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

Northbound snailtrail  /  Section 9
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike
119.8 ~ Pine Glen Trailhead
106.2 ~ South FS 500 Trailhead
Southern Terminus / Start Hike

Reference Points ~ Pine Glen Campground, Heflin, AL
Hike Distance ~ 13.6 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
119.8 ~ PINE GLEN CAMPGROUND
    Exit I-20 at US 431, east of Oxford, AL.
    Go north on US 431 for 0.3 miles to the stop sign at US 78. Turn right.
    Go 5.3 miles to a paved road on the left just before the overhead bridge, at the top of the
    ridge. Turn left.
    Go 0.1 miles to the stop sign at AL 281. Go straight across onto the dirt road, FS 500.
    Go north 5.0 miles to the Ping Glen Campground, on the left.

Southern Terminus / Park Start Hike Vehicle
106.2 ~ SOUTH FS 500 TRAILHEAD
    From the Pine Glen Campground, go back south on FS 500 for 4.9 miles to the South FS 500
    Trailhead, on the left.









Hiking Directions
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
106.2 ~ FS 500 TRAILHEAD ~ 936' ~ LC, SW ~ (Photo)
    The north trail goes in the woods behind the Info Board at the trailhead parking area. FS 500
    was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930's.
    WILDFLOWER ~ Umbrella Magnolia ~ White ~ April
    WILDFLOWER ~ Kudzu ~ Purple ~ ??
    LC, SW ~ The spring crossing is 100 yards north of the Info Board. Go about 30' past the
    spring crossing to a small trail on the right that takes you up to a couple of fire rings. The
    train whistles will keep you hopping all night, so if you have another camp option, you should
    take it.
    NEXT RW ~ 7.8 miles.
106.5 ~ FS 500 CROSSING ~ 1050'
    The trail goes straight across the road.
107.6 ~ 108.0 ~ 3 SPRING CROSSINGS ~ SW
108.2 ~ BIRDS IN THE PINES CAMPSITE ~ SC, LC ~ (Photo - Grey Eagle)
    The Pinhoti goes straight through the camp.
    SC ~ The small campsite is on the right, by the trail. There is a trail on the left, at the small
    campsite, that goes downhill 0.3 miles to an old road that looks like it goes down the mountain.
    There are no campsites, water or views down this overgrown trail.
    LC ~ The large campsite is 0.1 miles up the old road on the right, just past the small campsite.
    This is just a flat spot in the middle of the road with a fire ring.
108.4 ~ 108.9 ~ 2 SPRING CROSSINGS ~ SW
109.1 ~ SISTER RIDGE VIEW
    This is another good view of our Sister Ridge (Choccolocco Mtns.) on the left. What you see here
    is the backside of Ft. McClellan, between Anniston and Jacksonville. This section of the
    Choccolocco Mountains has just recently been designated as the Mountain Longleaf National
    Wildlife Refuge. Funding has been approved for the purchase of a corridor to connect the
    Talladega National Forest and the MLNWR. Of course, what I make of all this new property is a
    really cool side trail off the Pinhoti someday!
109.6 ~ FS 523 CROSSING / SW CWMA BOUNDARY ~ 1180' ~ (Photo)
    The trail angles across the road to the left. You have just crossed over the south west
    boundary into the Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area. You will be in the 46,550 acre
    CWMA until you reach the north west boundary at the 132.5 ~ Turnhill Road Switchbacks, up in
    Section 10. Hunting season dates and info are posted here.
    AREA ~ Brymer Mountain
110.3 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ SW
111.7 ~ BRYMER GORGE
    The trail travels along the upper side and sometimes you can hear the creek running way down
    below.
112.4 ~ HOLLY SPRING CROSSING ~ SW
112.8 ~ FS 531 CROSSING ~ 1260' / BANKHEAD FIRE TOWER (standing)
    The trail goes straight across the road.
    BANKHEAD FIRE TOWER (off trail) ~ Go right on FS 531 0.8 miles to FS 500. Turn
    left. Go 0.6 miles to the tower, on the left.
113.2 ~ BEECH GORGE
    During the winter months you can see where two forks come together to form the gorge, on
    your left. Again, you are on the upper portion listening to water below.
113.9 ~ LOWER SHOAL CANYON / CASCADE ~ RW ~ (Photo by T. C.)
    This is one of the finer examples of the Pinhoti's subtle beauty. Stop and take a few slow,
    deep breaths...
114.0 ~ LOWER SHOAL SHELTER ~ LC, TS, RW ~ (Photo by T. C.)
    The trail goes around the back of the shelter, up along the side, then turns left and fords the
    creek. Once you cross, turn left and go 25 yards to the switchback that doubles back to the
    right, up the hill. This shelter is in great shape with a new roof, steps and a cooking shelf
    added in 2003. Thanks go to the Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama and to Ranger Tim Slone and
    all the guys at the Shoal Creek Ranger District, FS. The shelter was constructed by the
    FS / YCC (Youth Conservation Corps) in 1976. Thanks to YCC member Debbie Collins for this info!
    NEXT RW ~ 1.8 miles.
    FORDING HAZARD ~ This creek is about 10' wide and 1' deep. Two creeks join together right
    above this crossing and can become over knee high after a heavy rain. Use extreme caution.
115.6 ~ SHOAL FLATS
    All through this area there are many great views of Shoal Creek on the left.
115.8 ~ CAMPSITE ~ LC, RW
    Once you ford the creek that's just past the campsite, the trail turns to the right and goes
    uphill 30 yards to a switchback to the left.
    NEXT RW ~ 0.9 miles.
    FORDING HAZARD ~ This creek is about 10' wide, 1' deep and can get over knee high after a
    heavy rain. Use extreme caution.
116.0 ~ 116.3 ~ 2 SPRING CROSSINGS ~ SW
116.7 ~ CREEK CROSSING ~ RW
    NEXT RW ~ 0.8 miles.
    FORDING HAZARD ~ This creek is 20' wide, 1' deep and has room to spread out after a heavy
    rain. Use caution.
116.9 ~ EAGLE BRIDGE ~ SW
    This nice bridge was done as an EAGLE SCOUT project with some planning and physical support
    from the Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama and financial support from Wal~Mart.
    Thanks guys !! Great job.
117.1 ~ BEECH GAP
    The Beeches are distinctive for their leaves that turn a tan color in the fall and hang on all
    winter.
117.2 ~ FS 531 CROSSING / DRAIN PIPE BRIDGE ~ 812' ~ SW
    The trail goes straight across the road.  The President of the ATCA calls this second FS 531
    Crossing "Drain Pipe Bridge". I don't know if this is the common name or if she just likes to
    make up names like me.
    WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES!! There have been A LOT of 3 season sightings in this area.
    SW ~ The spring crossing is just before you get to FS 531.
117.3 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ SW
117.5 ~ HIGHROCK LAKE ~ 880' ~ RW
    AKA Lake 10. This is an 8 acre finger lake that is about 50 yards wide all the way up the
    gorge.
    NEXT RW ~ 0.2 miles.
117.6 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ SW
    There is an Indian Trail Tree on the south side of the crossing (well, maybe it is! : ). I read
    somewhere that there is a lady writing a book on Indian Trail Trees of the Appalachian Trail.
    Once upon a time it was common practice for the Native Americans to form trees into an "L"
    shape to show trail directions, camps, etc. I would imagine that authentic Indian Trail Trees
    would have to be at least 100 + years old.
117.7 ~ CAMPSITE ~ LC, RW
    There is a fire ring on the right with a lot of flat spots nearby.
    NEXT RW ~ 2.1 miles.
117.8 ~ HIGHROCK LEAP
    There is a fair winter view of the lake on your left at this rocky point.
119.1 ~ WINTER FEED PLOT
    It's huge!! Like an all you can eat buffet for the Deer. Just imagine the size of the crowd
    after church on Sundays !!
119.2 ~ 119.3 ~ 2 SPRING CROSSINGS ~ SW
119.8 ~ PINE GLEN CAMPGROUND / FS 500 ~ 950' ~ LC, RW (Photo by TC)
    The trail comes out on FS 500. The campground entrance is 50 yards to the left.
    NEXT RW ~ 2.6 miles.
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike

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Millennium
Legacy Trail
Section 9 Hike Planner

CS ~ Convenience Store
0
TT ~ Trail Town
0
SC ~ Small Camp
108.2
LC ~ Large Camp
106.2, 108.2, 114.0, 115.8, 117.7, 119.8
TS ~ Trail Shelter
114.0
SW ~ Seasonal Water
106.2, 107.6, 108.0, 108.4, 108.9, 110.3, 112.4,
116.0, 116.3, 116.9, 117,2, 117.3, 117.6, 119.2, 119.3
RW ~ Reliable Water
113.9, 114.0, 115.8, 116.7, 117.5, 117.7, 119.8
HS ~ Hot Shower
0