Reviewed by: Michael Seale
The best scenic drives in North Alabama
We asked our Facebook followers for the best scenic drives in North Alabama, and they gave some incredible answers. You really can’t go wrong driving anywhere in Alabama during the fall, but here are five favorites that kept coming up again and again.
1. Monte Sano Mountain
Right down the road in Huntsville, the beautiful Monte Sano Mountain has breathtaking views and unbeatable fall foliage. Besides being a great place for a drive, there are also beautiful biking paths, walking trails and even a hidden Japanese garden.
2. Natchez Trace Parkway
The 444 mile road known as the Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. Now managed by the National Park Service, the route was popular with American Indians, settles and soldiers.
The road cuts through the northwest corner of Alabama near Cherokee. If you’re taking this route, make sure you drive over the John Coffee Memorial Bridge for stunning views of the Tennessee River.
3. Mentone
On the eastern side of the state, Mentone, Alabama, offers a gorgeous drive towards Georgia. Mentone’s windy curves and lookout spots make for a great fall photos. Plus the town has some delicious restaurants–like the award winning Wildflower Cafe–and fantastic waterfalls.
4. Lake Guntersville
Guntersville continuously earns accolades for being one of the best lake towns in the state and the region. According to our followers, it also has some of the best scenic drives. Buck’s Pocket State Park, where the photo above was taken, lies east of the popular lake. In addition to being a great place to drive, it features 23 campsites.
5. Bankhead National Forest
One of Alabama’s four national forests, Bankhead National Forest lies near the town of Double Tree. It’s over 180,000 acres and includes tons of diverse wildlife. If you’re heading south from Huntsville, route yourself through Bankhead to make your drive that much more beautiful.
Where to find these scenic drives
Find the drive closest to you using the map above. Take pictures and make sure to tag us @hvilleblast!
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