PTA Site Map  /  etrail or snailtrail
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector

Northbound etrail  /  Section 7
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike
96.7 ~ US 431 Trailhead
79.1 ~ Cheaha Trailhead
Southern Terminus / Start Hike

Reference Points ~ Cheaha State Park, Oxford, AL
Hike Distance ~ 17.6 Miles
Hiking Time vs Distance ~ 30 Minutes = 1 Mile
Trail Blazes ~ Light Blue Vertical Rectangles
Trail Description ~ Moderate ~ Foothills, Watersheds, Short 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
96.7 ~ US 431 TRAILHEAD
    Exit I-20 at US 431, east of Oxford, AL.
    Go south 2.8 miles to a dirt road, FS 585, on the right (if you pass a green house, you’ve gone
    too far). Turn right.
    Go up the dirt road 0.1 miles to the US 431 Trailhead parking area, on the left.

Southern Terminus / Park Start Hike Vehicle
79.1 ~ CHEAHA TRAILHEAD
    From the US 431 Trailhead parking area, go back down the dirt road to US 431. Turn right.
    Go the second right turn past the overhead bridge at the top of the ridge. Turn right (there is
    a brown Cheaha State Park sign here).
    Go 0.4 miles to the stop sign at AL 281. Turn left.
    Go 11.5 miles to the Cheaha Trailhead parking area, on the left.








Hiking Directions
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
79.1 ~ CHEAHA TRAILHEAD ~ AL 281 ~ 1940'
    From the back of the parking area, go through the Arch 50 yards to the Cave Creek Trail /
    Pinhoti Approach Trail intersection. Turn right and switchback uphill 0.1 miles to the Pinhoti.
    The north trail goes to the right.
79.3 ~ CHEAHA STATE PARK
    (Mount Cheaha) The trail goes straight across AL 281.
    Convenience Store, Large Camp, Reliable Water, Hot Shower  ~ Go left on AL 281 for 0.2 miles
    to the State Park entrance, on the right.
81.1 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 1700'
    Seasonal Water ~ The water source for the Blue Mountain Shelter.
81.2 ~ BLUE MOUNTAIN SHELTER ~ 1825'
    The trail goes straight through this intersection.
    Large Camp, Trail Shelter ~ Look for the shelter side trail on the right.
84.3 ~ CCC ROAD / OLD CHEAHA ROAD ~ 1305' ~ Large Camp, Seasonal Water
87.3 ~ HILLABEE CREEK FORD ~ 780'
    Large Camp, Reliable Water ~ High water hazard.
90.8 ~ FRIENDSHIP CAMPSITE ~ 820'
    Large Camp, Reliable Water
91.5 ~ CR 24 CROSSING ~ 838'
    Go left 25 yards, then go back in the woods on the right.
    Large Camp, Reliable Water ~ 50 yards after the road crossing.
91.6 ~ MORGAN CASCADE
    Reliable Water
92.6 ~ FS ROAD ~ 900’
    Go right 50 feet, then right again off the road.
93.3 ~ FS ROAD CROSSING ~ 900'
94.0 ~ LARGE CASCADE
    Large Camp, Reliable Water ~ Go 100 yards past the cascade and bushwhack downhill on the left
    to the creek. Because of prolific Poison Oak, this is a winter only camp!!
94.9 ~ FS 515 - WATTS MOTORWAY CROSSING
95.7 ~ HORSEBLOCK FLATS CROSSING ~ 760'
    Reliable Water
96.7 ~ US 431 TRAILHEAD / FS 585 ~ 885'
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike
Millennium
Legacy Trail