Huntsville’s 17-mile South Huntsville greenway loop is now connected
A newly opened 1.5-mile section of the Tennessee River Greenway has connected a key part of South Huntsville’s trail network, creating an approximately 17-mile loop when combined with Aldridge Creek Greenway and related paths.
The segment opened July 30 and connects the Tennessee River Greenway’s route from Green Cove Road toward Ditto Landing with Elgie’s Walk Greenway along Haysland Road. The opening gives walkers and cyclists a longer connected route through South Huntsville, although the network includes different types of paths and is not one uniformly separated trail.
What opened July 30
Axios Huntsville reported that city officials held a ribbon-cutting at the greenway entrance on Redstone Road near Gate 3. The newly opened section is about 1.5 miles long and completes the Tennessee River Greenway connection described by the City as running between Green Cove Road/Buxton Road and Hobbs Road/Redstone Road.
The City approved the project in October 2025 as Phase III of the Tennessee River Greenway. That project record lists a 1.5-mile construction project and a $1.5 million contract. Those figures describe that documented project and should not be read as the cost or surveyed length of the entire connected loop.
How the South Huntsville route fits together
The new Tennessee River segment connects with Elgie’s Walk Greenway, Aldridge Creek Greenway and related paths. Axios reported that the connected network now forms a loop of about 17 miles around much of South Huntsville.
The City lists Aldridge Creek Greenway at 5.49 miles. It runs in South Huntsville near Bailey Cove Road, from about one-half mile south of Weatherly Road toward Ditto Landing. The city identifies the Sandra Moon Complex, Mountain Gap Elementary and Middle School, Challenger Elementary and Middle School and Ditto Landing as nearby destinations.
The City’s trails page lists Elgie’s Walk Greenway at 2 miles and the Tennessee River Greenway at 0.93 miles. Those individual listings do not add up to the full loop description because the larger route includes Aldridge Creek and connecting paths. The approximately 17-mile figure is therefore best understood as a connected-network description rather than an exact surveyed mileage for one trail.
Where users can enter
For Aldridge Creek Greenway, the City identifies parking at Ken Johnston Park and Ditto Landing. The official location information places the greenway near Bailey Cove Road and describes its route from south of Weatherly Road to Ditto Landing.
Axios identified the new segment’s Redstone Road entrance near Gate 3 during the July 30 opening. Because access and conditions can vary by segment, walkers and cyclists planning a longer trip should check the specific trailhead, parking location, signs and route conditions before starting.
What changes for residents
The completed connection gives South Huntsville residents a longer continuous route for walking, cycling and recreation. It also links the Tennessee River route, Ditto Landing, Aldridge Creek Greenway and Elgie’s Walk into a more usable network for longer trips and exercise.
For people starting at an official Aldridge Creek access point, the City’s parking information provides practical options at Ken Johnston Park and Ditto Landing. The route can also bring users closer to schools and civic destinations identified by the City, though the trail network should not be treated as direct frontage or a traffic-free route to every nearby location.
Connected does not mean identical
The approximately 17-mile loop should not be read as a single path that is fully separated from roads or traffic at every point. Huntsville says its broader greenway system includes a mix of trails, greenways, greenlinks, complete streets, paved pathways and hiking trails.
That means conditions can differ along the connected route. Users should expect to follow signs, watch for roadway crossings and pay attention to traffic and local conditions, particularly when moving between separate greenway segments or connecting paths.
Bailey Cove link remains ahead
The next planned South Huntsville connection is a Bailey Cove multi-use path between Weatherly Road and Four Mile Post. In a May 14, 2026 project update, the City said it had approved a $149,521 design contract with Three Notch Group for the path, which is intended to improve pedestrian and cyclist access to Aldridge Creek.
That project remains a planned future link in the sources reviewed here; the May update documents design work, not an opened path. It is separate from the Tennessee River Greenway segment that opened July 30.
The immediate takeaway for Huntsville residents is that the South Huntsville greenway network is now more continuous, with an approximately 17-mile loop available through the connected system. The route is usable now, but access points and trail conditions vary, and additional work such as the Bailey Cove path remains ahead.
Sources
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