Madison's greenways and trails with distances and parking: Bradford Creek 2.3 miles, Mill Creek 1.5, Indian Creek 3.6, Rainbow Mountain nearly 4.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Distances and parking come from the city’s “Places to walk, hike, and bike in Madison” map (2025, Madison Greenway & Trails Inc.) and the city’s Greenways and Trails page. The map shows approximate locations.

Madison has four greenways, a nature preserve on a mountain inside the city, a swamp boardwalk in a national wildlife refuge and a set of roadside bike and pedestrian paths. Three of the greenways follow creeks; Rainbow Mountain is rocky, with steep sections.

At a glance

  • Longest walk: Indian Creek Greenway, 3.6 miles of trails
  • Best hike: Rainbow Mountain Preserve, 3.96 miles of trails, 230 Stoneway Trail
  • Flat and paved: Dublin Park walking path, half a mile
  • Problems on city greenways: Operations Superintendent Chris Holmes, 256-631-8235
  • Rainbow Mountain: Land Trust of North Alabama, 256-534-5263

Trails, distances and parking

Trail Distance Parking Who runs it
Indian Creek Greenway 3.6 miles of trails 7488 Old Madison Pike; 336 Harvestwood Court City of Huntsville, 256-564-8026
Rainbow Mountain Preserve 3.96 miles of trails 230 Stoneway Trail; Kensington Drive Land Trust of North Alabama
Bradford Creek Greenway 2.3 miles 937 Mill Road; 556 Palmer Road; Heritage Elementary School lot City of Madison
Mill Creek Greenway 1.5 miles Mill Road at Balch Road; Browns Ferry Road at Balch Road; end of Spotted Fawn Road City of Madison
Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk 1.1 miles 12001 Alabama Highway 20 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Oakland Springs Branch Greenway 1 mile Shalerock Drive, south of Powell Road City of Madison
Dublin Park walking path Half a mile, paved 8324 Madison Pike City of Madison

The greenways

Bradford Creek Greenway. Starts at Palmer Road and runs along Bradford Creek past hardwood forest and wetlands, with a trailhead and parking on Mill Road, the city says. It also passes Sunshine Oaks Park, 228 Mose Chapel Road, with its disc golf course.

Mill Creek Greenway. Reached from Mill Road between the Millstone subdivision and Mill Creek Elementary. Mill Creek Dog Park, 38 Balch Road, sits on it. The city maintains both.

Indian Creek Greenway. On the Huntsville-Madison line, reached from Old Madison Pike near Slaughter Road or behind the Creekwood subdivision north of the Farrow Road and Slaughter Road intersection. Huntsville maintains it.

Oakland Springs Branch Greenway. A 1-mile greenway south of Powell Road, with parking on Shalerock Drive, per the city’s map.

Rainbow Mountain Preserve

The Land Trust of North Alabama’s preserve, named for early settler Elisha Rainbolt, has a little over three miles of trail off Hughes Road, with two trailheads: the main one at 230 Stoneway Trail, with a pavilion, trail map kiosk and portable restroom, and a second off Kensington Drive on the east side, according to the Land Trust.

  • Rainbow Mountain Loop: the longest and most popular trail, 1.5 miles, rocky and moderately difficult, with views over Madison and a descent of more than 350 feet. Balance Rock, fossils and caves are along the way.
  • Wild Trail (0.4 mile) and JaMooKo Loop (0.9 mile), per the city.
  • Spring Trail: a steep shortcut that becomes a seasonal waterfall after heavy winter and spring rain.

Trails are open dawn to dusk, leashed pets are welcome, and the Land Trust asks hikers to stay off wet trails for 24 hours after rain, under its rules.

Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk

In Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge on Madison’s southwest edge, this boardwalk crosses a swamp of some of Alabama’s largest water tupelo trees. It is reached by a one-mile frontage road off County Line Road just south of the I-565 interchange, which dead-ends at the trailhead, the city says. See the refuge’s trail map.

Bike and pedestrian paths

The city’s map marks paved paths along:

  • County Line Road, between Highway 72 and Alabama Highway 20
  • Hughes Road, between Gooch Lane and Will Halsey Way
  • Wall Triana Highway, between Gillespie Road and Browns Ferry Road
  • Garner Street downtown, between Martin Street and Life Way

At Town Madison, a 12-foot paved multiuse path runs along the west side of Zierdt Road and links the district to the regional Singing River Trail network, according to Town Madison.

Coming next

The Mill Creek Nature Preserve, a project of the city, the Land Trust and Madison Greenway & Trails volunteers, is being built in phases off Balch Road near Gray Cemetery, with Phase 1 in 2026, according to the group’s April 2026 newsletter. An Old Providence Trail near Gray Cemetery is marked “coming soon” on the city’s map.

What this means for you

  • For a walk with a dog, try the Mill Creek Greenway and finish at the dog park.
  • For a real hike, go to Rainbow Mountain, wear sturdy shoes and skip it the day after rain.
  • Report fallen trees or damage on city greenways to 256-631-8235.

More guides: parks and trails, dog-friendly Madison and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

What is the longest greenway in Madison, Alabama?

The Indian Creek Greenway on the Huntsville line has 3.6 miles of trails, and the Bradford Creek Greenway is 2.3 miles, according to the city’s greenways and trails map. Rainbow Mountain Preserve has 3.96 miles of hiking trails.

Where do you park for the Bradford Creek Greenway?

Parking is at 937 Mill Road, 556 Palmer Road or the Heritage Elementary School lot, according to the city’s trail map.

Where is the trailhead for Rainbow Mountain in Madison?

The main trailhead is at 230 Stoneway Trail, with a pavilion, kiosk and portable restroom, and a second entrance is off Kensington Drive on the east side. Trails are open dawn to dusk.

Can you bike on Madison’s greenways?

The city’s map marks bike paths along County Line Road, Garner Street, Hughes Road and Wall Triana Highway, and a 12-foot paved path on Zierdt Road links Town Madison to the Singing River Trail network.