TVA promotes five public hiking trails for National Public Lands day

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — With National Public Lands Day this upcoming Saturday, Tennessee Valley Authority has multiple trails open for the public to enjoy. 

TVA has five trails to visit in the North Alabama area, with three of them being located near to Guntersville Dam. The other two trails are in the Northwest Alabama area, with one being in Muscle Shoals, and another near Wheeler Lake. 

Cave Mountain, a one and a half mile loop and Cooley Cemtery, a six mile each way journey, are trails that contain some pre-Dam history. A saltpeter mine, chimneys of forgotten homesteads, and more to see on the trails that are right next to Guntersville Dam. Both can be found at 1933-1701 Snow Point Rd, Guntersville, AL 35976. Both of these trails are rated by the TVA as moderate. 

The third trail to be found in the Guntersville area is Honeycomb Trail. A nearly nine and a half mile hike each way, this trail is home to multiple bluffs to view bald eagles and ospreys. Rated as moderate to difficult by the TVA, the trail begins at 188 Camp Ground Rd, Grant, AL 35747. 

If the first three trails seem like too much of a challenge for you, then Marbut Bend Trail will likely be more your speed. This trail has boardwalks that is disability friendly and will allow everyone to enjoy this little over one mile loop, with multiple places to view fish and wildlife, such as beavers. This loop can be accessed at 27208 Buck Island Rd, Elkmont, AL 35620. 

Muscle Shoals might be list on this list, but that doesn't mean that they are lacking. The Muscle Shoals Reservation Trails is a collection of different trails that add up to seventeen miles. There is also multiple sightseeing opportunities, from what's left of an old steam plant, the original railroad used to construct Wilson Dam, and more. The trail collection can be found at TVA Muscle Shoals Trails Complex, 73 Thunder Rd, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661.