The Alabama Park With Rocky Scrambles and Epic Views

When I’m home, I’m not much of a hiker. But something happens when I travel—I become much more adventurous than usual, and I’m constantly scrolling through AllTrails to find some trails to explore. This tends to get me into some trouble, since I’m never prepared to handle some of the terrain that the trail dishes out. Now, I’m not one to get myself into serious danger (nothing super complicated or technical, I know my limits), but I absolutely underestimate how steep some trails are, and my calves pay the price. This was my experience when I found myself in Monte Sano State Park. Though my legs would tell a different tale, I was pleasantly surprised by this one scenic mountain trail in Alabama. 

Monte Sano State Park is a 2,140-acre state park near Huntsville, Alabama. I’m a sucker for a mountain view, and since Monte Sano means “mountain of health,” I knew this would be a perfect spot to get outdoors and hit the trails. 

Monte Sano State Park has over 20 miles of hiking trails, plus a planetarium and an observatory for stargazing. The park offers several cabins, safari tents, and camping options for those who wish to stay for a long weekend.  

Even if you’re just exploring Monte Santo State Park for a day, you’ve got plenty of attractions to keep you entertained, like the McKay Hollow Trail. 

This four-mile loop trail only has about 680 feet of elevation, but it comes on quickly! There are several parts of the trail that are very steep and will absolutely give your legs a workout.

You’ll even come across some rocky areas where you have to scramble to continue on. This trail is full of challenges from beginning to end. This is a great trail to challenge yourself, but if you aren’t expecting such steep inclines, you’re in for a surprise. 

The payoff, of course, is the views. The whole trail is surprisingly scenic, and not just the mountain views. I could stare at these mountain views for hours!

When you’re on the Plateau Loop Trail, you’ll run into some delightful little waterfalls along the way. The only thing I enjoy more than mountain views is waterfall features! I love the sound of rushing water; it adds such a lovely soundtrack to the hike. 

The McKay Hollow Trail connects to the Plateau Trail to make the loop back to the parking lot. There are other trails that cross paths, so depending on your time frame, you could add some side quests to your day! I’ll be honest, though, the trail is going to take longer than expected. You’ll run into steep sections both ways, and the terrain is just too tricky. This is one trail I’d recommend having an AllTrails map handy for. 

If you’re looking for a hiking trail in Alabama to challenge yourself, this is the one. Share this article with someone you want to hike the McKay Hollow Trail with, and start making plans to hit the trailhead today!

For more outdoor adventures, check out some of our favorite hiking trails in Alabama.