Many visitors to Huntsville end up staying in one of the hotels near the US Space and Rocket Center, which features the Saturn V Rocket and a space museum. The area is also known as ‘Research Park’, home to numerous corporate offices and a cluster of hotels around I-565/HWY 72/Bridge Street Town Center. For those who’d like to step out their hotel door and go for a run, here are some suggestions. Many of these can be combined for a longer run.
Route Around Space Center: You can put together a nice 5k run around the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Davidson Center for Space Exploration using mainly Tranquility Base Rd. ROUTE MAP
Space and Rocket Center Trails. A couple of miles of trails near the Space Center, just south of Bob Wallace Ave. SW and west of the Botanical Garden. TRAIL MAP courtesy of Trailforks.
South of I-565: You can put together a nice 5k run around the west side of the Botanical Garden and the small lake just west of it. ROUTE MAP
East of Highway 255/North of I-565: Explore the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus, which has nice pedestrian paths. Also some runnable residential streets just east of SR 255.
West of Highway 255: Best bets are the paths around the lake at Adtran Tower, the Double Helix Trail around the Jackson Conference Center, and the Indian Creek Greenway. You can use Explorer Blvd. as the connector. It’s a busy road but it does have a pedestrian path. It’s 2.5 miles between SR 255 (say, the Westin) and the Greenway.
Note:The Redstone Arsenal, just south of Goss Rd., is a restricted military area and not open to the public. It’s also the future home of HQ2 for the FBI.
Many visitors to Huntsville end up staying in one of the hotels near the US Space and Rocket Center, which features the Saturn V Rocket and a space museum. The area is also known as ‘Research Park’, home to numerous corporate offices and a cluster of hotels around I-565/HWY 72/Bridge Street Town Center. For those who’d like to step out their hotel door and go for a run, here are some suggestions. Many of these can be combined for a longer run.
Route Around Space Center: You can put together a nice 5k run around the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Davidson Center for Space Exploration using mainly Tranquility Base Rd. ROUTE MAP
Space and Rocket Center Trails. A couple of miles of trails near the Space Center, just south of Bob Wallace Ave. SW and west of the Botanical Garden. TRAIL MAP courtesy of Trailforks.
South of I-565: You can put together a nice 5k run around the west side of the Botanical Garden and the small lake just west of it. ROUTE MAP
East of Highway 255/North of I-565: Explore the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus, which has nice pedestrian paths. Also some runnable residential streets just east of SR 255.
West of Highway 255: Best bets are the paths around the lake at Adtran Tower, the Double Helix Trail around the Jackson Conference Center, and the Indian Creek Greenway. You can use Explorer Blvd. as the connector. It’s a busy road but it does have a pedestrian path. It’s 2.5 miles between SR 255 (say, the Westin) and the Greenway.
Note:The Redstone Arsenal, just south of Goss Rd., is a restricted military area and not open to the public. It’s also the future home of HQ2 for the FBI.
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Essentials
Deepends on route chosen
Quite flat
All these routes accessible from hotels near Space Center
There's lovely residential neighborhood running right near downtown Huntsville. Start at Big Spring Park, and explore Old Town and the neighborhoods of Twickenham, Five Points, and Blossomwood, which feature tree-lined streets and attractive homes.
John Hunt Park is the largest park in Huntsville, and also the site of a well-known cross-country course. The park has 2 miles of pedestrian trails, fields, and other athletic facilities. The cross-country course has numerous loop/distance options.
Campus 805 and Stovehouse are hip brewery, entertainment, and event venues located just west of downtown. Our Huntsville friends have put together a few 'pub run' routes starting from this area. Relax with a post-run brew!
Fantastic trail running options surrounding the 1,100-foot Monte Sano, only 2 miles from downtown. The Nature Preserve offers 22 miles of trails, and the State Park has 20 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of biking trails. Something for all abilities!
One of the most popular places to run in Huntsville. The paved multi-use path runs from Willow Park south to Ditto Landing, where the trail continues along the Tennessee River for another mile. Pleasantly shaded, with numerous parks and water views.
The Hayes Nature Preserve, located 10 miles south of Huntsville, is a worth-it destination run. The 10 miles of trails and greenways pass through a variety of terrain, including forestland, some sections along the Flint River, small lakes, fields, and a golf course.
A good bet for an off-road run in the Research Triangle area between Huntsville and Madison. The southern section runs for 2.6 miles through Creekwood Park, while the 0.8 mile northern section runs north from Highway 72. Farmland, woods, creek views.
The best bet for an off-road run in Madison. The Bradford Creek Greenway is a paved multi-use path that runs for 2.4 miles between Palmer Park and the Heritage Elementary School. Add the Mill Creek Greenway for a 6+ mile run!
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Essentials
Deepends on route chosen
Quite flat
All these routes accessible from hotels near Space Center
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Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!