Grant-Nat Mountains Connection

This ride is 75 miles, starting at the Cove Park ballfields near Hampton Cove. The route has two climbs and many hills; it also travels along Lake Guntersville for a few miles. Most of the roads are lightly traveled with good pavement but there are two sections of rough pavement in the valley between Grant and Nat mountains.

There are two major climbs. First, a one mile climb up Grant on Babe Wright Road at mile 22 (topo) with a 10% average grade. The one mile descent down off Grant mountain includes a sharp switchback.

The second climb, up Nat Mountain at mile 40 (topo), is a three mile variable climb, with alternating steep and easier sections. With a 5% average grade the climb pitches up as it nears the top, reaching 10% and more; average grade certainly doesn't tell the tale here. The two mile descent down off Nat Mountain has two sharp switchbacks not far from the top, then mostly gentle curves to the bottom.

Just after the convenience store at mile 33 there's an optional one mile out-and-back lakeside road, a nice detour if you're up for the extra mileage.

Directions to start:

The Cove Park ballfields near Hampton Cove:

If traveling over Monte Sano on Highway 431 (east on Governors Drive): go 4.8 miles after passing Monte Sano Boulevard and turn Left at Old 431/Sutton Road. Travel 1.6 miles and turn right onto Old 431. The ballfields are on the right.

If traveling over Cecil Ashburn Drive: continue straight on Sutton Road for 0.7 miles and go straight across Highway 431. From the intersection go 1.6 miles and turn right onto Old 431. The ballfields are on the right.

Google Maps driving directions to Cove Park.

Printable cue sheet

Route map

Google Earth file:
KmzGrantNat.kmz

Miles	Turn	Description	Leg
0.0	Southeast	on Old Highway 431	1.2
1.2	Left	on Cherry Tree Road	7.5
8.7	Right	at "T" onto New Hope Cedar Point Road	1.1
9.8	Left	on Butler Mill Road	2.5
12.3	Left	on Mill Road (optional rest stop)	2.2
14.5	Right	at "T" onto Jim Tom Hodges Road	0.2
14.7	Straight	across onto Kennamer Cove Circle	2.0
16.7	Left	on Cathedral Caverns Highway	0.8
17.5	Left	on Cavern Cove Road	1.8
19.3	Left	on Cathedral Caverns Road	2.0
21.3	Right	on Babe Wright Road	0.3
21.6	Begin Climb	One mile at 10% average grade	2.3
23.9	Left	on Swearengin Road	0.7
24.6	Rest Stop	Grocery Store on right	-
24.6	Continue	East on Swearengin Road	2.0
26.6	Begin Descent	One mile at 10% average grade	1.6
28.2	Left	on AL-79	1.1
29.3	Left	on CR-114	3.1
32.4	Right	on US-72 shoulder	1.0
33.4	Left	Northwest on AL-79	-
33.4	Rest Stop	convenience store on left	-
33.4	Option	One mile lakeside out-and-back (Left on Porter Road)	-
33.4	Continue	Northwest on AL-79	2.5
35.9	Left	on CR-23	1.0
36.9	Sharp Right	on Sauty Bottom Road (no sign)	2.2
39.1	Straight	across onto CR-17	0.8
39.9	Begin Climb	Three miles at 5% average grade	4.1
44.0	Left	on CR-15	1.1
45.1	Rest Stop	convenient store on left	-
45.1	Left	West on CR-8	8.5
53.6	Begin Descent	Two miles at 8% average grade	4.0
57.6	Left	across railroad tracks onto CR-63	0.2
57.8	Left	on AL-35	-
57.8	Rest Stop	at convenience store on right	-
57.8	Return	South on AL-35	-
57.8	Left-Right	onto CR-63 / Grant Highway	1.2
59.0	Right	on US-72 merge lane	0.1
59.1	Left	on CR-63 / Old Grant Road	0.2
59.3	Bear Left	on CR-108 / Jim Tom Hodges Road	1.2
60.5	Right	on Mill Road	2.2
62.7	Right	on Butler Mill Road (optional rest stop)	2.5
65.2	Right	at "T" onto New Hope Cedar Point Road	1.1
66.3	Left	on Cherry Tree Road	7.5
73.8	Right	on Old Highway 431	1.2
75.0	Finish	at Cove Park ballfields	-