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Beaver Dam Nature Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 228 Google reviews · Running trail in Madison, Alabama · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 1 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Beaver Dam Nature Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Easy walk along a boardwalk through a swamp, with trails that take in creeks and trees.
What runners say about Beaver Dam Nature Trail
“This place is gorgeous (more so in the summer, spring and fall when there is some plant life).”
“It gets very dark very quickly, the tree canopy is quite dense and there are no artificial lights.”
“Pretty noisy in the beginning but soon turns into a quiet getaway.”
“Quick and easy walk to escape the hustle and bustle but make sure to spray a lot of insect repellent first!”
Tree still fallen at the end but such a nice time walk. Our son is in a wheelchair and there were a couple of spots that we had to be careful over where boards were missing or were warped up but otherwise it is completely accessible.
A newly built board walk guides you through the woods and makes for a nice sceneic trip. Bring some mosquito repellent to be safe. I'd also keep an eye out for snakes. We stumbled across a Gardner snake and 2 cotton mouths. Regardless it was a fun time and the canopy creates some nice shade.
Nice flat, easy trail with a boardwalk over a swamp. It's relatively short (about a mile one-way). This may be obvious around here, but be prepared for bugs and some poison ivy within easy reach on the trail (like hanging over / into the trail).
This is great, easy trail. Very flat, and most of it is the raised wooden path. There is only a small parking lot and it leads directly to the one trail. I give it only 4 stars, because in comparison with most of the waking trails in the area, this place is quite secluded tucked away beside the interstate.
Trail conditions & character
“It is not paved to the boardwalk but it is very level with pea gravel and wheelchair went over it easily.”
“Our son is in a wheelchair and there were a couple of spots that we had to be careful over where boards were missing or were warped up but otherwise it is completely accessible.”
“This place is gorgeous (more so in the summer, spring and fall when there is some plant life).”
“Half the trail has light gravel (stroller ok) and the other half is an elevated wood deck walking path with no incline or decline.”
“It gets very dark very quickly, the tree canopy is quite dense and there are no artificial lights.”
“It is not paved to the boardwalk but it is very level with pea gravel and wheelchair went over it easily.”
“Pretty noisy in the beginning but soon turns into a quiet getaway.”
“There is only a small parking lot and it leads directly to the one trail.”
“Short hike off the interstate, half of the trail is dirt path and the last half is boardwalk.”
“Half the trail has light gravel (stroller ok) and the other half is an elevated wood deck walking path with no incline or decline.”
Plan your run at Beaver Dam Nature Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Distance1 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
Running trails near Madison
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Palmer Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 716 reviews
Fields for many ball sports, along with a playground, concessions, picnic pavilions & batting cages.
Bradford Creek Trailhead at Palmer Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 96 reviews
Scenic paved trail popular for walking and biking with lots of shade and creeks.
Mill Creek Greenway
4.4 ★★★★☆ 141 reviews
Dog-friendly greenway featuring a play area for canines, as well as paved walkways and benches.
