Cheaha Wilderness
Click for Larger Image
PTA Site Map  /  www.pinhotitrailalliance.org
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector

South Cheaha Wilderness Loop
Pinhoti / Chinnabee / Skyway Loop Trails

Trail Data
Hike Location ~ Pinhoti Trail / Section 6
Hike Direction ~ Counter Clockwise
Hike Distance ~ 16.7 miles
Start / Finish Hike ~ Adams Gap Trailhead
Terrain / Difficult ~ Rocky Climbs and Descents, Minimal Blazing

Abbreviations
CS ~ Convenience Store / Nice Mom and Pop stores.
    x
TT ~ Trail Town / Large enough for McDonald's.
    x
SC ~ Small Campsite / At least one tent site.
    4.4
LC ~ Large Campsite / At least three tent sites.
    3.1, 4.8, 5.4, 5.8, 6.0, 7.6, 7.8, 9.0, 11.0, 12.7, 15.7
TS ~ Trail Shelter / Three sided, open front.
    9.2
SW ~ Seasonal Water / Needs rain in the past week.
    1.2, 2.5, 3.2, 5.5, 5.9, 6.0, 6.9, 8.2, 16.4
RW ~ Reliable Water / Always available.
    7.6, 9.0, 11.0, 11.4, 12.7, 12.8, 15.7

Trail Description
This 16.7 mile counter-clockwise loop begins at the southern end of the Cheaha
Wilderness at the Adams Gap Trailhead. From the parking area, you'll cross over AL 281
and go down the downhill dirt road about 20 feet to the Pinhoti Trail. Turn left on the
Pinhoti and hike 6.0 miles to the Little Caney Head Campsite. Then turn left on the
Chinnabee Silent Trail and hike 5.4 miles to Lake Chinnabee. Just before the lake you'll
turn left on the Skyway Loop Trail and then hike 5.1 miles to the Pinhoti Trail. Turn left
on the Pinhoti and hike 0.2 miles to the Adams Gap Trailhead.

Trail Marking
Minimal Blue Blazes

Time vs Distance
To help you judge the time needed to travel from point A to point B,
consider that the average hiking pace is 2 mph:
60 minutes = 2 miles
30 minutes = 1 mile
15 minutes = 1/2 mile

Driving Directions
ADAMS GAP TRAILHEAD
    Exit I ~ 20 at US 431, east of Oxford.
    Go south 3.4 miles to the overhead bridge.
    Go 100 yards past the overhead bridge to the second right turn, just before Parks
    Store. Turn right.
    Go 0.4 miles to the stop sign at AL 281. Turn left.
    Go 17.9 miles to where the pavement ends at the Adams Gap Trailhead parking area.

Trail Guide
0.0 ~ ADAMS GAP TRAILHEAD / AL 281 ~ 1444' ~ (Photo)
    From the parking area, cross over AL 281 and go down the downhill dirt road about
    20' and turn left up the hill into the Cheaha Wilderness.
0.1 ~ CHEAHA WILDERNESS BOUNDARY / INFO BOARD ~ 1500' ~ (Photo)
1.2 ~ 2.5 ~ 6 SPRING CROSSINGS ~ 1360' +/- ~ SW
3.1 ~ CAMPSITE ~ 1380' ~ LC
    There is a fire ring on the left and a spring crossing just up the trail.
3.2 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 1360' ~ SW
3.5 ~ SIGN BOARD / ROAD BED ~ 1460'
    The trail turns right on the road bed and goes 0.2 miles.
3.7 ~ SIGN BOARD ~ 1575'
    The trail goes back in the woods on the left. This sign board is off trail 10' on the
    left and is easy to miss.
3.7 ~ STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN ~ 1575'
    Here is a huge rock garden and there are a lot of tricky little uphill rocky
    switchbacks for the next 0.5 miles. Keep a close watch on the blazes!
4.3 ~ PEARLY GATES ~ 2050'
    You will have to see it to believe it. Yikes!
4.4 ~ HEAVEN / ROCKY TOP 4 ~ 2135' ~ SC ~ (Photo)
4.8 ~ 5.4 ~ 3 CAMPSITES ~ 2100' +/- ~ LC ~ Good views
5.5 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 2140' ~ SW
5.7 ~ * ROCKY TOP 5 ~ 2160'
5.8 ~ CAMPSITE ~ 2120' ~ LC ~ Good views
5.9 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 2120' ~ SW
6.0 ~ LITTLE CANEY HEAD CAMPSITE ~ 2100' ~ LC, SW
    Turn left at this big intersection on the Chinnabee Silent Trail and start working
    your way down off the ridge.
    LC ~ Little Caney Head is a busy place with 6 fire rings.
    SW ~ The spring is 50' down the CST, on the left.
    WILDFLOWER ~ Mountain Laurel / Late Spring / White
6.9 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ SW
    The spring is off trail about 50' to the right, through a Mountain Laurel thicket.
    You'll be able to hear it a lot better than you can see it.
7.6 ~ CREEK CROSSING ~ LC, RW
7.8 ~ TURNIPSEED HUNTER'S CAMP ~ LC
    The trail goes straight across the camp road. You can go right on the road about 50
    yards to a new outhouse. The old hand pump across the road has been removed
    because of bacteria in the water.
8.0 ~ AL 281 CROSSING / PARKING AREA
    The trail goes straight across the road.
8.2 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ SW
    Cross the spring and the trail turns left.
8.5 ~ SKYWAY MOTORWAY CROSSING
    The trail goes straight across the road.
9.0 ~ CHEAHA FALLS ~ LC, RW
    Cross the creek and the trail turns left. The falls are downstream 50' to the left.
    LC ~ There is a large campsite on the right, before the creek crossing.
9.2 ~ CHEAHA FALLS SHELTER ~ TS
    The trail turns sharp right just past the shelter. The water source for the shelter
    is Cheaha Falls.
10.5 ~ BEETLE CUT
11.0 ~ CAMPSITE ~ LC, RW
    Look for the camp down on the left.
11.2 ~ DEVIL'S DEN FOOT BRIDGE
    This 75' bridge has good views of the chaos below in Devil's Den.
11.4 ~ TRAIL SIGN / SKYWAY LOOP TRAIL INTERSECTION ~ RW
    Continue on for another 50' past this sign to the Skyway Loop Trail sign. Turn left
    here and cross the creek.
12.0 ~ ROAD BED CROSSING
12.2 ~ ROAD BED CROSSING
12.7 ~ CAMPSITE ~ LC, RW
    Look for a trail on the right leading to the camp.
12.8 ~ HUBBARD CREEK CROSSING ~ RW
13.7 ~ ROAD BED CROSSING
14.7 ~ ROAD BED CROSSING
15.7 ~ CAMPSITE ~ LC, RW
    The campsites are on the right and left.
15.8 ~ CCC CHIMNEY
    Many years ago there was a CCC Park Cabin on this spot. Keep an eye out for the
    uphill switchbacks ahead.
16.4 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ SW
16.5 ~ PINHOTI TRAIL INTERSECTION ~ 1400'
    When you come to the intersection, turn left on the Pinhoti and follow the rocky
    trail up to the gap.
16.7 ~ ADAMS GAP TRAILHEAD ~ 1444'

PTA Site Map  /  Top of Page ^-^
Millennium
Legacy Trail