Trail Maintenance

The purpose of this page is to provide current information about difficult sections of the trail, and to provide a link between trail users and those who work to keep the trail in a condition that we can use it. The trail traverses two ranger districts, the Talladega and Shoal Creek districts, and the Cheaha Wilderness. Different people are responsible for trail maintenance in each of these areas. On one of my hikes I meet the lady, Shirley Watts, who does the maintenance for the southern end of the trail in the Talladega District. Shirley and one assistant have cleared the area from the start of Blue Mountain in section 6 to the beginning of the wilderness area in section 7. Shirley also laid out the final 3.5 miles of trail from Clairmont Springs to Porter's Gap. Shirley has done a great job with her recent maintenance, but needs all the help she can get, if you would like to volunteer to keep this trail in good condition call her at 256 362-2909.

The park service has made a decision not to maintain the trails in the Cheaha Wilderness with a few exceptions. This affects the 8 miles of the Pinhoti in the wilderness as well as Odum, Chinabee, Nubbin Creek, and Cave Creek trails. The Pinhoti through the wilderness area is currently very difficult to follow, although if you scout around you should be able to find your way. The last time I hiked the other trails they were still in pretty good condition. However, that may change, especially on the cave creek trail where there are some open sections that are vulnerable to being overgrown. You should take a map and compass on all these sections of trail.

Trail Reports (As of December 2000):

The trail is generally looking pretty good, none of the problems should keep you from hiking, just things to watch out for.

I have had reports from the Nimblewill Nomad, some other hikers, and a few days on the trail of my own.  The trail is currently looking very good.  Augusta Mine ridge in Section 1 probably needs some work, and there are sections that are difficult to follow in Dugger Mountain Wilderness (on top of Dugger Mountain) and in the Cheaha Wilderness between McDill Point and the junction with the Chinnabee Silent Trail.  In the Cheaha Wilderness, the little connector trail that goes from the Pinhoti to the Cave Creek Trail is very difficult to find and some of the signs at the junction have been turned around.

Please send any other trail maintenance reports you might have.  The best way to send these is through the Bulletin Board, where they will be immediately posted.

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.