The Huntsville area has several good places to ride. Here is some information to get you started. As always the best source of info is the Local Bike Shop. I once heard it said, if the LBS does not have any trail information, then there may not be any place to ride and you may not need to buy a mountain bike from that shop.
| Monte Sano State Park | Wade Mountain |
| Huntsville Land Trust | Wheeler Wildlife Refuge |
The only restrictions I know of are up on Monte
Sano. Mountain Bikes are to stay off of the upper trails, with
one exception. There is a trail bikers can take out to
O'shaughnessy. This trail connects with two other trails called
Warpath Ridge Trail and Mt. Mist Trail, that head down the
mountain to the lower trails. The lower part of the park contains
about 30 miles of trails. Two that I know which will connect you
to the Land Trust trails. Most of the trails are rocky and full
of roots. Not all of them are singletrack, but to me that is all
part of the fun. I have been on worse trails and what is mountain
biking without them. I highly suggest that you get a map from the
ranger station on top of the mountain before riding the trails.
Or hook up with one of the locals. Many of the trails look alike
and it is easy to get confused and end up on trails not open to
bicycles. Rangers will give tickets for riding on non-bicycle
trails. Bike trails are also closed for three days after a storm
to allow trails to dry. Elevation ranges from 1200 feet to 1600
feet ASL. The local riders like to park at a place referred to as
the blockade. If you travel up Bankhead Parkway, you will come to
a really sharp turn. Right in front of you will be a concrete
slab blockade. That is the best place to park. Land Trust trails
are the same as the lower trails on Monte Sano. Some up climbing
and some really cool fast downhills. There is some single track
there to. The Land Trust has about 7 or 8 miles of trails.
Elevation is about 800 to 1200 feet ASL. All trails on the Land
Trust are open to mountain bikes. For a map of Land Trust Trails
visit their web site.
One main thing to remember, on all trails is to be kind to
Hikers. They have the right-of-way. Don't cause us to lose our
right to ride on the mountain. It did not come easy.
Contributed by:
Linda Altrath
a local rider
Wade mountain is part of the Huntsville Land Trust holdings. Now this is a trail. Fine singletrack with a couple of areas that are rocky and rooty, but mainly smooth and fast trail. You climb up the mountain 1 1/3 miles, but it is worth the climb. At the top of the mountain is a cool Indian Racetrack you can ride, which you really have to experience to appreciate. Then you have a nice fast ride down the mountain. The trail is presently only 3 miles, but always worth doing twice. Great trail. A must ride. More trails are planned for the future. For more information on Wade Mountain trails contact Bicycles Etc., 8100 S. Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, (256)881-6947, they sponsor the trails there. For a map visit the Land Trust web site.
Contributed by:
Linda Altrath
a local rider
Wheeler has no mountain bike trails as such and
no single track. A quick phone call to the Wheeler office yielded
the fact that all of the roads are open to bicycles. I was told
occasionally certain nesting areas may be closed to everyone.
When a road or area is closed it is plainly posted. What you will
encounter here is 15 to 20 miles of flat dirt roads and beautiful
scenery. You may also encounter deer, snakes, turtles, beavers,
insects you didn't know existed and once in every hundred miles,
another cyclist. This is a great place for a workout, family
ride, or to satisfy your jones for a ride after a rain when the
State Park is closed. During hunting season the place can fill
with hunters. Information about the season can be had from the
Wheeler office or web site.
How to get there from Decatur: There are several places to
park and access the network of roads. To get to one of them.
Drive North on Hwy. 31 which is alt 20/72. You will be leaving
Decatur. Cross the bridge spanning the Tennessee River (Wheeler
Lake) and drive the full length of the causeway. Just at the end
of the causeway on the right side of the road is a small pull-off
and a gated road. This is one good place to park and can be
accessed from the North on 72 also.
Thanks to Barrett Campbell for his input on Wheeler.
How to get there from Huntsville: From Huntsville take
Interstate 565 to exit 8 (Madison exit) towards
"Triana". This road is called Wal Triana. There is a
Shell Station to your right and is a good place to get last
minute hydration. Follow this road for about 3 miles. You will
drive past Chrysler, Boeing, and go through two trafic lights.
When you come to a stop sign, take the left road. About a mile
down this road you will come to an intersection. Go straight
ahead through that intersection. Another mile down the road there
will be a "Big White House" on your left. Just past
that house will be a left hand turn. Take that left. Drive about
3/4 of a mile to a fork in the road with a sign that says
"Wheeler Wildlife Refuge". Take the road to the left of
the sign down the gravel road. About 0.7 miles a parking lot will
be on the right. Park here. From this point there are two good
routes for bike rides. But remember, one of the keys to having
fun on Wheeler is to explore. The first is to ride up back
the gravel road, the way you came in. When you get back to the
"Wheeler Sign" continue on what would have been
straight ahead. Just past the driveway to the trailer on the left
you will see a dirt road. Follow this road around the swamp. Ride
7 miles and you will come to a "T" make a right on this
road. It will bring you back to the parking lot. The total for
this loop is 7.8 miles around. This is a really nice loop. The second
is a 12 mile loop from the parking lot. More information on this
loop and maybe a map coming soon.
Wheeler from H'ville contributed by:
Linda Altrath
a local rider
Spring City Cycling Club - trail info &
much more
ChadMan's
Curve - good trail info in the play section
Huntsville
Land Trust - see the trails pages for maps etc.,
Wade Mountain - a good map and a little
information
Wheeler Wildlife Refuge -
general info, no bicycle info or map
Local Bicycle Shops - a list and phone
numbers & addresses
Last Updated: 3/21/03
Thanks to the local Huntsville riders who gave their input for
this page.
Please send corrections, additions, or comments to
Aaron's Alabama Mountain
Biking
