Find the top rated hiking trails in Hartselle, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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My husband walked this trail with me twice before he realized that, at points, it is flanked on either side with houses. It’s that easy to forget you’re in the city. Parking is ample and easy to access if using the lot attached to the elementary school property. (Cannot speak for the other) Everyone I have met has been as nice as could be and with a pretty flat and well shaded path it’s a delight.
I'm late with this review, but the previous two reviews prompted me to add mine now. I went for my third on this trail in late 2017. As my earlier reviews stated, I had really nice rides. But not this one. I started at the northern trailhead and only went maybe a couple of miles before turning back because the trail was in such horrible shape. As stated in the two previous reviews by markmoore and Old Terry, there were lots of very large rocks to contend with which made the ride very unpleasant. I kept waiting for signs that things were going to get better, but that didn't happen and finally I just gave it up and turned back and got on the road alongside the trail as soon as possible. I had driven over an hour to get there, so I was quite disappointed. The short stretch of trail on the north end between the trailhead and the woods has always been the roughest section, but it was tolerable. But this time it was really bad even far into the woods. Apparently no trail maintenance at all had been done for quite some time. As the Mad Tweeter might say - Sad!
I would like to try the trail again sometime this year, but will not unless I know it will be in better shape for biking. Hopefully someone can give an update here on the condition of the trail at the north end.
Oh, and there are indeed dogs again at the house by the trailhead. They were in a fenced-in yard and I don't recall having any problems with them - not even being barked at - but they are there again.
Sumiton plus Horse Creek trail 4.2 miles. Nice ride, easy down and back on a beautiful day. Great warm up preparing for a longer trip. Scenery is very nice in March! Drove from Birmingham just to explore.
This was a fun little trail to ride our bikes on. We just wanted a casual ride and that’s what we got! It is paved, flat, and shaded in some areas. There are shaded benches along the path which was nice. There are a few locations where the trail does cross over a back country road, so just be aware when you come to those. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my ride and will be back as soon as I can!
It is listed as 10.2 but my GPS came up with 11 miles (22 round trip). It is a good one for solitude for sure. The small town of Elmont is basically right in the middle and makes for a nice rest stop. Except for Elkmont, AL and a couple of covered bridges there isn't much diversity along the entire trail. It's a 1 1/2 hour drive for me so I probably wont be back unless more is added to it.
I started at the Tennessee line TH and went to Athens and back. Within the first 1/4 mile a big black dog ran at me from the front of a house. He didn't have the cardio to keep up but something to watch for when near the Tennessee TH.
The path is compacted gravel like a driveway that's seen lots of use. The Athens half is pretty smooth but I was glad to be on a mountain bike for the other half. Occasional rough spots to beware of with some random big chunky rocks.
There was one road crossing I wasn't sure where the trail went and had to break out the phone to view the trail. Turned out it was straight across the road but hard to be sure because it was more grass than gravel. A little trail blaze would be nice there.
Rode today (Sept. 8, 2017) from the start in Athens to the end at the Tennessee state line and return to Athens. Very enjoyable with plenty of solitude. This type of trail will keep you on your toes as you must look carefully for obstacles (limbs, ruts and one area that had numerous loose fist sized chunks of rock). Very enjoyable trail to ride but I would advise caution.
My wife and I cycled the Richard Martin Rails-to-Trails for a weekend in August of 2017. We prefer the gravel trails and find them to be more interesting with a slight bit of challenge tossed into the experience. We rode the trail on 2 Salsa Vayas ' Multi-Surface' bikes equipped with 38mm & 40mm tubeless CX tires and found them to be perfect for the entire route, which is primarily hardpacked dirt & gravel surface that rolls fast.
We loved the trail due to its slightly remote feeling, overall condition, tree canopy & minimal road crossings. It's quickly become our 'close to home' favorite! We rode it's entire length as out & backs for 2 days. GPS mileage was 22 miles for the total trail out & back.
We stayed up in Veto at the Mill Creek RV Park and found it to be pleasant, clean & quiet. We were the only 'weekend use' campers there, with some sites populated be contract workers working at automotive parts manufacturing locations near by. Most had gone home for the weekend, leaving a quiet & safe campground for us. Note: Please don't ring the bell for Margie prior to 10:00AM. Check in is Noon and Margie doesn't stir prior to check-in time.
All of of this made for a wonderful weekend get-a-way with my wife & bicycles!
Started in Athens and rode to Elkmont then back. Later drive car with bikes back to Elkmont where we toured Belle Chevre goat cheese place then ate at their sandwich shop. Excellent food. Bike trail was excellent, flat and very clean. Plan on starting in Elkmont next and riding North to complete total trek.
Great trail for easy biking. Decatur just added several miles and plan to add additional trails soon. Particularly good for family rides if you start at Point Mallard. Much of those trails are not shared with vehicles. Beginning near Market Street the paths are on city streets, but still well marked. The majority, if not all, of the trails are on asphalt. There is plenty of parking at all the trailheads.
This trail is part of the Huntsville Greenway system. The northern end of this trail is connected to the southern end of the Aldridge Creek Greenway at the entrance to Ditto Landing Park on Hobbs Island Road. There isn't a parking lot at this point but I guess you could park on the side of the road. The trail proceeds south for a short distance to the main part of the Ditto Landing Park. Although this trail has little or no markings or signs, Ditto Landing is small enough that it is hard to get lost. Just ride past the pavilion and south to the river, then turn east (left) and you will run into the main part of the greenway, a wide paved trail along the river.
A little ways down the trail, you will pass by an old warehouse with a large, flat concrete area going out to a docking port on the riverbank. This is the old State Docks which hasn't been used in decades. The trail continues on by the river to the Madison County Marina at the east end of the trail.
This is a short but pretty trail with good views of the river including the US-231 bridge. You will often see a lot of small boats on the river with the occasional barge going by.
Although it is a short trail, combining this with the Aldridge Creek Greenway (another nice trail) makes for a very nice ride.
We started in Elkmont at the caboose and traveled south. Beautiful tree tunnel almost all the way to Athens. There are gently sloping hills. We went early in the morning in June and there is a swamp area to the East with green algae that reflects beautifully. Beware of mosquitoes.
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