Skill Level:

Advanced with some intermediate trails One very easy, fast “family” trail on top of the mountain is available for children and beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced riders to warm up before tackling the more challenging trails.

The official Monte Sano State Park Trail Map uses the same "diamond" rating system as a ski area. Of the 20 listed trails, 14 have blue diamond (more difficult) or black diamond (very difficult) ratings.

Many of these trails are highly technical with many challenging obstacles, mostly in the form of roots, rock gardens, steep climbs, descents and drop-offs. Obtain a park trail map and choose a trail commensurate with your skill level. 

Route Info:

The Monte Sano mountain bike trail system is a network of trails connecting a continuous swath of Alabama State Park, North Alabama Land Trust and City of Huntsville property. The trails traverse the slopes of the mountain in a ring that runs from the northwest side all the way around to the south side of the hill. It is possible to encircle the entire mountain almost exclusively on single-track trails.

At over 30 miles (14 miles of Park trails and 16 miles of Land Trust trails), it is possible to ride many hours on uninterrupted trails. Most trails are marked with colored blazes. It is a good idea to obtain a park map and learn the blazing system before embarking on a ride.

The trails are accessible from two points on Monte Sano Mountain. There is parking on top of the mountain in the State Park and in the Land Trust parking lot on Bankhead Parkway. 

Variations:

Many, many variations 

Features:

Facilities:

• Rest Rooms
• Water
• Primitive camping
• RV campling
• Cabins
• Park office
• Trail kiosk

 

Afterward:

After working up a big appetite on the trails, Huntsville offers many dining opportunities, from basic country cooking and barbecue to high-end cuisine and everything in between. Some of the listed restaurants are a bit haute cuisine, so you may want to scrape the muck off before entering the establishment.

Recommended:

• Rockabilly's Barbecue - Corner of Pratt and Meridian streets. Classic Southern BBQ in a retro-futuristic Jetson's-styled building. Recommend the beef brisket and chicken.
• Furniture Factory Bar and Grill - Just off Meridian near the corner of Cleveland Avenue. A wide-ranging, well-prepared menu with locally brewed Olde Towne beer.

Downtown:

• Humphrey's Bar and Grill - Washington Street
• Pauli's Chophouse - Washington Street
• Jazz Factory - Northside Square
• Kenny Mango's Coffeehouse - Northside Square
• White Rose Cafe (Traditional country fare) - Northside Square
• Bistro del Soleil - Southside Square
• Papou's (Greek) - Southside Square

Five Points:

• Starfish (Seafood) - Russell Street
• Sazio (Mediterranean) - Russell Street
• Thai Garden - On Wellman Avenue near Andrew Jackson Way
• Mullins Drive-In (Country Cooking; open early) - Andrew Jackson Way
• Po'Boys Factory (Cajun/New Orleans) - Andrew Jackson Way

 

Notes:

• The Park closes at sundown. The trails are complex and interconnected. Plan your route to return to a trailhead before darkness sets in. The Park recommends purchasing a map from the park office or store.
• Family Trail: The Family Trail is a total of 3 miles, 4 miles if the first portion is ridden in reverse back to the beginning. The trail starts about .6 mi. past the park entrance on the right, approximately 100 yards past the Biker/Hiker parking lot, also on the right at the split in the road. The Family Trail is an excellent, smooth and curvy single-track that is ideal for introducing new riders to riding on a nonpaved surface.
• Riding the Family Trail: The Family trail loops back onto itself for a total ride of about 4 miles. It crosses two dirt roads, but the trail continues only 20 feet in front of you. At O'Shaughnessy Point, there is an intersection where four trails meet. Follow the bike sign which points back around the curve. At the end, the trail runs into a dirt road crossed on the outbound loop. There are two options:
  1. Go back on the first half of the trail,
  2. Take a left at the dirt road. About 100 yards up the dirt road the trail intersects the road going back which points left.
• The Monte Sano State Park trails are more technical in nature and are predominantly for advanced riders. There are more intermediate options; however it is recommended that you purchase a map at the park office or store before embarking onto the trails.
• The trails that begin from the Land Trust parking lot are technical, but slightly less demanding than the Park Trails.

For more info:

None

Contact any of the following for additional information:

Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Ardmore Welcome Center

Street Address:
28232 Upper Elkton Road
Elkmont, AL 35620
Phone#:(256) 423 - 3891

Bicycle Works Inc.

Street Address:
5000 Whitesburg Drive S #140
Huntsville, AL 35802
Phone#:(256) 650 - 6282

Bicycles Etc.

Street Address:
8100 Memorial Parkway SW #A
Huntsville, AL 35802
Phone#:(256) 881 - 6947

Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Street Address:
500 Church Street, Suite One
Huntsville, AL 35801
www.huntsville.org

Madison Cycles

Street Address:
8760 Madison Boulevard, Suite J
Madison, AL 35758
Phone#:(256) 461 - 9963

Monte Sano State Park

Street Address:
5105 Nolen Avenue
Huntsville, Al 35801
Phone#:(256) 534 - 3757
www.alapark.com

Southern Off-Road Biking Association

Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
www.sorbahuntsville.org

Spring City Cycling Club

Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
www.springcity.org

The Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama

Street Address:
907 Franklin St.
Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone#:(256) 534 - 5263
www.landtrust-hsv.org

Trailhead Inc.

Street Address:
604 Andrew Jackson Way
Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone#:(256) 534 - 1333