HomeAlabamaBirmingham › Dunnavant Valley Greenway

Dunnavant Valley Greenway

4.7 ★★★★★ 102 Google reviews · Running trail in Birmingham, Alabama · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
1.8 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Dunnavant Valley Greenway'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.

Mixed1.8 miShadedScenicDog-friendlyFlat & fastHillyRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Easy but steep in places, 1.8-mile hike featuring trees, streams, and waterfalls.

What runners say about Dunnavant Valley Greenway

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (102 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Vader and I visited another (NEW) hiking trail today, with beautiful views and crystal clear, freshwater Creeks.”

🌳 shaded & cool 5 mentions

“One reviewer stated that it seemed 'magical' that the trees provided a canopy of shade over the trails & as I discovered, it stayed that way all throughout.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“This is a beautiful slice of Alabama nature in a very well laid out and easy to navigate trail system.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 7 mentions

“It's always very peaceful and serene, just be careful as it can be a bit difficult to traverse specific areas deeper in the trail.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“I consider this to be a very easy hike.”

Wow-what a gem! This is a lovely hike. I’d call it an *easy hike. It’s a lovely, winding path along the creek. The path is clearly marked. Lightly travelled in the fall on a gorgeous 55 degree day. The most elevation is the return to the parking lot. It’s an easy hike….

★★★★★ — K , Dec 2023

Loved this trail! A couple of adventurous spots but nothing too wild. I saw folks walking their dogs and folks with their kids. If you like walking next to water like me, it’s definitely a good one :) There are a couple of benches along the path and a picnic area towards the end. Overall trail is 1.

★★★★★ — Kayla , Feb 2022

Dunnavant Valley was suggested by a friend & after looking over reviews, I decided it was well worth checking out. I was NOT disappointed! One reviewer stated that it seemed 'magical' that the trees provided a canopy of shade over the trails & as I discovered, it stayed that way all throughout.

★★★★☆ — Krystal , Jul 2025

One of the most beautiful old trees down by the river! A straight shot trail with great views along the way! Rocky parts to walk as well! Lots of different mushrooms to see!

★★★★★ — Justin , Jul 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 102 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 14 mentions

“Vader and I visited another (NEW) hiking trail today, with beautiful views and crystal clear, freshwater Creeks.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 7 mentions

“It's always very peaceful and serene, just be careful as it can be a bit difficult to traverse specific areas deeper in the trail.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 6 mentions

“however, there are plenty of rocks and roots which can be covered by leaves in the fall and winter, making it fairly slick and easy to trip up over.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 5 mentions

“One reviewer stated that it seemed 'magical' that the trees provided a canopy of shade over the trails & as I discovered, it stayed that way all throughout.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“There is a gravel parking area with a map & trails are very easily marked.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

“We saw a few folks with their dogs while out & they picked up after them & disposed of waste in the trashcan at the start of the trail.”

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Flat & fast 3 mentions

“Overall though, a mostly flat and peaceful hike through the woods and by the water.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“The most elevation is the return to the parking lot.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Took my 8-yr-old daughter, it was her first time to go on a hike (one that's not on asphalt or a sidewalk, anyway), she loved it and can't wait to go back!”

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🚻 Restrooms

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Plan your run at Dunnavant Valley Greenway

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • Distance1.8 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
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteshelbyal.com

Hours

Monday 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Tuesday 7 am–8 pm
Wednesday 7 am–8 pm
Thursday 7 am–8 pm
Friday 7 am–8 pm
Saturday 7 am–8 pm
Sunday 7 am–8 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Dunnavant Valley Greenway

1150-1152 Dunnavant Valley Rd, Birmingham, AL 35242

Get directions

Running trails near Birmingham

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Raven Roost & Truckin’ trail

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under a mile away

Double Oak Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 49 reviews

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MixedScenic

Well-groomed trails for mountain biking and hiking through woodland, plus a pavilion for picnics.

1.1 miles away

North Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 108 reviews

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Scenic

Hiking area featuring varied trails leading to a popular scenic overlook.

4.0 miles away

Chelsea Recreational Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 129 reviews

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Shaded

Recreation spot with a playground and picnic areas, plus sports fields and a walking trail.

4.0 miles away

Hoover Inverness Nature Park & Trails

4.4 ★★★★☆ 89 reviews

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1.8 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Large park with paved hiking paths, disc golf courses, hills and woods.

4.6 miles away

Veterans Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,578 reviews

Meadowbrook, AL

Crushed gravelShadedScenicDog-friendly

Lakeside green space with a 3-mile running trail, playgrounds, volleyball courts & a war memorial.

4.6 miles away

All running trails in Birmingham, AL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.