Springtime is the time to get out of the house and discover the beauty of North Alabama and search for wildflowers along many of the state parks and nature trails. When you go looking for wildflowers, you might want to take along two every helpful books: The Huntsville Botanical Garden's Wild Flowers of North Alabama and Scenic North Alabama. The Alabama Wildflower Society goes on trips to privileged places. The local chapter meets at the Library once a month.
Don't forget our Botanical Garden has a Nature Trail by the old Dogwood Tree. Ask at the front desk for directions to it.
This is officially called Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain in south Huntsville. There is a pavilion, plenty of picnic tables, wooden rocking chairs, restrooms, a small chapel, Charles Green's (whom Green Mountain was named after) log cabin, Sky Lake (where only seniors and youth are allowed to fish), and a 2.2 mile walking trail. There is a labeled braille trail to help the blind enjoy the sounds and smells of nature. Recently a senior trail became a new addition to the premises, featuring an easy path close to the pavilion with two benches for resting.
There are many opportunities to enjoy wildlife observation and photography opportunties on Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, located along the Tennessee River between Huntsville and Decatur. One of the best ways to view wildlife and wildflowers is to take a short walk on one of the five (5) designated nature trails (Atkeson Trail, Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk Trail, Dancy Bottom Trail, Flint Creek or the Wildlife Observation Trail). For more information, call (256) 353-7243.
Nature Trails wind through the woods and around the mountain, taking hikers past historic coal mines and limestone rock formations.During the spring enjoy the beauty of the wildflowers that blanket the forest floor. For more information, call Burritt at (256) 536-2882.
The 38 miles of trails on The Land Trust’s Monte Sano, Wade Mountain, and Blevins Gap Nature Preserves allow visitors to see and photograph streams, waterfalls, birds, views of area valleys from mountain tops, quiet forests, and wildflowers. One of the most beloved and beautiful trails is the Wildflower Trail along Fagan Creek in Blossomwood. Trails on the 2,913 preserved acres are open dawn to dusk. Picnic tables and information kiosks are at three trailheads. The Land Trust parking lot at Stoneridge Park atop Madison’s Rainbow Mountain is the gateway to more trails that offer spring wildflowers. For more information, call (256) 534-5263.
Beautiful Desoto State Park, teeming with waterfalls and wildflowers. Desoto State Park is located eight miles northeast of Fort Payne in Northeast Alabama. Their is a restaurant, lodge and cabin facilities. Nestled atop beautiful scenic Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama, this 3,502-acre park provides Mountain Chalets, Log & Rustic Cabins, and Motel Rooms. There is also a picnic area with playground, Olympic-size swimming pool, nature center with interpretive programs and live animals, & over 19 miles of hiking & mountain biking trails. For more information, call (256) 845-0051.
Sipsey Wilderness and Bee Branch are good places to find wildflowers in Bankhead Forest. There are six recreation areas scattered about the Bankhead National Forest, each offering a unique experience of its own. Facilities for camping, picnicking, fishing, hiking, and swimming are abundant. The newly expanded trail system in the Bankhead National Forest added 82 miles of recreational trails to the 71 miles already in the Forest. Now, you can enjoy hiking, bicycle and horseback riding, and a trail for your all-terrain vehicle. The
Scenic North Alabama book will help you out for this location. For more information, call 334-832-4470.
The Walls of Jericho is made up of 21,453 acres straddling the Tennessee-Alabama border used for preservation as a wilderness and recreation area. The hike down and back takes close to six hours. In addition to its natural beauty, the Walls of Jericho contains an extraordinarily diverse array of plants and animals, including several globally-imperiled species. For more information, call (256) 776-4800.
This 2,000-acre park in northeast Alabama is secluded in a natural pocket of the Appalachian Mountains chain. The park's picnic area offers a canyon rim natural vista into the pocket below. The pocket itself, on an upstream tributary of Lake Guntersville, hosts an improved campground, complete with tables, grills, shelters, laundry, comfort station, playground and hiking trails. The Park is located two miles north of Grove Oak in northeast Alabama. For more information, call (256) 659-2000.
This is a 1,011 acre natural oasis located on one of the last undeveloped stretches of the Red Mountain ridge known as Ruffner Mountain. Just a 10 minute escape from downtown Birmingham. The new Tree Top Visitor Center is open to the public Tuesdays - Sundays. Call (205) 833-8264 ext 13 or ext 11 for more information.
The Cumberland Plateau, the largest remaining forested plateau in the continental United States, is home to South Cumberland State Recreation Area. The wilderness park includes some of Tennessee's most diverse and spectacular scenery. The park offers opportunities for picnicking, swimming, fishing, caving, visiting historic ruins, rock climbing and rappelling, viewing spectacular rock formations, wildlife and waterfalls. Located on U. S. Highway 41 between Tracy City and Monteagle, it is approximately three miles east of Interstate 24 and may be reached by taking either Exit 134 or 135 from the Interstate. The Visitor Center is about 50 miles northwest of Chattanooga and 85 miles southeast of Nashville.
