Monte Sano Nature Preserve is, at 1,107 acres (448 ha), one of the largest urban nature preserves in the US and is located on Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. The Land Trust of North Alabama manages the nature preserve and Land Trust volunteers have created 23+ miles of public trails. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the multi-use trails for hiking, biking, running, bird watching, environmental education, and general recreation. The trail system was honored in 2011 by the Department of the Interior as National Recreation Trails[1] making them the first NRT trails in Madison County.
"Huntsville/Madison County's mountains form the final segment of the Great Appalachian chain and provide some of the southernmost habitats of broadleaf hardwoods such as the Sugar Maple. Monte Sano is home to several plant species important to the study of ecosystem stability referred to by scientists as "relics," because they provide clues to the climate of periods hundreds of thousands of years ago. Some of these species include the American Smoketree (Chittamwood), Morefield's Leather Flower, Price's Potato Bean, and Cumberland Rosinweed."[1]
Special features of the Monte Sano Nature Preserve include a former limestone quarry known as Three Caves,[2] an historic spring named Trough Springs[3] which was the site of one of the last Alabama confrontations of the Civil War, and the remnants of the Monte Sano Railroad from the late 1800s. The Old Railroad Bed Trail is one of the first 500 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy projects.[4]
Monte Sano Nature Preserve’s hiker parking lot on Bankhead Parkwayedit
From University Drive and Memorial Parkway, follow Pratt Avenue East, through Five Points business district. Continue through Five Points on Pratt and continue straight as Pratt changes to Bankhead Parkway. Parking lot is 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km) past Toll Gate Road, on the right. The trailhead provides access to the Alms House, Bluff Line, Old Railroad Bed, and Toll Gate Trails.[1]
South Monte Sano Blvdedit
From Memorial Parkway, take Governors Drive east up Monte Sano Mountain and turn left on Monte Sano Blvd. The trailhead is 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) on the right. The trailhead provides access to Trough Springs, Bluffline and Natural Well (Monte Sano State Park) Trails.
3 Cavesedit
From downtown, follow signs along McClung Ave. from Williams Ave. across California Ave. into the Blossomwood neighborhood. At the end of McClung, you go south on Owens Drive, east on Hermitage Avenue and north on Kennamer Drive to reach the Three Caves.[5] The trailhead provides access to 3 Caves Loop, Alms House, and Waterline Trails.
Referencesedit
^ abc"Monte Sano Nature Preserve Trail System : National Recreation Trail Database".
^"Historic Three Caves: A Unique Huntsville Landmark" (PDF). Land Trust of North Alabama. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
^"Old Railroad Bed Trail - Alabama Trails - TrailLink.com".
^Doyle, Steve (October 15, 2014). "Lace up those walking shoes: Huntsville unveils exercise route linking downtown to 46 miles of Monte Sano trails". Al.com. Huntsville, Alabama: The Huntsville Times, Advance Publications, Alabama Media Group /. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
monte, sano, nature, preserve, acres, largest, urban, nature, preserves, located, monte, sano, mountain, huntsville, alabama, land, trust, north, alabama, manages, nature, preserve, land, trust, volunteers, have, created, miles, public, trails, residents, visi. Monte Sano Nature Preserve is at 1 107 acres 448 ha one of the largest urban nature preserves in the US and is located on Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville Alabama The Land Trust of North Alabama manages the nature preserve and Land Trust volunteers have created 23 miles of public trails Residents and visitors alike enjoy the multi use trails for hiking biking running bird watching environmental education and general recreation The trail system was honored in 2011 by the Department of the Interior as National Recreation Trails 1 making them the first NRT trails in Madison County Monte Sano Nature PreserveIUCN category V protected landscape seascape LocationHuntsville Alabama U S Coordinates34 44 17 N 86 32 35 W 34 738 N 86 543 W 34 738 86 543Area1 107 acres 448 ha Established1987AdministratorLand Trust of North AlabamaWebsiteLand Trust of North AlabamaMap Highlighting Boundaries of Preserve Huntsville Madison County s mountains form the final segment of the Great Appalachian chain and provide some of the southernmost habitats of broadleaf hardwoods such as the Sugar Maple Monte Sano is home to several plant species important to the study of ecosystem stability referred to by scientists as relics because they provide clues to the climate of periods hundreds of thousands of years ago Some of these species include the American Smoketree Chittamwood Morefield s Leather Flower Price s Potato Bean and Cumberland Rosinweed 1 Special features of the Monte Sano Nature Preserve include a former limestone quarry known as Three Caves 2 an historic spring named Trough Springs 3 which was the site of one of the last Alabama confrontations of the Civil War and the remnants of the Monte Sano Railroad from the late 1800s The Old Railroad Bed Trail is one of the first 500 Rails to Trails Conservancy projects 4 Contents 1 Major Trailheads 1 1 Monte Sano Nature Preserve s hiker parking lot on Bankhead Parkway 1 2 South Monte Sano Blvd 1 3 3 Caves 2 References 3 See alsoMajor Trailheads editMonte Sano Nature Preserve s hiker parking lot on Bankhead Parkway edit From University Drive and Memorial Parkway follow Pratt Avenue East through Five Points business district Continue through Five Points on Pratt and continue straight as Pratt changes to Bankhead Parkway Parking lot is 1 2 mile 0 8 km past Toll Gate Road on the right The trailhead provides access to the Alms House Bluff Line Old Railroad Bed and Toll Gate Trails 1 South Monte Sano Blvd edit From Memorial Parkway take Governors Drive east up Monte Sano Mountain and turn left on Monte Sano Blvd The trailhead is 3 4 mile 1 2 km on the right The trailhead provides access to Trough Springs Bluffline and Natural Well Monte Sano State Park Trails 3 Caves edit From downtown follow signs along McClung Ave from Williams Ave across California Ave into the Blossomwood neighborhood At the end of McClung you go south on Owens Drive east on Hermitage Avenue and north on Kennamer Drive to reach the Three Caves 5 The trailhead provides access to 3 Caves Loop Alms House and Waterline Trails References edit a b c Monte Sano Nature Preserve Trail System National Recreation Trail Database Historic Three Caves A Unique Huntsville Landmark PDF Land Trust of North Alabama Retrieved 20 October 2023 Trough Springs Historical Marker Old Railroad Bed Trail Alabama Trails TrailLink com Doyle Steve October 15 2014 Lace up those walking shoes Huntsville unveils exercise route linking downtown to 46 miles of Monte Sano trails Al com Huntsville Alabama The Huntsville Times Advance Publications Alabama Media Group Retrieved September 4 2016 See also editMonte Sano State Park Burritt on the Mountain Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monte Sano Nature Preserve amp oldid 1181056053, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
