Come see Lake Martin like you’ve never seen it before! Originally built in 1939, the restored Smith Mountain Fire Tower was opened to the public on June 16, 2012. Visitors hike up the half-mile trail from the parking area to the tower where they can climb up to the cab. The view from the cab, which […]
Located on the banks of the Tallapoosa River, this preserve includes the one-mile Overlook Loop trail and the four-mile Wood Duck trail, both good for woodland songbirds. The upland portions harbor Northern Bobwhites, Wild Turkeys, sparrows, towhees, Eastern Bluebirds, and other woodland birds. The areas bordering the water afford opportunities to scan for waterfowl, gulls, […]
This area has 11 miles of hiking trails, with one skirting the shoreline of Lake Martin for approximately 4 miles. Other areas of the trails are high rocky ridges and bluffs, some with vistas of six to eight miles overlooking Kowaliga Bay and Chimney Rock. Bald Eagles are regularly spotted over the lake; Wild Turkeys […]
The Talladega National Forest offers a peaceful atmosphere that is filled in wild game, camping, and hiking utopias. The forest also features picturesque scenic waterfalls throughout its striking setting. The total Forest covers 392,567 acres (613.39 sq mi, or 1,588.66 km2) at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains. Before it was bought by the federal […]
This little-known hike is quickly becoming well known. Located just south of Cheaha Mountain, Alabama’s highest peak, the Nubbin Creek Trail is a true classic, showcasing what makes the Talladega National Forest a true treasure for Alabama. For day-hikers, the 6-mile out-and-back is wonderful. Climbing the side of the Little Caney Head Mountain from the […]
The Alabama Pinhoti Trail, a national recreation trail, is the pride of Alabama hikers. This 100+ mile long path is the backbone of a trail system second to none in the state as it meanders through rolling hillsides, up rocky crags, past mountain streams and waterfalls, and the panoramic vistas atop the mountains of the […]
The Chief Ladiga Trail is Alabama’s premiere rails-to-trails project. It wanders 33 miles through the countryside of Calhoun and Cleburne counties and it connects the municipalities of Piedmont, Jacksonville, Weaver and Anniston. Seen along the way are beautiful wetlands, streams, forests, farmlands, and a horizon filled with mountains. The Chief Ladiga Trail is a family […]
An excellent addition to birding in Cheaha State Park, this site is easily reached via the Talladega Scenic Byway. Mature, mixed pine-oak forest provides a good stop for woodland songbirds. Good location for breeding Scarlet Tanagers, Black-throated Green Warblers, Ovenbirds. Watch for Blue-headed Vireo.
Mt Cheaha is Alabama’s highest point, and it is one of the southernmost locations to find a number of the state’s more interesting breeding birds, such as Blue-headed vireo, Cedar waxwing, and Sharp-shinned hawk. Additionally, as the park is located in the middle of the Talladega National Forest, the area consists of vast tracts of […]