Monte Sano State Park

Date of stay: August 2014

Destination: Huntsville, Alabama. Reason: US Space & Rocket Center. Place to hang: Monte Sano State Park.

1000 feet above Huntsville, at the top of Monte Sano Mountain, at the end of a residential street, is this actually quite nice state park. Yes, 1000 feet up. I didn’t really notice the climb on my way up, but sure did on the way down!

Located just outside of Huntsville, Monte Sano SP offers a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet is a great staging area to explore.

Apparently the park is big with mountain bikers as it offers quite a few mountain bike friendly trails. So I unfolded my mountain bike and pretended I knew what I was doing. If you don’t bike, then you can certainly hike and enjoy the mountain top views. There are plenty of trails to do so with, so boredom won’t be an issue.

Cost of a normal site is $19 a night, but I chose one of only two pull through sites, so I paid $25 a night. I had a very private campsite at the top of the loop with only the primitive tent sites beyond. Most of the other RV sites offer good privacy, though some are two sites with one entrance, which would be ideal if you were hanging with a friend.

Here to visit family so it wasn't our first choice, but it is very wooded, lots of space between most sites. Bluff view is not much of a view, but it is there. 30 amp service only (not 50 as listed on other sites). Our lights flickered quite a bit the first 2 days. If you have a big rig, there are 2 ways to get up the mountain. Use Monte Santo Blvd. to Nolen Ave, NOT Bankhead parkway. Quiet.

Campground was nice. Bathhouses clean (we even had to shelter in one during a storm). Staff was friendly though we didn't need much from them. The only downside, was cell signal. It was minimal on Verizon. Mostly 1 bar of 4G, sometimes 1G. Wifi works in the parking lot of the camp office, but not in the campground. Adding wifi access points to the bathhouses would be a huge benefit for camping here.

The first site we were booked in was 18 but it was on a tight curve and directly across from a large rig with 2 large vehicles that spilled out of their site into the road. So we were unable to get into 18. It really should only be for tents in my opinion. We were graciously offered site 21 and it was fine. Next time would try to find a spot on the ridge for the view.

Full review of our trip and neat places nearby available at http://uhaulcamperfun.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-trip-out-of-this-world.html

Every site is shaded with mature trees so it’s nice for summertime in the south. Also because of the elevation (overlooking Huntsville), it’s usually a couple of degrees cooler than the city below. The only minor downside is that the sites are not paved, so if it’s rainy the ground is not great for sitting outside. Also the fire pits/grills are very low to the ground - not great for grilling.

When I called Saturday morning to check on availability for that evening, I was told only primitive sites were available which would have been ok for a one night stay but upon arrival, we were told you had to pitch a tent for the primitive sites (we don’t have a tent and sleep in our van). However, a number of improved sites had opened up so we were in luck. All sites are gravel and appear to be fairly level and ours was likely the most level we’ve been in for awhile. Lots of trees provide reasonable privacy and separation between sites. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Many families with young children (fun to watch them ride their bikes around the loop). Bathhouse was clean and I appreciated the HOT water! Coin laundry. The North Alabama Japanese garden is a nice short walk and there are a variety of hiking trails (I would recommend the Stone Cut Trail for a moderately challenging hike).

Monte Sano State Park was great. We were in town to visit family and picked the park based on location and ended up surprised by its beauty.

The sites were large, had gravel pads and felt fairly private for a State Park campground.

The local weatherman mentioned the top of the mountain does get foggy often, we found it beautiful during our stay but it made the drive up the mountain challenging one evening.

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Brought our new Airstream here for break-in camp. Temperature dropped 9 degrees as we climbed the hill (elev ca 1650'). Check-in was seamless, although you want to be sure to arrive before 5PM. Otherwise I believe you would have to find camp host. He was at the office when we arrived, and friendly and helpful. Sites were gravel, fairly level, and mostly clean (this was the week after schools restarted, so they might have been busy the previous weekend. Most were well shaded. 30 amp and water at all RV sites, some sites had sewer and outlets accepting a 50 amp plug, but the host told me no site could handle more than a 30 amp load. Water seemed pretty minerally, so use your filter. One dump station with two holes, although the first one you come to apparently will overflow. Small store in the office with some supplies. Washer and dryer in each bath house. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained.

Best thing about Monte Sano was the system of trails. Moderate to pretty tough, apparently, but well marked and tended. Great place for hikers or mountain bikers and trail runners. Shelters placed along some of the trails. Deer and birds abound, and one fat copperhead sunning himself on a ledge.

Huntsville is a bustling town, with Publix, Whole Foods, Fresh Market, and some well regarded non-chain stores. Major hospital fairly near the park. All the other usual retail suspects. A couple of RV dealerships nearby for service (Rocket RV in Decatur is topnotch). I pulled up a topographical map and found my own way into the park, but it is a steep grade the way Google wants you to go, so beware, and do your homework.

We were able to get site seven which is a full hook up site from a Friday to Sunday. The campsite itself is nice, the sites were all pretty decent looking. Site seven was remarkably level for being crushed gravel. The kids really enjoyed seeing all the deer come and go through the campsites while we were there. It’s a nice campground, but a little busy given the state park is such an attraction. For having so many RV campsites, it was remarkably quiet. If you are into hiking, this is the place for you. We hike out in the state park and the land trust property adjacent to it pretty regularly. It’s worth noting that site seven is across the street and three sites down from the bathhouse. I think it would be a disservice to leave out that the bathhouse was extraordinarily well kept and clean. There is a coin operated washing machine that takes one dollar in quarters, and a coin operated dryer that takes $1.50 in quarters in the entryway to the bathrooms. Also, the camp store is nice and has all your essentials. Things like T-shirts, graham crackers and marshmallows, etc. that’s all Sue where you check in on arrival.

We've lived in Huntsville since '87 and never camped at Monte Sano. Once we sold our house we camped their through the Christmas holidays to be near family. We got a lot of rain and our particular site did not drain well, so would probably choose another next time we stay, though the office said they were going to do some site maintenance. So, maybe that will improve. There is lots of great wooded, hilly hiking on Monte Sano, which we took advantage of between the rains. Sites are spacious; you are liable to see the occasional deer out your window. Since the sites are quite wooded, though not secluded from each other, satellite coverage is likely only possible after leaf fall. We had intermittent DISH coverage at our site. Downtown Huntsville is a mere 15 minute drive with lots of dining and cool nightspots (try Humprhies. Also visit Lowe Mill, Stovehouse, Campus 805. Plenty of good local breweries. One thing we will say about Huntsville is their recycling is limited (no glass). We hope that soon changes.

Outstanding campground with a lot of wildlife, trails for both hiking and mountain biking, and good places for stargazing. Campground staff very friendly, the campground is well-maintained, and the sites are are a good distance apart