to see raptors like turkey vultures during their fall flight.

Final Thoughts

With so many nature preserves, parks, and waterways in Huntsville, it is no surprise the city’s popularity is on the rise. However, you do not need to move to Huntsville to experience its beauty and connect with nature. Whether you have a weekend free or an entire week, you can plan an itinerary exploring Monte Sano State Park, kayaking down the Flint River, or picnicking in one of the urban parks. So lace up your boots and get ready to discover one of Alabama’s most underrated natural gems!