Wolfpen Creek - Sipsey River Hike

Today one of WildSouth's hikes followed Wolfpen Creek to the Sipsey River.  We crossed and joined trail 209 heading east.  We followed 209 to Fall Creek Falls, then on to cross Borden Creek.  From there we went south to the Sipsey River Rec area and shuttled back to the cars at the cemetary.  There has been good rainfall this week and the current was stronger than anticipated, but it was manageable.  The mountain laurel has passed its bloom time, most flowers have quit and everything was green.  Some umbrella magnolias were still in bloom, and the spent tulip poplar trees flowers littered the ground.  Vast swaths were up turned by the wild pigs, with very fresh turnings.  We made noise to warn them of our approach. Some parts of the trail were muddy, mucky from recent rains, where streams follow the trails. 

At the beginning you follow a old roadbed to Wolfpen Creek.  This is down hill and there are some deadfalls to go around, but someone has used orange tape to mark the descent.  Once you get to the creek, it is easy.  Follow the creek. There may be some tape, but I quit looking for it once we reached the creek.   There is a place above the falls to cross and go down on the left side of the falls on Wolfpen.  Then you go below the falls, take pictures and enjoy! cross and up on the right is are falls coming off a bluff.  From there work your way back down to Wolfpen... it is steep.  You criss cross the stream several times before reaching the Sipsey.  There is a large campsite there at the junction of the two.  Here we waded to a sand shoal on the other side and went through some thick brush for about 30 feet to trail 209.  Probably where I got the ticks.

Go left on 209,  you will encounter another large campsite on your left and the trail goes through it.  Many interesting large trees, bluffs, and deep holes along the river on this walk.  Today Fall Creek Falls was flowing and it was a beauty!  After Fall Creek Falls, there is another canyon with some small falls in it and some more campsites.  Getting down to Borden Creek was slick and we waded to the Borden Creek trail.  We had to pass through an occupied campsite to get to it. 

We went right and followed the Sipsey to the Rec area with a side trip to some pretty falls on the left going out, with another campsite at the base.  This place was very slick and we literally picked up some of the trail and brought it home with us. It is the waterfall closest to the rec area so all the traffic has smoothed out all the bumps that would slow or break a fall.

Today we had lots of water.  If it wasn't for the ticks, I would have camped.  Wildlife - birds, toads.  No one was swimming today, I guess because of the current, but boy, if I had my kayak and some time...

We left the cars around 10:00am and got to our cars around 2:15.