PTA Site Map  /  www.pinhotitrailalliance.org
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector

South Dugger Wilderness Loop
Jones Branch / Pinhoti Trail

Trail Data
Hike Location ~ Pinhoti Trail / Section 11
Hike Direction ~ Clockwise
Hike Distance ~ 5.6 miles
Start / Finish Hike ~ Burns Trailhead
Terrain / Moderate ~ Rocky Sections, Small Climbs, Water Crossings

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.
    x
LC ~ Large Campsite / At least three tent sites.
    2.8
TS ~ Trail Shelter / Three sided, open front.
    x
SW ~ Seasonal Water / Needs rain in the past week.
    2.8
RW ~ Reliable Water / Always available.
    0.2 thru 2.1

Trail Description
This 5.6 mile clockwise loop begins at the southern boundary of the Dugger Mountain
Wilderness at the Burns Trailhead. From the Wilderness Dedication Marker, hike out the
0.1 mile Jones Branch Approach Trail to Jones Branch Road and turn right. Then go 2.8
miles to the Jones Branch Road / Pinhoti Trail Intersection and turn right. Follow the
Pinhoti Trail south 2.7 miles to the Burns Trailhead Connector Trail and turn right. Go 0.1
miles to the Burns Trailhead.

There are many water crossings along the first half of the hike as you follow Jones
Branch up to its source. This is a very popular Spring Wildflower viewing area. The
Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama and the Little River Canyon Field School sponsor annual
guided hikes on this loop in early April.

Trail Marking
There are no blazes on Jones Branch Road but the road bed is very well defined. The
Pinhoti Trail uses the standard rectangle 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
BURNS TRAILHEAD
    Exit I ~ 20 at US 431, east of Oxford.
    Go north 0.3 miles to US 78. Turn right.
    Go 3.9 miles to AL 9. Turn left.
    Go 10.9 miles to CR 55, at the yellow flashing light. Turn right.
    Go 4.2 miles to the trailhead, on the left, at Pink's old log cabin.

Trail Guide
0.0 ~ BURNS TRAILHEAD
    The loop begins beside the Dugger Wilderness Dedication Plaque at the rear of the
    parking area. Go left from the plaque along the treeline about 150'. The short
    connector trail to Jones Branch Road is on the right.
0.1 ~ JONES BRANCH ROAD
    Turn right on the road bed. From here up to the Pinhoti Trail Intersection, you are
    walking along the bottom of a gorge formed by the Dugger Mountain Ridge on your
    left and the Red Mountain Ridge on your right.
0.2 ~ CREEKSIDE ~ RW
0.3 ~ SOUTH HOLLOW (begin)
    This is the first narrow passage between Dugger and Red Mountains.
0.4 ~ SOUTH HOLLOW (end)
0.5 ~ NORTH HOLLOW (begin)
    This is the second narrow passage between Dugger and Red Mountains.
0.6 ~ CREEK CROSSING
    There are 4 creek crossings and 8 spring crossings between here and the Pinhoti
    Trail Intersection.
    FORDING HAZARD ~ All of the creek crossings will be over knee high after a
    heavy rain. Use extreme caution.
0.7 ~ NORTH HOLLOW (end)
1.2 ~ CREEK CROSSING
1.3 ~ CREEK CROSSING
2.1 ~ CREEK CROSSING
2.8 ~ PINHOTI TRAIL INTERSECTION ~ LC, SW
    Here you will turn right on the Pinhoti and go south along the west side of the Red
    Mountain Ridge. This gap is where northbound Pinhoti Trail hikers make the
    transition from Red Mountain over to Dugger Mountain.
    LC, SW ~ Go straight across at the Pinhoti Intersection on Jones Branch Road and
    go downhill for 0.1 miles. There is a good spring that crosses the road with several
    good flat areas nearby.
3.6 ~ DUGGER VIEW
    All along through here there are great views on your right of the southern end of
    the Dugger Mountain Ridge.
4.6 ~ GAP CROSSING
    At the gap, the trail crosses over to the east side of the Red Mountain Ridge and
    remains there for the rest of the hike.
5.3 ~ ROAD BED CROSSING
    The trail goes straight across the road bed.
5.5 ~ BURNS TRAILHEAD CONNECTOR
    Turn right here at the Burns Trailhead sign.
5.6 ~ BURNS TRAILHEAD

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