Trail blazing in Madison? Even minor scrambling(the use of your hands for balance and pulling up) off small slick rocks? Who would have thought we could do this just a few miles from home?! Hubby and I have been blazing this gem for over 2 yrs now since relocating to the south, and never once have we not enjoyed Rainbow Mountain nor have we left w dry clothing on our backs no matter what season we’re in. PARKING Recently developed by the Land Trust is a 12-spot parking lot right near the entrance to Stoneridge Park. It’s free. Once the lot is full, your alternative would be street parking which, of course, is also free. TRAILS The main trailhead is located next to the water tower. The trails here on Rainbow Mountain are relatively easy but can be strenuous depending on your experience, speed, and which direction one starts off with. So at an average, I’d say this is an easy to moderate trail to hike. Covering about 4 miles of single-track trails across 130 acres with a peak elevation of 1,150 and an elevation loss/gain of 388 ft, you are sure to break a sweat here. There are 4 trails that interconnect some how or another. And if you plan your route in advance, you can get a good 5 miles out of these. Rainbow Mountain Loop 1.5mi Ja Moo Ko Loop 0.9mi Spring Trail 0.3mi Wild Trail 0.34mi On a good Saturday morning after some light down pour, we usually cover 2.35 miles in about an hour hiking across damp ground and with minor scrambling through slick rocks on the Rainbow Mtn Loop and Ja Moo Ko Loop Trails. This hour timeframe also includes about a few quick pauses to quench our thirsts and another short break by the stream below. Most peeps prefer starting off on the leisurely southern route and taking in the panoramic views of Madison and the awe’ness of Balance Rock. We prefer starting off on the northern route. This IMO eliminates being caught in the crowd which often slows our pace. If I don’t carry my DSLR, I tend to hike at a fast speed so don’t get in my way! ;D It’s a relatively quick hike for us but we’re always drenched with sweat and ready for a shower by the time we’re done. GEOLOGY and POIs Rainbow Mountain, known to be part of the Southern Appalachian Plateau, has many beautiful rock outcrops. Even the nearby homes have them as part of their natural landscape beauty. Here you’ll find the Hartselle Sandstone formation which consists of sandstone, limestone, and shale. The erosive resistance of these rocks have resulted in what you’ll see here — bluffs, very small seasonal waterfalls, and caves. Balance Rock is a must see. If you’re trekking too fast, you just might miss it. It’s located on the southern route of Rainbow Mtn Loop. I always find it interesting to see the wavy line features and pebbles in the sandstone on Balance Rock which supposedly was caused by the actions of water from long ago seas. There are also two caves here — Rainbow Pit(a 65 feet deep vertical cave), and Belly-Up Cave. These are known to be the result of water leaching the limestone rock. We’ve yet to search these out and explore these caves ourselves in fear of possibly falling in. However, I’ve heard that people have rappelled these in years past. It’s also suspected that the nearby subdivision developer will seal the cave(if they haven’t already) by placing a large boulder over the entrance to avoid potential lawsuits from ignoramus’. Funny but sad. Sad that such a beautiful piece of land can’t be preserved for those of us that appreciate it and the history and features it holds. RECOMMENDATIONS&VERDICT Hike in the mornings especially if the forecasts includes humidity in the afternoon. Bring a minimum of 16oz bottled water per person, a snack(if you prefer), sunblock, hat/cap, hiking stick(if you have one), and a smile. And don’t forget to stretch before & afterwards. That’s the norm if we lead a hike here. This is close to home so we’ll be back as often as our schedule permits, and weather permitting too. Check it out yourself! These trails are worth exploring!
