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Gosse Nature Walk: Huntsville—Monte Sano State Park
April 8, 2022 , 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes by 12 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 7th, and space is limited.
Registration is now closed.
Didn’t get to register? You can still meet us there!
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UPDATE: We’ll meet at noon at the hikers’ and bikers’ lot, which the original GPS coordinates given were not totally accurate. The lot is located at 34.74383, -86.51093, which you should be able to plug into either Apple or Google Maps. After you enter the park and pay the entrance fee, you’ll see a sign that says “Hikers and Bikers lot next right.” Take that right, and it is a gravel lot on your right. Also, we discovered a paved path that is more accessible and runs beside the original trail. So we’ll meet at that gravel lot, then stroll to the North Alabama Birding Trail scenic overlook and follow a paved trail to the left from there.
Join us for our first-ever Gosse Nature Walk in Huntsville at Monte Sano State Park which sits on 2,140 acres of woodland habitat with spectacular vistas from atop the mountain. We’ll look and listen for spring migrants and resident birds alike as we hike along the North Plateau Loop. Special guest Mercedes Maddox, Nongame Wildlife Biologist with the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, joins us as we explore this beautiful state park.
Monte Sano State Park is part of the North Alabama Central Loop of the Alabama Birding Trails.
The details: Meetup is at noon. The address for the park is 5105 Nolen Ave. Park at the Hikers’ and Bikers’ lot (34.74383, -86.51093). After you enter the park and pay the entrance fee, you’ll see a sign that says “Hikers and Bikers lot next right.” Take that right, and it is a gravel lot on your right. You can also get directions at the front gate, if needed. We’ll make our way to the North Alabama Birding Trails sign and then hike from there. Note that admission to the park is $5 for adults, $2 for seniors.
As always, remember to bring water and snacks, insect repellent, rain gear, sunblock, and seasonally appropriate attire. If you have your own binoculars, you’ll definitely want to bring them along—we’ll have a limited number of loaners on hand.
In the case of inclement weather, the event may be cancelled. You may contact the trip leader the morning of the event if the weather is questionable.
Registration: To register, click on the button above. If you’re new to our online system and don’t yet have a username and password, simply click the “X” on the pop up and fill out the basic form. If you do have a login, please use it as this helps us tremendously on our end! You should receive an automated email upon registering.
Accessibility: We will be meeting in a gravel parking lot and then strolling to the North Alabama Birding Trail scenic overlook. From there, we will take a paved path that runs alongside the North Plateau Loop that is wheelchair accessible with very minor elevations changes coming back. Our pace will mostly be slow.
Questions about accessibility? Email us for more information about how we can meet your needs.
Trip leaders: Alabama Audubon Outreach & Communications Director Sarah Randolph co-leads this trip with Mercedes Maddox. Sarah’s cell is 205-422-4124 (day of event only, please). Please note that she will be driving up from Birmingham that morning and does not have a good cell signal in the park, so asking any questions you may have at the front gate is probably your best option if you run into any issues when you get there.
Questions? Email the Programs Assistant.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Through more than seventy-five years of conservation work in one of our nation’s most ecologically rich states, Alabama Audubon has seen firsthand how diversity strengthens natural communities. We believe that the same principle applies to human communities, which is why our organization is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all Alabamians to learn about and enjoy wild birds, their habitats, and the natural world. One of the best ways to support that belief is by valuing and actively seeking to strengthen diversity among our staff, our board, and our membership. To that end, Alabama Audubon welcomes the whole of our community to our work, and strives to make our programs, classes, and events open and accessible to all.
