There are more than a dozen paved greenway paths in the Huntsville metro area.
The cities of Huntsville and Madison have created more than a dozen greenways, realizing that they build connections between people, promote exercise and healthy living, and even increase home values.
There are many definitions for the term “greenway,” but it’s basically a strip of undeveloped land that runs through an urban area. Some greenways traverse forests and follow creeks, while others pass through old railroad corridors. The paths that run through greenways can have natural surfaces, but many are paved, as is the case with most greenways in Huntsville and Madison.
Our local greenway trails are not only paved but also mostly level. This makes these recreation areas accessible to a wide range of people and activities. On any given day, it’s common to see people walking, running, biking and even skating on the greenways. Another benefit of greenways is that they are generally protected from surrounding streets, so they’re great places to safely walk and bike with kids.
In Huntsville, Madison, and other nearby communities, there are at least 13 official greenways, measuring more than 27 miles, and they offer a wide range of experiences. Madison’s Bradford Creek Greenway explores an extensive section of uninterrupted woods, making this trek feel particularly wild. The Flint River Greenway in Owens Cross Roads, southeast of Huntsville, has a similar feel as it winds among vast farm fields and dense woodlands and skirts the Flint River. On
the other hand, some trails, such as the Little Cove Road Greenway and the Gateway Greenway, run through a more urban landscape, and they’re closer to roads, neighborhoods and commercial areas. While we’re fortunate to have an abundance of greenways, the metro population is growing rapidly, so we’re going to need even more natural escapes. Fortunately, city officials intend to create dozens of more miles of greenways in the area. This includes development of the Singing River Trail, which will eventually include 70 miles of paths
linking Huntsville, Madison, Decatur and Athens.
For more details on local greenways, get your copy of Hiking Huntsville Volume 2.
Click here to download greenway maps.
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