Southeastern Outings dayhike in Huntsville Area

Our first adventure of the day will be hiking Alum Hollow Trail. Sitting atop Green Mountain in Huntsville, Alum Hollow Trail just opened to the public in the spring of 2016 and is on property donated to the Land Trust of North Alabama. The mile long trail (one-way) is an easy stroll through light woods, ending at two waterfalls. The last hundred feet of the trail down to the waterfalls is steep but very walkable with time and careful footing.  If you wish to not walk down to the falls, there is an area where you can sit and wait for those who do go down. While waiting, you can explore a rock overhang that probably served as shelter for Native Americans. This hike is rated easy to moderate based on the last hundred feet.

After our hike at Alum Hollow, we will go to the Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain for a picnic lunch. We can sit amongst the trees in the picnic grounds and enjoy the view of a covered bridge across the lake.  There are restrooms there. This is really a pretty setting.

From Green Mountain we will travel to Monte Sano State Park and hike the Sinks and Stone Cuts Trails. This 3 to 4-mile hike is moderate mainly based on length. There is some elevation gain, but it is not strenuous. Trails are generally in good shape, but in some places the trails have what is known as the 3 R’s of hiking; rocks, roots and ruts.  The Stone Cuts are large, natural rock formations on the mountain.  When you enter the large limestone rocks to see the Stone Cuts, you feel the temperature drop.

Please wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather.  Bring water, snacks, a picnic lunch, hiking poles if you use them and Monte Sano Park entrance fee.

Adult Fee Ages 12+            $5.00

Seniors 62+                          $2.00

Children Ages 4-11            $2.00

Please be sure you bring exact change park admission.  You will deposit your admission fee in an honor box.  There is no park agent there to make change for larger bills.

Optional dinner at a Thai restaurant in Huntsville after the hike.

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and over welcome.   Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:

https://goo.gl/photos/1vLWwJjrkB7dVPRv9

Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.  You may also meet at 10:15 am in the parking lot in front of the Target Store in Valley Bend at Jones Valley.  The whole group plans to depart from there at 10:30 a.m.  Address of the Target Store is 2750 Carl T. Jones Drive, Suite 7, Huntsville, Alabama 35802-4914.  Please park in the shopping center parking lot. You can then use the restrooms in the Target before we leave to start our hike.

Info. and Trip Leader: Wayne Rosetti, email wlr765@icloud.com or phone 256/651-7363

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Hayden/Corner Park and Ride—171 State Highway 160, Warrior, AL 35180. Exit 284 off I-65 North, take right on AL 160 at end of exit ramp, immediate right on U.S. 31 and then enter fenced parking lot on right.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has over 250 members.  We scheduled seventy-four events during calendar year 2020 for an average of 6 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from most of our outings.

Thank you.