APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB OF ALABAMA

Pinhoti Trail Report

US Highway 278 to US Highway 78 / AL 281

54.9 miles - Shoal Creek District - Talladega National Forest

Maintained by the Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama

The Pinhoti National Recreation Trail traverses 126.8 miles through the Shoal Creek and Talladega Districts of the Talladega National Forest of Alabama. The ATCA maintains 54.9 miles of  the Pinhoti Trail from US Highway 278 trailhead south to FS Road 500 trailhead at railroad crossing in coordination with the US Forest Service and the 'ADOPT-A-TRAIL' program.

The purpose of this web-page is to provide trail condition information and a link between hikers and the ATCA trail maintainers. Below you will find descriptions and the most current trail condition reports on the sections adopted by the ATCA.

You can help the volunteers that maintain this section of the Pinhoti Trail by identifying problems found on the portion of trail you've hiked. Reporting problems couldn't be easier; Just send an email with description and location of the problem you've found to  tcoffield@pinhoti.org include on the subject line: Trail Condition Report and be sure to include the date you experienced the problem. In the email you can report the following types of conditions as well as any others, which you think we should be aware of:

• Blowdown(s) that block the trail, causing you to crawl thru and/or leave the tread to go around.

• Annual growth causing sections of the trail to be difficult to follow. (storm damage, timber operations, creation of RWC (Red Cockaded Woodpecker) habitats and openings across dams requiring constant attention).

• Directional difficulties causing you to leave and/or search for the trail tread.

OTHER PINHOTI TRAIL LINKS:

http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org Pinhoti Trail Alliance - provides detail information about the Pinhoti National RecreationalTrail.

www.georgiapinhoti.org Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association - provides information about plans to connect the Pinhoti to the Appalachian Trail via the Benton MacKaye Trail.

Pinhoti Trail Maintenance:

Your help is needed!
Males and females of all ages are invited to participate.  Trail maintenance is a good way to stay physically and mentally healthy.  Some maintainers have been working for over 20 years.  A big part of the enjoyment of trail building is the camaraderie that develops. 

Section Maintainers (individuals, couples, or groups) are responsible for routine trail maintenance of specific trail sections.  Section Maintainers can work on their own schedule.  Their duties include: 1) maintaining water and silt bars, 2) clearing debris from the trail, 3) keeping the annual growth of grass, weeds, blackberry vines cut, 4) blazing trails, and 5) reporting to the trail maintenance coordinator work that requires a regular Trail Maintenance Crew. 

The Club Trail Maintenance Crew organizes monthly Saturday Work Days, twelve months a year, weather permitting. They are responsible for the more rigorous and physically demanding trail work: 1) clearing trails after major storms, 2) restoring trail tread which have been damaged or neglected, and 3) major renovations of existing shelters and foot bridges.  A variety of tools including chain saws, light and heavy winches, weedeaters, fire rakes, Pulaskis, bow saws and loppers are routinely used.  Building bridges, repairing shelters and putting in stone or log steps are a few of the more interesting tasks involved.

If you don't know anything about trail maintenance, these Saturdays are a great way to learn. Come prepared with gloves, long pants, and long sleeve shirt; bring daypack with water, snacks, and lunch; expect to stay the whole day and stop for dinner at a local restaurant on the way home if possible. Our volunteers meet at different locations near the trail on Saturday morning. Persons can volunteer by contacting the club trail maintenance coordinator, Kenny at 205 678-6274 or tcoffield@pinhoti.org.
*** Check Schedule Tab for dates ***

Trail Condition and Mileages (North to South)

Section 1A

US Highway 278 to County Rd. 70 at Maxwell Gap (6.0 miles)

Section in good condition as of Jan, 2009. Trail is easy to follow from US278 to Lanie Gap. Special attention required at Lanie Gap (do not turn at gap; go straight across staying on east side of ridge). Special attention required on top of ridge during summer months due to annual growth (watch for temporary signage).

Section 1B

County Rd. 70 at Maxwell Gap to County Rd. 94 (1.7 miles)

Section is in good condition as of Jan, 2009. However, a fire burn area on south end of Wilson Ridge at switchback may have annual growth during summer months. Special attention needed in another small fire burn area at south end of section, especially on cloudy days; follow blazes and not the four-wheel path(s) in this area.

Section 1C

County Rd. 94 to Terrapin Creek Watershed (5.9 miles)

Section in good condition as of Sep, 2009. Trail easy to follow; except north to south at road crossing south of Oakey Mtn Shelter (go straight across; do not follow road) and thru wide watershed area east side of Oakey cross over (follow tread and blazes).  CAUTION at stream crossings and SPECIAL CAUTION at stream junction during heavy rains - DO NOT CAMP in this section during stormy weather. NOTE: As you exit woods at the dam crossing, follow signage posts across grassy top the dam and re-enter woods on other side of Lake.

Section 2A

Terrapin Creek Watershed to FS Road 500 (2.3 miles)

Section in good condition as of Sep, 2009. NOTE: decent of ridge thru fireburn area before North Dugger Shelter and to FS Road 500 is clear.

Section 2B

FS Road 500 (Dugger Wilderness) to County Rd. 55 at Rabbittown (Burns trailhead) (8.7 miles)

Burns Trailhead

Section 3A

County Rd. 55 (Burns trailhead) at Rabbittown to Choccolocco Watershed Lake (2.2 miles)

Section is in good condition as of Nov 2008. There is a new trail shelter (Choccolocco) here on the right side of road going off north end of the dam. Water source is stream in front of shelter.

Section 3B

Choccolocco Watershed Lake to FS Road 540 (5.1 miles)

Section in good condition as of Nov 2008; CAUTION: SOUTH Bound - cross dam following road to levee on the left; look for blue blaze on large pine tree to the left; then enter woods at edge of lake. Trail easy to follow past here. Several wet stream crossings in this section; watch for high water during stormy weather.

Section 3C

FS Road 540 to FS Road 500 at Coleman (trailhead) (1.8 miles)

Section in good contition as of Jan 09, 2009.  Section from horse trail crossing to FS500 is through RCW area and has been cleared of weeds and annual growth. There were lots of summer wildflowers due to the amount of rainfall. This area will remain open to the sunlight and experiences annual growth during the summer months.

FS Road 500 at Coleman (trailhead) to FS Road 553 (2.0 miles)

Section in good condition as of Jan 09, 2009.  Note: the damaged footbridge was replaced and relocated by the American Hiking Society summer 2004 volunteer work crew with coordination of the Alabama Trail Association and US Forest Service.

Section 3E

FS Road 553 to Laurel Shelter (1.4 miles)

Section in good condition as of Feb 27, 2010.  Timber has been thinned in the area between FS553 and powerline crossing creating annual growth during the summer months. 

Section 3F

Laurel Shelter to FS Road 500M at Sweetwater Lake (trailhead) (1.6 miles)

Section in good condition as of Feb 27, 2010. Shelter in good condition. Trail around Sweetwater Lake may be covered with water during extreme heavy rain. NO high water route available; bushwacking may be required.

Section 3G

FS Road 500M at Sweetwater Lake (trailhead) to FS Road 500 at Pine Glen Recreation Area (2.6 miles)

Section in good condition as of Feb 27, 2010. Note: follow signage posts crossing grassy area of dam. NOTE: if trail south of boatramp is covered with water, walk up 500M to the gated road on left; use this road to reach the grassy area of Dam crossing and trail. 

Shoal Creek at Pine Glen Bridge

Section 4A

FS Road 500 (trailhead) at Pine Glen Recreation Area to FS Road 531 at Highrock Lake (1.6 miles)

Section in good condition as of Jan, 2009. Trail easy to follow north to south. Special attention south to north when reaching and following edge of Shoal Creek (trail ascends away from creek to right after short distance, while another trail continues to follow creek to campground.

Section 4B

FS Road 531 at Highrock Lake to Lower Shoal Shelter (3.6 miles)

Section in good condition as of Jan, 2009. Notice: shelter roof replaced, cooking shelf and steps added to shelter as part of National Trails Day project June 7 & 8 2003. Thanks to the coordinated effort of the US Forest Service, Appalachain Trail Club of Alabama, Anniston Outdoor Association, BellSouth Pioneers and Montgomery Boys Club. 

Section 4C

Lower Shoal Shelter to FS Road 531(1.4 miles)

Section in good condition as of Jan, 2010. Some annual growth in fire burn area just south of shelter. NOTICE: no dependable water source from Lower Shoal Shelter to FS500 trailhead at Railroad crossing.

Section 4D

FS Road 531 to FS Road 523 (2.3 miles)

Section in good condition as of Dec 2009.

Section 4E

FS Road 523 to FS Road 500 (3.6 miles)

Section in good condition as of Dec 2009.

Section 4F

FS Road 500 to FS Road 500 at Railroad crossing (trailhead) (0.5 miles)

Section in good condition as of Dec 2009; however, all of the section ia an open fireburn area and has problem with annual growth.