Wade Mountain Trail
- 1.9 mi
- round trip
- 1,090 ft
- climb
- 1,490 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Oct–Dec
- best months
Wade Mountain Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back hike in Wade Mountain Preserve in Alabama, a preserve managed by a non-governmental organization. The trail rises from a starting point at about 1,250 feet to a high point of 1,490 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,090 feet over the course of the round trip. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.5 miles in, where the grade reaches 17 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Huntsville show October highs around 76°F with lows near 52°F, and April is similar at about 75°F by day and 51°F at night. That station sits well below the preserve, so temperatures on the mountain run cooler. The hike takes about two hours. The Wade Mountain Nature Reserve National Recreation Trails start just 0.1 mile away, and the Wade Mountain Greenway Trail is about 0.4 mile off. Paddlers can reach the Brier Fork Flint River about 6.6 miles away, and climbers will find the Arrowhead Trail about 8 miles from the trail.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Oct–Dec
Best time to visit Wade Mountain Trail
Best months: February–May and October–December. 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
52° / 33°
11 wet
Feb
57° / 36°
11 wet
Mar
65° / 43°
11 wet
Apr
75° / 51°
10 wet
May
83° / 60°
10 wet
Jun
89° / 68°
10 wet
Jul
92° / 71°
10 wet
Aug
91° / 70°
9 wet
Sep
86° / 63°
7 wet
Oct
76° / 52°
8 wet
Nov
64° / 41°
9 wet
Dec
55° / 36°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntsville Intl Ap, AL, 15.1 mi away at 624 ft. The station sits about 900 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
- 1.9 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 1,090 ft
- Summit
- 1,490 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- About 1 hour
Other routes up Wade Mountain
Questions about this route
How long is the Wade Mountain Trail on Wade Mountain?
About 1.9 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Wade Mountain Trail?
About 1,090 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Wade Mountain Trail?
It is rated moderate.
How long does the Wade Mountain Trail take?
About 1 hour round trip.
How many routes go up Wade Mountain?
2: Wade Mountain Trail and Wade Mountain Nature Reserve National Recreation Trails.
Conditions and forecast on Wade 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
