Nature Trails at the Burritt Museum and Park
Trails, criss-crossing the mountain range east of Huntsville, pre-date the original settlers of the early 1800's. These paths were game trails for deer, bear, and panther. For the Cherokees and Chickasaw Indians, the trails led to their hunting grounds. When the white pioneers settled here, they linked their roads to the Indian trails inorder to travel from the villages of Huntsville and Whitesburg to the Big Cove and Possum Hollow settlements.
The natural woodlands of the Park can be explored by the numerous paths that are maintained for public access. There is a Trail Guide pamphlet available to visitors to the Burritt which highlights caves, springs, trees and natural sites along the track. Although there are several rest areas along the trails, there are no restrooms or drinking fountains; these facilities are located in the Visitors Center near the main parking area of the Museum.
There is a section of trails 1/2 mile long that is surfaced for handicap accessibility with interpretive signs and castings. An audio tape is available for this trail section; the tapes and players maybe be checked out at no charge from the Museum Office. There is limited parking for the Accessible Nature Trail located at the trail head on Burritt Drive.
The Nature Trails on the Burritt Museum and Park grounds include:
*Rock Bluff Trail (moderate): 1 hour. Go down the steps "To Coal Mine and Cross" just north of the Museum.
*Oak Tree Trail (moderately difficult): 40 minutes. Go down behind the Church, take a left at the road intersection. Come back up at the cross.
*Round Top Trail (most difficult): 40 minutes. Go down behind the Church, bear left at trail intersection. Come back up at the cross.
*Discovery Trail (easy): 4 hours to Monte Sano State Park and the Natural Well, 1.5 hours to Big Cove Turnpike.
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