Huntsville, located in the Cumberland Plateau, is surrounded by the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. The city’s breathtaking surroundings draw in residents and tourists alike, and each fall, the leaves start to change and the already spectacular views become even more stunning as autumn colors peak. Read on to learn about some of the best areas to chase fall colors in and around Huntsville.
Monte Sano State Park and Nature Preserve
Arguably the most popular mountain in the Huntsville area, Monte Sano Mountain in Monte Sano State Park has an elevation of around 1,600 feet, offering panoramic views of Huntsville. The park spans 2,140 acres, with 20 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of biking trails, varying in lengths and degrees of difficulty. Along the trails, visitors can enjoy scenic overlooks, lush forests, and seasonal wildflowers. In addition to hiking, the park is complete with picnic areas, an outdoor amphitheater, a primitive camping area, and a Japanese garden. In the fall, the park transforms into a beautiful canopy of colors to view from within the trails and atop the mountain. While the state park is popular, another great option is Monte Sano Nature Preserve. Just west of the state park, the preserve is one of the largest urban land preserves in the county, and offers more than 22 miles of trails to explore and leaf peep.
Green Mountain Nature Preserve
Located near Owens Cross Roads, the Green Mountain Nature Preserve offers miles of trails to explore. Part of the Land Trust of North Alabama, the various trails feature wooded paths, streams and waterfalls, an original Native American cave, a charming covered bridge, and more! Trails range from easy to difficult, letting you choose your own adventure. For greater options and shorter hikes, the Green Mountain South trails will be your best bet, or for a 3-mile adventure, opt for the Green Mountain North trail system. Green Mountain is the perfect fall destination to take in nature and see beautiful autumn leaves.
Blevins Gap Nature Preserve
Blevins Gap Nature Preserve, also part of the Land Trust of North Alabama, is one of the best spots for beautiful views of Huntsville. The main trail access area, the southern trails, offers eight miles of woodland hiking trails, and the north trailhead offers roughly four and half miles of rocky trails with waterfalls along the way. Snap Instagram-worthy pics of Huntsville coming alive in autumn colors as you enjoy the overlook areas.
Burritt on the Mountain
If you’re hoping to enjoy scenic fall views and learn some history as well, consider Burritt on the Mountain, a unique open-air museum atop Round Top Mountain. Burritt on the Mountain celebrates the Huntsville region’s history through grounds willed to the city by physician and Huntsville native, William Henry Burritt, in 1955. Explore the nature trails, which summits offer panoramic views that are sure to stun as the leaves change, then head to the historic mansion, cabins (including the oldest cabin in the state that dates to around 1810), church, and barnyard to complete your visit.
Huntsville Botanical Garden
The Huntsville Botanical Garden boasts 112 acres of land to explore and take in the natural beauty of the area. Wooded paths, gardens with native plants, and grassy meadows offer a beautiful fall backdrop for a day out in the cooler weather. In September and October, stroll along the Scarecrow Trail to enjoy festive displays surrounded by beautiful autumn landscapes. The garden has a variety of family-friendly and adults-only events during the fall season, so keep an eye on their event calendar for more details.
Big Spring International Park
For those wanting to stay near the city or looking for more of an urban hike, Big Spring International Park, located in downtown Huntsville, has paved walking trails lined with trees that offer great fall leaf peeping. Each year in October the city puts on Fall for All at the park, a free, family-friendly event to celebrate the season with free activities, games, and giveaways.
Along with beautiful mountain ranges and trails to explore, Rocket City is home to tons of fall festivals, activities, and events. Be sure to check out the Choose Huntsville events page to learn more about the events coming up this fall!
Kristen Dee, BS, MA, Summa Cum Laude
Kristen Dee is a graduate of Winthrop University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications. Following Winthrop, she earned a Master of Arts in Communication from Wake Forest University. Prior to joining CMC Media & Marketing Group, Kristen successfully fulfilled roles involving internal corporate communications. Today, she supports ideation, conceptualization, and development of numerous health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville™ – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. She also contributes to the development of blogs and other content shared on the publications’ digital platforms. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her husband and two dogs, Cooper and Rocky.