Quote: Huntsville sits in a valley at the southern base of the Appalachian Mountains. Along the city's western edge are several mountains that rise 1,000-1,500 feet above the rest of the city. The mountains provide a wealth of parks, nature preserves, and hiking trails that often provide scenic views of the surrounding terrain. One of these parks is the Green Mountain Nature Trail, located near the city's southern border, at the top of Green Mountain.

The 2.25 mile walking trail surrounds Skye Lake and features a covered bridge, the log cabin built in the early 1800s by Charles Green (whom the mountain is named for), a picnic area and restroom facilities, an outdoor wedding chapel, and several landscaped gardens. Most of the trail is wooded and passes through the forest that covers the top of Green Mountain. All along the trail native plants are identified by plaques. One of the featured plants is Alabama's largest and oldest elm tree. While many of the park's facilities are handicapped accessible, most of the nature trail is not. However, it is a very easy trail to hike, with only modest elevation changes. A variety of wildlife can be seen on the trail, including a flock of ducks and geese that call the lake home. The setting is quite serene, and it's hard to believe that you're still technically in the city of Huntsville, and only a few minutes away from the area's urbanized areas. It's the perfect place to enjoy a picnic lunch outdoors, followed by a leisurely stroll around the lake.

The park is open to the public during daylight hours free of charge. Fishing is allowed for a very small fee of $1.50 on weekdays only; no fishing is allowed on weekends.
From journals Huntsville: Space City, Alabama