Alabama is home to an incredible range of state parks that have something to offer adventurers year-round. Our Alabama State Parks Passport series highlights all of the stunning outdoor spaces throughout the state that make for the perfect seasonal getaway. The seventh in our series is Monte Sano State Park.
OVERVIEW
According to Alabama State Parks, “Monte Sano State Park is located near Huntsville in northeast Alabama. In Spanish, Monte Sano means “Mountain of Health.” In the late 1800s, visitors from across the United States came for “the season” to experience and enjoy Monte Sano’s fresh air, spectacular views, and mineral springs.”
ACCOMMODATIONS
Monte Sano State Park offers a number of accommodations for a variety of functions. The park is home to 14 rustic cabins beautifully situated on the mountainside. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corp, these cabins offer everything one could need for a weekend away: cable television, grills, fireplaces, kitchens, showers, baths, porches, and picnic tables. The cabin porches offer a perfect location to enjoy the area’s beautiful sunrises. Campers can enjoy one of the parks’ 89 improved campsites as well as a primitive campground and camp store.
Monte Sano State Park is also home to the Monte Sano Lodge which offers an idyllic mountain setting for a variety of events from family celebrations to business meetings. Within the lodge are meeting rooms, large and small, a lobby, and a break room as well as a terrace and restrooms.
NATURE
Monte Sano State Park is home to incredible vistas. Spanning over 2,000 acres, the park offers scenic views that are especially spectacular as the state’s seasonal blooms are on display. At certain times of the year, 20 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of biking trails see the native azaleas in their most beautiful state.
AREA ATTRACTIONS
The area around Lake Guntersville State Park is home to a number of destinations for park visitors to enjoy. Visitors can enjoy the following nearby attractions: The U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Burritt on the Mountain, Early Works Family of Museums, and Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment. Lake Guntersville, Cathedral Caverns, and Buck’s Pocket are reachable within roughly an hour’s drive.
