From mountain trails winding through nature preserves to pickleball courts, bike share stations, and year-round ice sports, there’s no shortage of ways to get moving in Madison County. Whether you're a Huntsville visitor looking to squeeze some adventure into your trip to the Rocket City or a local on the hunt for something new to try, these fun sports and activities make it easy to stay moving without sacrificing fun. 

 

Lace up your sneakers, grab your gear, and get ready to discover a more active side of Huntsville.

 

Outside on a hiking trail on Chapman Mountain at the Nature Preserve

Hike in a Nature Preserve

Managed by the Land Trust of North Alabama, Madison County’s nine nature preserves offer dozens of trails to explore. From easy nature walks in the woods to more vigorous hikes along mountain ridges, there is something for everyone.

Head to Bethel Springs or the Alum Hollow Trail at Green Mountain for waterfall hikes, Blevins Gap for elevated views, or Harvest Square for kid-friendly boardwalks.

Monte Sano State Park is another great spot for hiking and biking, with cabins and campsites for overnight stays.

 

Play Pickleball

Looking for places to play pickleball in Huntsville? Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned pickler looking for spots to play while you’re in town, Huntsville has a lot of options. 

Spots like Brahan Spring Recreation Center and Challenger Gym, managed by Huntsville Park and Recreation, offer indoor courts, perfect for when the weather isn’t ideal. For outdoor courts, try Dublin Park in Madison or the Sandra Moon Community Complex in Huntsville.

 

One of the CVB's ducks on the ground from our Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt

Follow the Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt

The perfect way to explore Downtown Huntsville on foot, the Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt covers about three miles. Grab a pass online or pick up a clue card at the downtown Visitor Center to guide you to 15 hidden bronze ducks around town. After you find them all, you can claim a prize. 

The ducks are scattered around sights and attractions like Big Spring International Park, so the hunt is the perfect way to sightsee while enjoying the outdoors!

 

Couple on a Bike

Ride Bikes Downtown

Huntsville’s bikeshare program is a great way to explore and stay active. The BlueBikes are at 11 different locations around the downtown area, so it's easy to pick them up and drop them off as needed. Memberships and pay-as-you-go pricing options are available to use the bikes.

 

Outside the patio at Field Day in Huntsville, Alabama with tons of seating and a giant tv screen

Play Indoor Games

From axe-throwing to mini golf, Field Day offers all sorts of fun and games to stay active in Huntsville. The venue is a blend of restaurant, bar, and arcade, with a big lawn outdoors to gather and watch sports and movies. 

Indoors, you can move around to different games like interactive darts, axe-throwing, and duckpin bowling, a smaller version of the sport. There are also multi-sport simulator screens for swinging golf clubs, kicking soccer balls, and throwing pitches. 

 

Get Out on the Ice

Ice sports are growing in popularity in Huntsville and offer a fun way to stay active year-round. The expanding Huntsville Ice Sports Center offers public skate sessions perfect for visitors, as well as ice skating classes and hockey leagues. You can even sign up for a curling lesson to learn how to play the fan-favorite Winter Olympics sport.

 

During the holiday season, ice skating fun extends to the outdoors, when the Huntsville Museum of Art opens the Skating in the Park rink.