PTA Site Map  /  www.pinhotitrailalliance.org
Pinhoti Trail Alliance
Connecting Alabama and Georgia to the Appalachian Trail

The Pinhoti Trail  /  Section 5
52.3 ~ Porter's Gap Trailhead to
67.8 ~ Adams Gap Trailhead


Trail Club
Alabama Hiking Trail Society (South) ~ www.hikealabama.org
Vulcan Trail Association (North) ~ www.vulcantrailassociation.ws/

Hike Direction
Northbound

Hike Distance
15.5 Miles

Trail Blazes
Light Blue Vertical Rectangles

Trail Description
Difficult ~ Dry Rocky Ridges, Long Climbs, Rock Gardens

Time vs Distance
Consider 2mph as the average hiking pace:
15 minutes = 1/2 mile
30 minutes = 1 mile
60 minutes = 2 miles

Abbreviations
CS ~ Convenience Stores ~ 52.3
TT ~ Trail Towns ~ 52.3
SC ~ Small Campsites ~ 56.4, 57.5, 66.1
LC ~ Large Campsites ~ 55.7, 57.2, 62.0, 64.4, 66.2, 67.6
TS ~ Trail Shelters ~ X
SW ~ Seasonal Water ~ 57.5, 58.8, 58.9, 66.1, 66.2, 66.6, 66.7, 67.6
RW ~ Reliable Water ~ 55.7, 67.6
HS ~ Hot Showers ~ X

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.

The driving directions begin by guiding you from a nearby town to the northern terminus, followed by
directions from there down to the southern terminus, where you’ll start your hike.

Be aware that out on the road you’ll find very few signs pointing the way. Your odometer / trip meter
is going to become your best friend. Please use it.

Also be aware that most of the section trailheads are in pretty isolated areas. Any valuables you plan
to leave in your vehicle should be hidden from view.

67.8 ~ ADAMS GAP TRAILHEAD ~ NORTHERN TERMINUS
PARK FINISH HIKE VEHICLE FIRST
Exit I-20 at US 431, east of Oxford, AL.
Go south 3.4 miles to 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 17.9 miles to the end of the pavement.
This is the Adams Gap Trailhead parking area.

52.3 ~ PORTER’S GAP TRAILHEAD ~ SOUTHERN TERMINUS
PARK START HIKE VEHICLE
From the Adams Gap Trailhead parking area, go across AL 281 to the small downhill paved road.
Go 1.5 miles to the first paved road on the right, Blue Ridge Road. Turn right.
Go 1.2 miles to the stop sign at CR 12. Turn right.
Go 6.7 miles to the stop sign at CR 209. Turn right.
Go 3.2 miles to the stop sign at AL 77. Turn right.
Go 1.2 miles to the Porter’s Gap Trailhead parking area, on the right.

Trail Guide
Southern Terminus / Start Hike
52.3 ~ PORTER'S GAP TRAILHEAD / AL 77 ~ 960' ~ CS, TT ~ (Photo)
    The Pinhoti begins at the back of the parking area, a little left of center, by the blue blaze
    painted on a tree.
    Wildflower ~ Blazing Star / Fall / Purple
    CS ~ Go west on AL 77 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 8.9 miles to Talladega. Map
    TT ~ Go east 13.4 miles to Ashland. Map
    NEXT RW ~ 3.4 miles.
53.6 ~ CHANDLER GAP ~ 1100' ~ (Photo)
    You will cross the old Gap Road here.
    You may hear a lot of gunfire in this area at times. The USFS Shepard Branch Shooting Complex
    is way down in the valley to your left.
    WILDFLOWER ~ Woodland Sunflower / Summer / Yellow
54.6 ~ * ROCKY TOP 1 ~ 1450' ~ (Photo)
    There are many special places along the Pinhoti and the Rocky Tops are at the top of my list. The
    trail may be hard to see in these areas, so keep an eye out for the blazes.
55.0 ~ SWITCHBACKS ~ 1320'
55.5 ~ SKYWAY ROAD ~ 858' ~ (Photo)
55.7 ~ TALLADEGA CREEK BRIDGE ~ 828' ~ LC, RW ~ (Photo)
    The trail crosses the bridge and goes straight on USFS 600 for 0.2 miles, then goes back in the
    woods on the left.
    The bridge was built in 1948 to replace the old one. You can still see the old bridge supports
    downstream. At one time these old crossings were an important link between the farms and towns.
    In many places like here and the covered bridge crossing at Waldo, just a few miles downstream
    there were large campgrounds for people walking with mules or in wagons who could not make the
    trip to the markets in Talladega in one day. This was a 3 day, 36 mile round trip from Ashland.
    The campground is located at the north east corner of the bridge and during the 1930's this was
    a Civilian Conservation Corps camp for the crew that built USFS 600 (-2) from Bull Gap to Mt.
    Cheaha, which at the time was the main south entrance road.
    LC, RW - Look for the Red Wagon Retreat on the right just before the bridge. Campsites and
    firewood for $5 per night at the old CCC Campground. Day or overnight parking for a $2 donation.
    Trig and Alice are very hiker friendly!

    Red Wagon Retreat
    600 Skyline Drive
    Chandler Springs, AL
    256-362-2592

    RW - You can turn left after the bridge for easy access to the creek.
    NEXT RW ~ 12.7 miles (this includes the 0.8 mile hike west on the SLT to the creek.
    WILDFLOWER ~ Common Evening Primrose / Late Spring / Yellow
55.9 ~ USFS 600 TURNOFF ~ 870' ~ (Photo)
    This is where the trail goes back in the woods on the left, 0.2 miles after the bridge. There is a
    good sign post here.
56.0 ~ SWITCHBACKS ~ 910'
56.4 ~ CAMPSITE ~ 1130' ~ SC
    There is a good level spot on the right with no fire ring.
57.2 ~ USFS 600 CROSSING ~ 1410' ~ LC ~ (Photo)
    The trail goes straight across the road.
    As soon as you cross over there is an old road bed on the right that goes downhill 100 yards to
    some pine straw covered flat spots and no fire rings. LNT
    WILDFLOWER ~ Aster / Fall / Blue
57.4 ~ SWITCHBACKS ~ 1200'
57.5 ~ CAMPSITE / SPRING CROSSING ~ SC, SW ~ (Photo)
58.4 ~ * ROCKY TOP 2 ~ 1450' ~ (Photo)
    There is a rocky overlook on the right with a good view of the valley. The trains still run through
    this section, which is between Talladega and Lineville. If you could look straight down through
    the trees at the base of the ridge you would see the HMTC Base Camp and also an old whistle
    stop community called Weathers (Station). The old Steam Locomotives would stop here to fill up
    with water from the pond beside the tracks at the Clairmont Springs Road crossing. The little
    white house beside the pond was the Station Master's home. If you could look past Poe Bridge
    Mountain on the far side of the valley you would see the town of Ashland, which claims their
    Courthouse is at a higher elevation than any other in the state.
58.6 ~ USFS 600 CROSSING ~ 1480' ~ (Photo)
    The trail goes straight across the road.
58.8 ~ SWITCHBACK ~ 1430 ~ SW
    The first switchback goes to the left. As soon as you turn right on the second switchback there
    is a good spring down on your left.
58.9 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 1400' ~ SW ~ (Photo)
    The water runs underground most of the time near the trail. You may have to follow the stream
    bed downhill a little to find a pool.
59.1 ~ * ROCK GARDEN ~ 1410' ~ (Photo)
    With the proper attitude adjustment, crossing these 14 rock fields is fun! Just go ahead and plan
    at least 2 hard hours for the next 1.9 miles, kick back and relax. The first half is very rugged and
    you really need to have your lightning reflexes dialed in.  The going gets easier after the halfway
    point but you still have to pay constant attention to loose rocks and holes.
    WILDFLOWER ~ Spiderwort / Early Summer / Blue
61.0 ~ * DEAD CAR / POWER LINE CROSSING ~ 1360' ~ (Photo)
    This car found out that there is a sharp curve on USFS 600, which is right up above you. DUCK !
61.1 ~ POWER LINE CROSSING ~ 1340' ~ (Photo)
61.2 ~ CLAIRMONT GAP ~ 1380' ~ (Photo)
    The trail comes out on USFS 600. Turn left and go across Gunterstown Road, then go another 10
    yards on USFS 600. The trail goes back in the woods on the left. There are 4 switchbacks up
    ahead.
61.4 ~ * CLAIRMONT SWITCHBACKS ~ 1420' ~ (Photo)
    The first turn is on the right. The second turn is on the left and puts you on an old roadbed. Keep
    a close eye on the blazes for the third turn, which is on the right. The fourth turn is on the left
    at the top of Clairmont Point.
61.8 ~ * CLAIRMONT POINT ~ 1650' ~ (Photo)
    After you make the left turn on the fourth switchback, go about 10' and turn sharp left again and
    follow the ridge line up to Rocky Top 3. This sharp left was not marked in early 2004.
    There is a good southern view here of Clairmont Gap and the ridge going south and it's also a
    great spot to watch winter sunsets.  
62.0 ~ * ROCKY TOP 3 ~ 1770' ~ LC ~ (Photo)
    Large Campsite... Hmmm... Yes, there is a fire ring here and a few flat spots, but you better have
    some tough tent stakes !
63.6 ~ BURGESS POINT VIEW ~ 1600' ~ (Photo)
    Here is a good winter view of the south side of the point.
63.7 ~ USFS 600 CROSSING ~ 1580' ~ (Photo)
    The trail goes left 10 yards on the road and then back in the woods on the right.
64.4 ~ BURGESS POINT /  FIRE TOWER (missing) ~ 1870' ~ LC ~ (Photo)
    This is the highest peak in Section 8. You can't quite see the point up to your left. About 5'
    before you get to the 30.1 ~ USFS 600 Crossing there is an old grown up road bed on your left
    that goes up to the Point and it is a pretty tough 0.4 mile trek up to the old Fire Tower site.
    Connie Roberson, who is a 25 year state employee at the Cheaha Country Store and old friend,
    grew up in the community of Erin (ear-in), which is at the eastern base of Burgess Point. She
    remembers when she was a little girl (tomboy :) in the 60's, the tower was carried off by
    helicopter. There are 360" very limited winter views here because of, yep, trees. On the south
    side of the peak there is a 50' piled (as opposed to stacked) rock wall that may have been an
    observation deck and also some flat concrete "things" (cistern, spring house, out house?). On the
    north side there is a 150' L shaped piled rock wall that was possibly another deck or a trail or
    road border. Back around the middle of the last century USFS 600, both north and south of AL
    77, was a popular travel destination for the locals, at least the ones who had cars back then! The
    Bunker Tower at Cheaha and the Fire Towers on Horn Mountain and Burgess Point were always
    packed with picnickers after church on Sundays according to my Aunt Patty. Friday and Saturday
    nights were pretty busy too but she didn't say much about that...:)
    LC ~ There is a fire ring and grassy spot inside the 4 concrete corner blocks.
    UPDATE ~ Bob Pasquill, the USFS archeologist for Alabama, recently told me that this 100'
    tower was flown to the top of Dugger Mountain to replace a 30' wooden tower.
64.4 ~ USFS 600 CROSSING ~ 1750' ~ (Photo)
    The trail goes right 10 yards on the road and then back in the woods on the left.
    WILDFLOWER ~ Huckleberry / Unlisted / Flowers in Early Spring, Berries in Late Spring / 6'
    tall plants covering whole hillsides.
65.7 ~ PATTERSON SWITCHBACKS ~ 1550' ~ (Photo)
    There are several good winter views of Cheaha Mountain to the north 13.6 trail miles away. There
    are also several views of a new 3 story house that was built up on the first peak north of you in
    2004.
65.8 ~ PATTERSON GAP ~ 1460' ~ (Photo)
    The trail goes right 10 feet on a good gravel road and then back in the woods on the left (poorly
    marked 2004).
    There are a lot of tricky little switchbacks ahead. The trail is not obvious and neither are the
    blazes.
    UPDATE 2004: There are more silver metal diamonds in the switchbacks now and it is much better.
66.1 ~ CAMPSITE ~ 1380' ~ SC, SW ~ (Photo)
    Hmmm... tough tent stakes. Great campsite though!
    SW ~ Continue north on the trail 0.1 miles to the Double Spring.
66.2 ~ DOUBLE SPRING CROSSING ~ 1260' ~ LC, SW ~ (Photo)
    There is a steep 20' hump between the two springs and some flat spots just past the second
    crossing with 2 fire rings. Keep an eye out for the switchbacks just ahead.
    WILDFLOWER ~ Mountain Laurel / Late Spring / White
66.3 ~ SWITCHBACKS ~ 1280'
    The first turn is to the right.
66.6 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 1320' ~ SW ~ (Photo)
66.7 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 1340' ~ SW ~ (Photo)
67.6 ~ SKYWAY LOOP TRAIL ~ 1400' ~ LC, SW, RW ~ (Photo)
    When you get to the sign board, the Pinhoti goes to the right.
    SW ~ Go left on the Skyway Loop Trail 0.1 miles to a good size spring.
    LC, RW ~ Go left on the Skyway Loop Trail 0.8 miles to several large campsites beside Barbaree
    Creek.
    NEXT RW ~ This is the last reliable water source until you reach Cheaha State Park at mile
    45.0. Along the way down to the creek, you will pass a standing chimney on the right. This is the
    former site of a Civilian Conservation Corps built Park Cabin. The CCC had a workers camp near
    here and did a lot of rock work within a 10 mile radius of Cheaha State Park from 1933 until the
    park opened in 1939. The SLT continues on for another 4.3 miles to the Lake Chinnabee
    Campground, which is open from April 15 through November 15.
67.8 ~ ADAMS GAP TRAILHEAD / AL 281 ~ 1444' ~ (Photo)
    The trail comes out at the trailhead parking area on AL 281.
Northern Terminus / Finish Hike

PTA Site Map
Millennium
Legacy Trail
Section 0
Trail Conditions ~ Adopt a Trail

Northern Terminus

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Southern Terminus