Wildflowers are springing up\u00a0all over the parks in North Alabama!\u00a0Bright, vibrant flowers not seen in anyone\u2019s garden spot the trails and provide for a beautiful hike. Wild azaleas, violets, irises, geraniums, blackberry blooms, Quaker ladies, mountain honeysuckles, daisies, etc. are blooming all over. Here are some of the best places to hike to find these colorful beauties.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Bankhead National Forest<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The Flint Creek Botanical Area of the Bankhead National Forest<\/a> includes a diverse assemblage of natural plant communities, including limestone rock outcrops, riparian areas, and limestone glades. This area has been studied and recognized by botanists and wildflower enthusiasts for several years. The Sipsey Wilderness area also has many trails where wildflowers can be found. The link above provides maps of all trails.<\/p>\n
{photo by @petersherrill}
{photo by @petersherrill}
{photo by @lane_leopard_photography}
{photo by @weatherman_sam}
Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve<\/a> is a 700+ acre privately protected and maintained scenic natural area in the Little Mountain region of Colbert County. The property has been granted official status as a nature preserve through a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy of Alabama. The preserve is open year-round for outdoor educational and recreational activities. While primarily a day-use area, limited camping is available for organized groups. Trail maps, hiking guides, and trail signs are provided to aid visitors in having a safe and successful outing while also protecting the nature preserve.<\/p>\n
{photo by @sscurrey}
Located on Lookout Mountain, DeSoto State Park<\/a> has more than 30 miles of hiking trails, including 11+ miles of mountain bike trails. Most of the trails interconnect with each other, while others take you into more remote areas. DSP\u2019s trail system boasts interesting rock formations, small seasonal waterfalls, a variety of diverse plant communities, plentiful animal life, and beautiful views of the West Fork of Little River, which flows downstream into the interconnecting Little River Canyon.<\/p>\n
{photo by DeSoto State Park}
{photo by @adventureswithteacherben}
Joe Wheeler State Park<\/a>\u2019s most popular hiking is a trail system located between the Day Use Area and the Resort Lodge. This trail network consists of approximately 2.5 miles of trails. The Southside cabin area hosts a 2.5 looped multi-use trail for hikers and mountain bikers, which\u00a0is accessed from AL Highway\u00a0101 near Wheeler Dam and the cabin area.<\/p>\n
{photo by @deerock_80}
The hiking trails in Lake Guntersville State Park<\/a> traverse moderate to difficult terrain and cover more than 36 miles of park property. They are multi-use trails, serving as hiking, biking, and horse trails. The trails are varied with some following alongside the banks of the Tennessee River, others leading to seasonal waterfalls and wildflowers, and some piquing your interest just by their name alone such as the Old Still Path and the Moonshine Trail.<\/p>\n
{photo from Lake Guntersville State Park}
The Land Trust of North Alabama<\/a> has 70+ miles of trails to hike, including a Wildflower Trail, and they have free guided hikes as well. Click the link above for more information.<\/p>\n
{photo by @lexical_lauren}
{photo by @lifeinbama}
From early morning to dusk, one can easily escape to the park and enjoy 22 miles of scenic hiking\/biking trails.\u00a0With varying degrees of ease and difficulty, hikers and bikers are sure to find just the right trail at Monte Sano State Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n
{photo by @kelliaxley}
{photo by @mtechols}
{photo by @philweaverwillfever}
{photo by @dleecotton}
{photo by @peteandboodog}
{photo by @north_alabama_adventures}
The Black Creek Trail at Noccalula Falls Park<\/a>\u00a0is a 1.7 mile crushed stone path with beautiful scenery along the Black Creek Gorge as it works its way down from Noccalula Falls campground to Black Creek Road. The Trail starts at Noccalula Falls Wedding Chapel. Intersecting the main trail are over five miles of groomed, single-track trails perfect for walking, running, and mountain-biking.<\/p>\n
{photo by @tamis.trippin}
If you love walking and seeing colorful flowers but hiking in the forest just isn’t your thing, the Huntsville Botanical Garden<\/a> has you covered. You can see a variety of gorgeous flowers year-round on the dogwood trail, perennial trail, azalea trail, and more.<\/p>\n
Another place to visit if hiking through the woods isn’t for you is Delano Park<\/a> in Decatur. The park’s most beautiful feature is its Rose Garden. There’s a variety of roses, hydrangeas, daisies, and other flowers to stroll through and admire.<\/p>\n
Listen to our Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama podcast episode with DeSoto State Park Naturalist, Brittney Hughes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Sipsey\"](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_743,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528123734\/clients\/alabamamlta\/petersherrill_sipsey_eb59f2bc-1caa-4ed7-b84d-aea021d1c16b.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_740,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528123781\/clients\/alabamamlta\/petersherrill_bankhead_d317176c-5c30-44bc-9333-56808487c46e.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Bankhead\"](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_570,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528123843\/clients\/alabamamlta\/lane_leopard_bankhead_a5043cfa-dd86-4439-a4c7-be1bc3b01a26.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Bankhead\"](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_746,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528123883\/clients\/alabamamlta\/weatherman_sam_bankhead_d11f617b-2a31-4e17-b3d6-b742e1dd6d59.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nCane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Cane](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_880,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528123927\/clients\/alabamamlta\/sscurrey_cane_creek_canyon_b030e1ab-604a-4555-9cfe-3763cb74b1b3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nDeSoto State Park<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Desoto](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_746,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528123948\/clients\/alabamamlta\/desoto_state_park_wildflower_3836cc17-e5fb-4382-a393-ce2d5b65de48.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Desoto](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_747,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528123983\/clients\/alabamamlta\/Adventureswithteacherben_DeSoto_196d8447-77f1-4010-b3d5-1d5dc077e73a.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nJoe Wheeler State Park<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Joe](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_920,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124022\/clients\/alabamamlta\/deerock_80_joe_wheeler_sp_aceab618-0c9c-4c4f-b76c-9e24b4fb6a6a.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nLake Guntersville State Park<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Lake](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_468,q_75,w_896\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124049\/clients\/alabamamlta\/lake_guntersville_wildflower_0298a64a-3b33-47f8-a243-3a7572c8ed1f.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nLand Trust of North Alabama<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Landtrust\"](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_747,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124077\/clients\/alabamamlta\/lexical_lauren_landtrust_763a5f7e-9db2-413e-bf7e-375f28624cf1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Land](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_735,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124109\/clients\/alabamamlta\/lifeinbama_land_trust_589f31fc-5d9c-4f33-b118-388f916d5642.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nMonte Sano State Park<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Monte](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_414,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124140\/clients\/alabamamlta\/kelliaxley_monte_sano_b82c221c-d0cb-4da5-8ecd-6015337b9ad6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Monte](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_927,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124165\/clients\/alabamamlta\/mtechols_monte_sano_518e611b-adc5-4c7b-9b13-70476fee63af.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Monte](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_703,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124193\/clients\/alabamamlta\/Philweaverwillfever_Monte_Sano_bb0a6d27-ba4b-4796-ae8f-3b5a2959fb7b.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Monte](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_734,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124219\/clients\/alabamamlta\/Deleecotton_Monte_Sano_06d91290-a410-4557-afdc-cecda86c4977.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Monte](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_554,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124244\/clients\/alabamamlta\/Peteandboodog_Monte_Sano_19659bba-d628-4b70-a474-4cf52e848075.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Monte](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_737,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124274\/clients\/alabamamlta\/North_alabama_adventures_Monte_Sano_29245125-deb8-4f8c-a016-348ed6dfef9e.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nNoccalula Falls Park<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"Noccalula](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/fetch\/c_fill,h_741,q_75,w_750\/http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/v1528124307\/clients\/alabamamlta\/Tamis_trippin_Noccalula_Falls_70ae21d0-761d-47bf-a214-11bbbc2bd5d3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nHuntsville Botanical Garden<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"huntsville](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/c_fill,h_1200,q_75,w_1200\/v1\/clients\/alabamamlta\/huntsville_botanical_6_6d9e75f8-0230-403e-85de-e374d631cd60.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nDelano Park<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![\"delano](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/c_fill,h_743,q_75,w_750\/v1\/clients\/alabamamlta\/delano_park_melea2_9df55d44-4cd5-4e0c-8342-8d25ad3c0294.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\nWant to hear more about wildflower hikes in North Alabama?\u00a0<\/h4>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n