Section 5
This short 7-mile section of trail begins at the FR 500 trailhead and ends as FR 518. The section crosses I 20. I did this section in the rain as part of a 2-day hike. I didn't expect this section to be pretty, but it actually is. There are a few cleared spots where you can see over the mountains and the farms in the valley, there is a little cave beside a stream that you pass not far from the trailhead. If you look at the rock on the right portion of the cave you will see a place where there is a hole a few inches deep and perfectly round. This was looks to be made by Native Americans to grind grains. At a few points here the trial becomes very difficult to follow, marking are very limited. The trail crosses the Talladega Scenic Drive about a mile before crossing the interstate. After crossing to the east side of the drive the trail goes through a section of woods that has seen a fair among of logging activity and a recent burn. The trail is fairly easy to see at this point if you can avoid getting mixed up with all the tracks they made to control the fire. There are few markings. There is also reliable water just before the trail cross the interstate. This section gets 3 stars and is moderate.
Once you cross the interstate the trail goes up and down small hills to FR 518. Be on the lookout for wild blackberries, yum! Also be on the look out for lots of poison ivy, yuck! This section also gets 3 stars and is easy.
Trail Reports
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Hiked this section (5) in and out in two days, starting at the northern trailhead on FS 500. The weather over the weekend was incredible making the trail absolutely gorgeous. I've hiked a few other sections of the Pinhoti and this one ranks somewhere in the middle - it only loses serious points because of the seemingly inescapable constant hum of the interstate (Maybe I-20, maybe another road). This is a good, moderately difficult trail with rise and fall that is never TOO extreme. We didn't have a problem finding water, but it had been raining a lot the week before we left. There were definitely quite a few dry stream beds but plenty that had good water as well. Due to the abundance of dry leaves on the ground, I am pretty sure any wildlife that might have been in the area heard us coming a mile away and ran off so besides a couple piles of droppings on the trail, we saw no animals. Winter's on its way too so that might have had something to do with it. The trail was in great condition except for around 10 blow-downs that forced us to walk around them, but never too far. Like the rest of the Pinhoti, the trail sometimes blends into the surroundings so it's important to keep a constant eye out for those bright blue blazes (or the exceedingly rare white turkey feet). We almost lost the trail a couple times but it's usually pretty obvious after 15-30 seconds that you're off the path. It looks like some of the forest through which the trail snakes hasn't been burned in a long time but maybe things just grow that quickly. So on a scale of 1-5 I give section five a "3". Thanks to the wonderful weather we had, it was a great trail for a short weekend hike, but I don't think I'll be returning to this section for a while in hopes of exploring the rest of this great trail. Sections two and three are still my favourites. Hope this was helpful!
PINHOTI-SEC. 5 (3-26-04) I hiked this section as part of a North to South 3 section hike (sections 4,5,and 6) on the P.M. of 3-25 thru the A.M. of 3-28-04. I was told that this area has had unusually dry weather for the year. Therefore, I suspect my accounts of water are conservative and there is more water throughout much of the year. My overall account for these three sections is plenty of water, clear trails (no significant blow downs and well beaten path), sufficient blazes to keep you on track, easy to moderate terrain to hike, and the person laying out the trail took the scenic and easier routs. My accounts are based on 1-hour increments. I would hike for a full hour, take a break to make journal entries, and then hike another full hour before making additional entries. See the end of this entry for information about transport from the Lodge to the start of the trail Hour 1. I started this section about 1:00 pm. This section of trail is similar to the preceding descriptions. However, it was not quiet as clear or as easy as is section 4. I found a little more growth encroachment and longer ups and downs than I experienced on section 4. Still, I would not label this a hard trail. There was a very good creek about 20 minutes into the trail. I suspect this creek runs even during the driest of times. I crossed a pipeline at about the 40-minute mark. There was another good creek at the 50-minute mark, just not quiet as good as the first creek. Hour 2. This section was better than the previous hour. The trail has a well-beaten path and a sufficient number of blazes. There was good water around the 20 and 30-minute marks. At the second creek (30 minute mark), the trail runs a ridgeline above the creek for about 10 minutes. This hour took me to I-20. Hour 3. I started this hour at I-20 and ended it past the end of section 5, which ends at FS 518, but before reaching FS 431. There was water at the 5, 15 30, and 40 minute marks. The trail was clear but I believe encroachment will be a problem during the growing season. The most encroachment I have see thus far was the section just before crossing FS 518. The trail continues to be easy to follow and absent any really steep or prolonged pulls. Hour 4.4. I stopped to camp at about 25 minutes into this hour. I am into section 6 but not sure where. I know I am between FS 518 and Hwy. 431. The trail overlooks a creek at about the 4.2 mark till I camped. The creek is very crooked and it looks like it will have water all year. The trail is well beaten and easy to follow. (A YOUNG MAN GOING TO COLLEGE AND WORKING PART TIME AT THE CHEAHA CAMPGROUNDS/STORE TRANSPORTED ME TO THE START. HIS NAME IS JUSTIN AND I REACHED HIM BY CALLING 1 800-252-7275 (ALABAMA STATE PARKS.) I THEN WENT TO THE CHOICE FOR CHEAHA AND THEN TO CAMPGROUNDS.)
SECTION 5: 3/23/04, Cleburne Trailhead-FS500 to FS Road 518. I hiked sections 1 through 6 over a four day period beginning on March 20, 2004. Below is a brief account of my hike through Section 5: Direction: Southbound Distance: 6.9 miles Weather: 50 o-55o, Sunny, Breezy Trail: Good condition. I don’t recall encountering any deadfalls on this section of the trail. Blazing is a mix of Blue Painted Squares, White Diamond Turkey Foot Placards and White Painted Turkey Foot Symbols. Animals: Numerous Small Lizards, Minnows in small streams north of I-20. People: None. Comments: Smaller streams provide water throughout this trail section. During warmer weather water may not be plentiful between the Cleburne Trailhead and I-20.
I did section 5 as an out and back. It was a beautiful day. There are alot of leaves on the trail and the noise my big feet made must of scared off all the wildlife,they could hear me coming a mile away.The trail was maintained very well only had to step over one small blowdown the whole way.The trail can be hard to see sometimes because of the leaves but the blazes kept me on track. I can see where this could be a dry section if it has not rained recently so bring water.
Very good trail, enjoying it tremendously. Litefoot is covered with bites. When he takes off his pack he always lays down and stretches out his back. Wrong, Wrong, the bugs must be under the leaves because we sure do not see them. There are no mosquitos or black flies, but whatever is in the ground is making up for it, they cannot be all chiggers. He looks like he has the measles or chicken pocks. Not a lot of water in this section we have experienced, had to minimize our drinking. We have been lucky though so far, plenty of water, untill now.
Average grade for this section is just over 4%.
Last Hiked: March 2000
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