PTA Site Map / etrail or snailtrail
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
Northbound snailtrail / Section 4
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike
52.3 ~ Porter's Gap Trailhead
34.3 ~ Bull Gap Trailhead
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
Reference Points ~ Horn Mountain, Sylacauga, AL
Hike Distance ~ 18.0 Miles
Hiking Time vs Distance ~ 30 minutes = 1 mile
Trail Blazes ~ Light Blue Vertical Rectangles
Trail Description ~ Difficult ~ Dry Rocky Ridges, Long Climbs
Driving Directions
For a weekend section hike, you may want to bring two vehicles to the trail so that you can shuttle
yourselves from one end of your chosen section to the other. First, you will need to park your
“finish hike vehicle” at your section’s northern terminus and then drive your “start hike vehicle” down
to your section’s southern terminus.
Northern Terminus / Park Finish Hike Vehicle First
52.3 ~ PORTER'S GAP TRAILHEAD
Southern Terminus / Park Start Hike Vehicle
34.3 ~ BULL GAP TRAILHEAD
Hiking Directions
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
34.3 ~ BULL GAP TRAILHEAD / AL 148 ~ 1180' ~ TT ~ (Photo)
43.5 ~ ROCK HOUSE ~ SW ~ (Photo)
46.9 ~ LOWER ROCK SLIDE ~ SW
48.3 ~ WIND RIDGE ROAD ~ 14 MILE MARKER ~ 980’
49.6 ~ SPRING CROSSING / ROAD BED ~ SW
PTA Site Map / Top of Page ^-^
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
Northbound snailtrail / Section 4
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike
52.3 ~ Porter's Gap Trailhead
34.3 ~ Bull Gap Trailhead
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
Reference Points ~ Horn Mountain, Sylacauga, AL
Hike Distance ~ 18.0 Miles
Hiking Time vs Distance ~ 30 minutes = 1 mile
Trail Blazes ~ Light Blue Vertical Rectangles
Trail Description ~ Difficult ~ Dry Rocky Ridges, Long Climbs
Driving Directions
For a weekend section hike, you may want to bring two vehicles to the trail so that you can shuttle
yourselves from one end of your chosen section to the other. First, you will need to park your
“finish hike vehicle” at your section’s northern terminus and then drive your “start hike vehicle” down
to your section’s southern terminus.
Northern Terminus / Park Finish Hike Vehicle First
52.3 ~ PORTER'S GAP TRAILHEAD
- Begin at the east side of downtown Talladega on AL 77, in front of Wal Mart.
Go south on AL 77 appx. 1.0 miles to the stop sign. Turn left (you are still on AL 77).
Go 8.9 miles to the Porter's Gap Trailhead parking area, on the left just past the 55 mile marker.
Southern Terminus / Park Start Hike Vehicle
34.3 ~ BULL GAP TRAILHEAD
- From the Porter's Gap Trailhead parking area, turn left on AL 77.
Go 2.2 miles to the flashing yellow light at CR 7. Turn right.
Go 2.3 miles to a creek crossing with metal guardrails on both sides. Turn right on the road just
past the guardrails (you are still on CR 7).
Go 5.2 miles to the stop sign at AL 148. Turn right.
Go 0.8 miles to the top of the ridge. There are 2 dirt roads on the right about 50' apart. Turn
right on the second dirt road, Old Rocky Mountain Road - FS 607.
Go about 50 yards to the trailhead parking area, on the left.
The north trail is about 20 yards past the parking area, on the right.
Hiking Directions
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
34.3 ~ BULL GAP TRAILHEAD / AL 148 ~ 1180' ~ TT ~ (Photo)
- The north trail begins by going left from the parking area for about 20 yards and then goes into
the woods on the right. From there the trail gently winds its way up through a 100 acre
plantation of young Long Leaf Pines until it reaches the top of the ridge at Bull Bluff. The
first 1.1 miles of the trail are actually 3 long switchbacks that climb to the top of the ridge.
Watch for the sharp right turn at mile 0.1 and the sharp left turn at mile 0.6.
You are inside the 29,400 (?) acre Hollins Wildlife Management Area and will be until mile 7.0.
Hunting season dates / info for the HWMA are posted here.
TT ~ Go west on AL 148 for 10.5 miles to Sylacauga. Map
NEXT RW ~ 14.4 miles.
INFO SIGN ~ Bull Gap
WILDFLOWER ~ Fleabane ~ White ~ May
WILDBERRIES ~ Huckleberry ~ Dusty Blue ~ May
WILDFLOWER ~ Sunflower ~ Yellow ~ May
WILDFLOWER ~ Yellow Star Grass ~ Yellow ~ April
HISTORY ~ This 18 mile southern extension of the Pinhoti Trail, traveling from the old Pinhoti
southern terminus at Porter's Gap / AL 77 south to Bull Gap / AL 148, was built by the USFS,
Trails Unlimited (USFS), Horn Mountain Trail Club, Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama and the
Alabama Trails Association in 2004-5.
HISTORY ~ The trailhead parking area was completed by the US Forest Service in May, 09.
- Even as big as this spring looks, it dries up a day or two after a good rain.
- From here up to Bull Bluff you will be passing through a large Long Leaf Pine tree plantation.
HISTORY ~ This is a small part of the Forest Service's effort to restore the southern forest
to its original state: Long Leaf Pines, Hickory Oak and grasses.
- The trail goes a short distance above the top of this bluff. Be prepared to see one of the 5 best
views on the Pinhoti, from the trail.
- Here is a fair view of Rebecca Mountain on the left through the right of way. You can see one of
her skinny signal towers (1523') up on a peak.
- The trail goes diagonally, to the left, across the road to the east side of the ridge.
HISTORY ~ FS 600 (-1) was part of a Civilian Conservation Corps road project, called the
Skyway Motorway, in the 1930's which traveled from Sylacauga, AL to Borden Springs, AL, north
of Piedmont, AL.
- The trail goes straight across the road back to the west side of the ridge.
- At the top of the switchbacks there is a head high rock overhang that's surrounded by several
ancient Farkleberry bushes.
- The trail crosses under these lines on the peak of this rocky ridge, so there are large east and
west views.
- You are now leaving the 30,640 (?) acre managed hunting area.
- HISTORY 2001 ~ A large wooden cross has been placed out by the rocks as a memorial to
Mr. Heath. Some of the local guys that I work with told me that Mr. Heath fell to his death
here. In Section 7, up at Mt. Cheaha, there is at least 1 fatality per year out on the rocks.
Please take a minute to think about those you will leave behind to carry on without you before
doing anything that will put your life on the line.
- DOB ~ Dec. 21st 1956
Ashes to Ashes
Randall D. Heath
DOD ~ Feb. 5th 2001
- There is a great southern view of the Rebecca Mountain Ridge from here as she makes her way
west toward Sylacauga and also views west toward Birmingham and Talladega.
- The trail turns left on this big, grassy old road and goes up the hill for about 800 yards.
- The trail turns off the road to the right just before it makes a sharp left turn.
LC ~ The road continues on for another 0.1 miles to the top of the mountain. There is a large,
level food plot for Deer on top and even an old fire ring on the far side at the tree line.
43.5 ~ ROCK HOUSE ~ SW ~ (Photo)
- Look for a 10' high overhanging rock on the right that's hanging out over the trail. It's a good
place to take a break but a bad place to camp if it's raining because the floor is so low.
SW ~ Climb up on top of the rock and then go up the hill 20 yards to FS 600. Turn right on
600 and go to the end of the straightaway. Just before the road starts curving uphill to the
left, there is an old fire road on the left. The fire road is hard to spot because there are a few
old logs blocking it. Climb down the bank and go about 50 yards to the spring crossing. In dry
weather you will need to follow the spring bed downhill to find water.
- The trail goes straight through the gap.
- When the Pinhoti comes to the power line right of way for the tower, turn left and go downhill
100', then the trail goes back in the woods on the right.
WILDFLOWER ~ Leather Vine ~ Purple ~ May
TOWER ACCESS TRAIL ~ Once you leave the power line right of way and re-enter the woods,
go 50 yards to the Tower Access Trail, on the right. The access trail is marked with white
blazes and goes uphill 0.1 miles to the tower.
SITE HISTORY ~ In the late 1930's, when the tower site was developed by the Civilian
Conservation Corps, this was a beautiful park area. There are 2 rock observation decks and 5
picnic tables still intact. Two of the tables are under a covered shelter that is in pretty bad
shape but still standing. There is also a large grove of Oriental Bamboo and a stand of
old Spruce or White Pine trees just below the Tower.
TOWER HISTORY ~ The tower was placed on the National Historic Lookout Register on
Jan 17, 2009. The Horn Mountain Fire Lookout Tower was one of several 'ridgetop' fire towers
erected by the Civil Conservation Corps along the highest points of the mountain range throughout
the extent of the Talladega National Forest as a key component of the fire protection measures
implemented to safeguard both the national forest and the 75 mile long Skyway Motor Way,
which began at Sylacauga and ended at Borden Springs.
HISTORY 2006 ~ The picnic shelter has undergone a full, original CCC spec. restoration by the
FS, Chris Koehn from the CCC Association , Preacher Collett from the FS Seniors
Volunteer Program, the Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama, the Alabama Trails Association and
the Horn Mountain Trail Club. Yes, you are allowed to camp anywhere in the National Forest. No,
the FS is not encouraging this area to be used as a designated campsite. This is a very
important CCC historic site and the USFS and the CCCA would like to restore and preserve it in
its original,pristine state. If you do choose to stay here, I'm sure some serious stealth camping
would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
SITE PHOTOS ~ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10
- The trail goes straight through the gap.
- FLOWERING TREE ~ Service Berry ~ White ~ May
- PLANT ~ Ground Pine
- The trail goes straight across the backside of the bluff.
HISTORY ~ I don't know much about Wormy (Jerry Sanderson, Lands and Wildlife Officer,
TNF, Talladega office) other than the fact that he is a FS "Old Timer" who signed on when he
was 18 and has managed to hang on for 37 years. He seemed content (and patient!) one day as we
stood before a map and I plied him with question after question. Thanks. Anyone know a good
Wormy story? : ) There is an unobstructed 50 mile view from the Pulpit. The Horn Mountain Fire
Tower and Rebecca Mountain can be seen on the left and Sleeping Giant Mountain, the long ridge
that runs behind Talladega, is out in front. The night time light show includes (from left to
right) Sylacauga,Birmingham, Childersburg, Pell City and Talladega.
- The trail goes straight across the road onto the tower driveway for 50' and then goes back in
the woods on the right.
Now the trail will circle around the east side of this mountain top where the Microwave Tower
sits. There is a great view of the Tower here. It's big, no it's huge, it's, it's, well, it's big and
huge. :) This part of the mostly ignored east side of the ridge is home to the headwaters of the
West Fork of the regionally popular Hatchet Creek. From AL 77 south to about 5 miles below the
Microwave tower, where it joins the East Fork, there are 11 springs that come down off the
ridge and start flowing south in an area known as Horn Valley.
- The trail goes straight through the intersection.
LC ~ There is a side trail here on the right leading to a wide gap with plenty of level spots out
toward the end of this short finger ridge.
SW ~ There are small seasonal springs a little way down both sides of the gap. The spring on the
right side of the gap is about 100 yards down in a small patch of Mountain Laurel. If this spring
is dry, then follow the spring bed down another 200 yards to a good creek. Be prepared for a
tough uphill climb back to the campsite.
WILDBERRY ~ Huckleberry ~ Dusty Blue ~ May
FLOWERING SHRUB ~ Mountain Laurel ~ White ~ May
- The trail goes straight across FS 600 onto another road. Follow this road 0.1 miles to the
dead end and then the trail continues straight into the woods. The trail is now back on the west
side of the ridge.
- Here you will begin your descent off the ridge with a series of 24 switchbacks.
46.9 ~ LOWER ROCK SLIDE ~ SW
- Sometimes there is water flowing out of the rocks and across the trail.
48.3 ~ WIND RIDGE ROAD ~ 14 MILE MARKER ~ 980’
- The trail turns right onto the road.
- Here the trail veers to the right off Wind Ridge Road and then skirts around the south side of
the lake about 50' above the water.
- The trail turns right on the road again. The trail / road turns right when it reaches the creek
and then follows it down to the crossing.
- The trail / road crosses the creek and continues beside it down to the cascade.
FORDING HAZARD ~ This creek is about 20' wide and 6" deep. There is room for it to spread
out after a heavy rain so it will probably not be over knee high. Use caution.
- When you reach the cascade, the trail turns right and crosses Dry Creek and then follows FS
621A up the hill.
The cascade is a large, broad (as opposed to tall) natural rock formation which serves as the
spillway for the Scott Lake Dam. Be sure to check out the root base of the old Sycamore tree in
the middle of the creek at the cascade. Ever seen anything like that before?
FORDING HAZARD ~ Dry Creek is about 20' wide and 1' deep and can be easily forded most
times of the year, but after a heavy rain it will be over knee high and running very fast. The
creek is moving slower downstream but it's also much deeper. Use extreme caution.
- After the trail crosses Dry Creek, you will follow FS 621-A up the hill 0.1 miles to the first
driveway on the right. Turn here and go 5 yards. The trail goes back in the woods on the left.
SC ~ On the way up 621-A there is a nice campsite on the left with a great view, through the
notch between the 2 mountains that form the sides of the lake, of the Horn Mountain Ridge just
north of the Microwave Tower. A little farther up the road is a large patch of mature Bamboo on
the right with several huge old Long Leaf Pines inside of the thicket.
HISTORY ~ Years ago this area was private property and there were 4 cabins on this side of
the lake. You can still see some of the old rock retaining walls and a few sets of steps. The
original road to this place actually came up from the south and crossed Dry Creek down by the
cascade. With the exception of a few small scraps here and there like these, the day to day
history of most places found on the Pinhoti died along with the people who lived here.
LC ~ After you turn right at the first driveway, you can continue past the trail turnoff to the
small peninsula on the lake where you will find some grassy flat spots.
WILDFLOWER ~ Butterfly Weed ~ Orange ~ May
49.6 ~ SPRING CROSSING / ROAD BED ~ SW
- Go straight onto the road after crossing the spring.
- The trail turns right off of the road.
- There are 13 spring crossings between here and Porter's Gap.
- The trail goes right on the road 5 yards and then back in the woods on the left.
- There are 4 spring crossings between here and Porter's Gap with plastic culverts across each
of them that were provided by the FS and put in place by Trails Unlimited.
- The 1660' Pinnacle, on your right, is the last peak on the north end of the Horn Mountain Ridge
at Porter's Gap.
- The trailhead parking area is straight across AL 77.
ROADKILL WARNING ~ You'll probably want to scurry right on across this highway!!
CS ~ Go west on AL 77 for 4.6 miles to a small store.
CS ~ Go east 2.3 miles to a store on the wet side of the county line.
TT ~ Go west on AL 77 for 8.9 miles to Talladega. Map
TT ~ Go east 13.4 miles to Ashland. Map
HISTORY 2008 ~ A new trailhead parking area was completed at Porter's Gap by the USFS and
the Alabama Department of Transportation. The new parking area was built because the re-
routing of AL 77 took the highway through the old parking area.
PTA Site Map / Top of Page ^-^
| Millennium Legacy Trail |
Section 4 Hike Planner
CS ~ Convenience Store
52.3
TT ~ Trail Town
34.3, 52.3
SC ~ Small Camp
41.8, 41.9, 48.7, 48.8
LC ~ Large Camp
42.7, 46.1, 48.8, 49.4
TS ~ Trail Shelter
0
SW ~ Seasonal Water
34.7, 43.5, 46.1, 46.9, 49.4, 49.6, 49.8, 50.4, 51.5
RW ~ Reliable Water
48.7, 48.8
HS ~ Hot Shower
0
CS ~ Convenience Store
52.3
TT ~ Trail Town
34.3, 52.3
SC ~ Small Camp
41.8, 41.9, 48.7, 48.8
LC ~ Large Camp
42.7, 46.1, 48.8, 49.4
TS ~ Trail Shelter
0
SW ~ Seasonal Water
34.7, 43.5, 46.1, 46.9, 49.4, 49.6, 49.8, 50.4, 51.5
RW ~ Reliable Water
48.7, 48.8
HS ~ Hot Shower
0
