Whole Planet Trail
- 0.3 mi
- round trip
- 167 ft
- climb
- 1,004 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Oct–Dec
- best months
The Whole Planet Trail is a short, easy hike in Alabama, about 0.3 miles from the town of Chase. The route is an out-and-back, roughly 0.66 miles long, with a total climb of about 167 feet. The trail sits at an elevation of around 900 feet, rising to about 1,000 feet before returning. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.23 miles in, with a grade of about 12 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 76°F with lows near 52°F, and April runs similar at about 75°F by day and 51°F at night. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures here run slightly cooler. The trail is close to several other short routes. Moonshine Trail is just 0.1 miles away, and Chasco Trail and Driskell Trail are each about 0.3 miles off. Bulldog Trail lies about half a mile away.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Oct–Dec
Best time to visit Whole Planet 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, 16 mi away at 624 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors