We stopped by the picnic area on highway 60 at the sipsey river, and walked to a little fall in the area, which was not flowing of any significance. Trail 200 features a walk through a canyon, a large waterfall, and caves one of which the trail runs through. Backpack the sipsey wilderness loop in northwest alabama. My trip to the sipsey river wilderness area was an interesting one. There are 65 miles of trails that can be used to piece together loops of varying lengths. Sipsey river trail longest trail in the sipsey wilderness description.
There are several good camping spots along this trail before it gets to trail 209. The purpose of this hike was to knock out some of the official trails i have not yet completed in the sipsey wilderness. Sipsey wilderness is a 25,000acre section of bankhead national forest in northwest alabama. The path is flat and easy to hike, and the sense of adventure waiting around every corner will ensure your family has a great time. The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, camping, and backpacking and is accessible yearround. Three days two nights of hiking and camping fun, in. Because wilderness areas are kept in a relatively pristine state, the sipsey has minimal trail signs and several unofficial, unmarked paths.
If you are traveling on trail 209 this trail is not marked but is the trail which goes north from 209 along the east side of bee branch. From the upper parking lot go down over the bridge and then there is an almost hidden trail that starts. The club will be having its monthly meeting the first tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the bernice hilton walker building at double springs on hwy 195. Explore the best trails in sipsey, alabama on traillink. Part of the 26,000 acre sipsey wilderness, the largest wilderness tract. A day hike into the sipsey wilderness down trail 200. Best waterfall trails in sipsey wilderness alltrails. The first few segments of the white falls loop are on system trails, 201 and 209. It was also the first designated wilderness area east of the. Sipsey wilderness trails legend parking areas restrooms and fee area trails unmaintained trail map datum. Tucked into alabamas bankhead national forest, the sipsey wilderness is home to wild, brushy trails and massive towering oaksincluding the states tallest tree. While this trip was neither the first camping outing for either myself or my friend randall, our lack of knowledge of the area and failure to heed to mother nature could. To the right, trail 209 fords borden creek and then heads upstream along for another 8.
The trail begin underneath the highway bridge and travels down a small incline towards the river. We followed trail 200 until we came to the 209 crossing. Trail maps can be downloaded from the sipsey wilderness hiking club website. There are several places you can park for this loop. Sipsey wilderness loop hike trip report 2 nights, 22.
The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from march until october. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is accessible yearround. North alabama entire wilderness area trails and trailheads. Parker falls trail wilderness trail, waterfall hikes, national forest, things to. I had studied several sipsey trails via and found that white creek falls appeared to be ac. There are 45 miles of trails throughout the area, and there are a few options available if you prefer loop hikes. Since i have backpacked here before, i am familiar with how great the hiking is in this park, but i walked away with even more respect for the porkies after three amazing days in the wilderness. Wanting to enjoy the great outdoors, hike or camp is the only thing you need. No fires in the sipsey wilderness and various other counties across alabama because of severe drought conditions. A guide to little ugly creek falls in the sipsey wilderness alabama waterfalls. From the sipsey wilderness recreation area, there are two easily accessible trails, 200 and 209. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries.
Exploring a classic backpacking route in the sipsey wilderness. Dogs, onleash, are okay for the sipsey river trail. The 24,922acre sipsey wilderness, in the heart of the bankhead national forest, was the first area east of the mississippi to earn the federal wilderness designation in 1975. If you are familiar with how to use a map and compass you should explore the areas off the trail, but if you are not, please remain on or very near the. The only trail s i have not completed is trail 208 and 209 between fall creek falls and the junction of trail 202. Sipsey wilderness area general information the sipsey wilderness is about 26,000 acres. Follow trail 223 gum pond south until it ends at trail 208 northwest. Porcupine mountains state wilderness area hiking loops. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from march until november. The 25,000acre sipsey wilderness is a landscape of canyons, ravines, sandstone cliffs, and, most notably, waterfalls. Trail 208 is an old road traversing the sipsey wilderness and is one of the few trails in the sipsey wilderness that horses can be ridden. This time we plan on putting two short loop trails together and making one long straight through trail from parking lot to parking lot.
The bluffy nature of this topography has limited access for logging since the area was settled. Trail 206 thompson creeksipsey wilderness hiking trail in kinlock. For more information about camping in sipsey, al, or for additional resources regarding experiencing the outdoors in alabama, visit the national park service. The sipsey wilderness is the third largest wilderness area east of the mississippi river. Designated in 1975 and expanded in 1988, the 24,922 acre 100. The sipsey wilderness lies within bankhead national forest around the sipsey fork of the black warrior river in northwestern alabama, usa.
September 2324, 2006 sipsey wilderness area, al distance. While there are many more waterfalls to choose from, three possible options are kinlock falls, fall creek falls, and feather hawk falls. I will try to provide some additional information here and links to other sites which i think are reliable. Sipsey wilderness maps sipsey wilderness hiking club. I rented a canoe in huntsville, strapped it to the rental car and drove down to the. If youre new to backpacking, or youre unfamiliar with the sipsey, its an excellent destination for multiday trips. The land of a thousand waterfalls is ideal for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, boating, fishing, swimming and canoeing. There are trails for the picking up here, and we have done several, never to be disappointed. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround.
We parked one vehicle at the braziel trailhead, took trail 223 south to trail 208. Trail 209 or sipsey river trail follows the sipsey river for its duration, crossing it once near the end of the hike. Because of this inaccessibility, some 120 acres of oldgrowth forest remains within the sipsey. Sipsey wilderness the sipsey wilderness, part of bankhead national forest in northwestern alabama, is the third largest wilderness area east of the mississippi river. An easy hike to see a really big tree huntsville outdoors. There is much information available online about the area. The land of a thousand waterfalls, in the bankhead. When 209 meets the sipsey fork, one must go off trail although there is an impacted foot path, it is still considered off trail and hike downstream and then go up the first drainage which is white creek. As part of the rei coop family, were dedicated to making websites and mobile apps that help outdoor enthusiasts connect, share information and get out into the places they love to play.
Designated as alabamas first national wilderness area. Bee ridge trail is one of the leasttraveled official trails in the sipsey wilderness and. It gains approximately 200 feet of elevation and offers an opportunity to see the untouched wilderness up close. Trail 206 thompson creeksipsey wilderness trail wikiloc. Its as if, by some miracle, a 25,000acre chunk of north georgia was transported 190 miles to the west. Were about 30 miles west of the sipsey wilderness the largest and most. Also, some stands of the second growth forest have reached sufficient size. Now this trail is a key trail to loops in conjunction with the other trails of the swa. Forest service data 1993, and minor changes by sipsey wilderness hiking club, february, 2004. We then walked along highway 60 to where turkey foot creek crossed the road. Hike to the sipsey wilderness waterfalls, sipsey wilderness. The first time i hiked in the sipsey wilderness i felt like id wandered into some strange oasis. Borden creek trail in the sipsey wilderness wards of the. Sipsey wilderness lawrence county, alabama on the trail on 200.
Then, i would ford the sipsey fork and take the sipsey river trail. Randolph trail head loop was our mission on this trip to check all our gear with just one overnight camp. Primitive restrooms available at the sipsey trailhead but not the others. Thursday october 20th we starting off at the sipsey river trail head. Lost in the land of a thousand waterfalls wild south. With more than 15 sipsey trails covering 25 miles, youre bound to find a perfect trail like the ensleypratt greenway or horse creek trail. We started at the borden creek trail head and walked down trail 200 to 209 to 204 and then 224 to complete the loop over two days. Sipsey trailhead is also the only one accessible over paved roads.
Sipsey wilderness borden creek trail the outdoor women. The one hiking trail in alabama everyone should add to their spring bucket list going on a scenic hike is one of the best ways to experience alabamas great outdoors. Getting way out there into wilderness we went on a great backpacking adventure in north western alabama in early april. Sipsey wilderness winston county, alabama turkey foot falls in sipsey wilderness. Sipsey wilderness loop trail is a 24 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near haleyville, alabama that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The best info weve found about the sipsey is on the site for the sipsey wilderness hiking club. For sources generally further than 50 km from a class i area, the visibility threshold for concern is not exceeded if the 98th %ile change in light extinction is.
The 25,000acre sipsey river wilderness area, the largest in the state of alabama was beautifully different, even if small by western standards. Best trails in sipsey wilderness alabama alltrails. To designate the sipsey river as a component of the national wild and scenic rivers. Designated in 1975 and expanded in 1988, 24,922acre 10,086 ha sipsey is the largest and most frequently visited wilderness area in alabama and contains dozens of waterfalls. Sipsey is a town located in walker county in the state of alabama, and has a population of approximately 437. The wilderness has an abundance of waterfalls, and the color of the water in the streams is opal blue. The sipsey river trail is a little over 5 miles through the sipsey wilderness area. With deep canyons, high waterfalls, and forests of hemlocks and mountain laurel, the sipsey seems out of place in north alabama. Back to the sipsey again, this time with a group of 4 or 5 hikers. Sipsey wilderness trail system is a 36 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near haleyville, alabama that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. If you do not take this trail you will ford bee branch to go. The sipsey wilderness lies in the southern extremity of the cumberland plateau.
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