South Plateau Loop
Photo: dmtilley, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 3.4 mi
- round trip
- 904 ft
- climb
- 1,649 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
South Plateau Loop is an easy out-and-back hike in Monte Sano State Park in Alabama, managed by State Park and Recreation. The route is about 3.36 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 124 feet, and it starts and ends at roughly 1,580 feet, reaching a high point of about 1,649 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 2.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 11 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 74°F with lows near 47°F, and April highs around 71°F. That station sits well below the park, so temperatures on the plateau run cooler. The loop sits among a cluster of trails. Mountain Mist Trail, Warpath Ridge Trail and the Bucca Family Bike Trail all start within about a tenth of a mile. Rocky Nightmare is about half a mile away.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit South Plateau Loop
Best months: February–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
50° / 30°
11 wet
Feb
55° / 32°
11 wet
Mar
63° / 39°
11 wet
Apr
71° / 46°
10 wet
May
78° / 56°
10 wet
Jun
86° / 64°
10 wet
Jul
88° / 68°
11 wet
Aug
88° / 67°
9 wet
Sep
84° / 59°
7 wet
Oct
74° / 47°
8 wet
Nov
62° / 36°
9 wet
Dec
53° / 32°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Owens Cross Roads 3s, AL, 12.3 mi away at 590 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Route details
- Distance
- 3.4 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 904 ft
- Summit
- 1,654 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 1.5 hours
Other routes up Monte Sano Mountain
Questions about this route
How long is the South Plateau Loop on Monte Sano Mountain?
About 3.4 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the South Plateau Loop?
About 904 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the South Plateau Loop?
It is rated easy.
How long does the South Plateau Loop take?
About 1.5 hours round trip.
How many routes go up Monte Sano Mountain?
3: Bucca Family Bike Trail, Mountain Mist Trail and South Plateau Loop.
Conditions and forecast on Monte Sano Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
