Wolfpen to Eagle Creek Falls

[Uncle Wayne]

I made the loop today and was amazed at the amount of water still flowing 5 days after our last rain.  Wolfpen, Fernglade, Hemlock, Little Ugly's 3 main falls, a couple of feeders into Eagle Creek and of course Eagle Creek Falls were all flowing good.

It was a good day.  It took about 4 hours round trip, took 164 photos and I really enjoyed myself.  Found two ticks crawling around on me but luckily none attached.  No snakes crossed my path. 

Lots of hog sign and damage everywhere.

[McDowra]

sounds like a good time! We have kicked around doing that but here lately we get to the forest so late all we have time for is a quick hike. Hopefully we will get a saturday totally free before long and we can do it. Post those pictures please!

[Joshua Szulecki]

Wow... 4 hours? It took us all day to get to Little Ugly and back last year. Then again, we went five minutes, not five days, from the last rain, so that may have been what made the trip so slow.

[Uncle Wayne]

Wow... 4 hours? It took us all day to get to Little Ugly and back last year. Then again, we went five minutes, not five days, from the last rain, so that may have been what made the trip so slow.

That does make a difference. I walked in the creeks all I could, it's faster and usually easier.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Well... I tried that on the return trip, but it didn't work out so well. The water was still too deep to make travelling fast, I got stuck in some stinky mud, and was carrying the dog through the stream.

[Jackalope]

My girlfriend, our hiking buddy Jeff and another couple (their first time to go hiking) made this loop this past Saturday. What a great loop! We followed the directions you posted on the other board Uncle Wayne (that board seems to be down right now - my screen name there is jackprtr) and they were spot on. No problems at all following them.

All the waterfalls were flowing well and everyone was happy. It took us about 7 hours to complete the loop but we spent a good deal of time at each waterfall just enjoying it.

Thanks again UW for the directions. It is certainly one of my favorite loops and one that we will do again.

Jack

[Uncle Wayne]

My girlfriend, our hiking buddy Jeff and another couple (their first time to go hiking) made this loop this past Saturday. What a great loop! We followed the directions you posted on the other board Uncle Wayne (that board seems to be down right now - my screen name there is jackprtr) and they were spot on. No problems at all following them.

All the waterfalls were flowing well and everyone was happy. It took us about 7 hours to complete the loop but we spent a good deal of time at each waterfall just enjoying it.

Thanks again UW for the directions. It is certainly one of my favorite loops and one that we will do again.

Jack

I'm glad you got to hike that loop.  It is one of my favorites.  Last year about this time, along that same path, my wife and I made just a wildflower hike.  We found 50 some odd different wildflowers in that loop and I'm sure we missed several.

The only other section of the wilderness that  I have found has a higher concentration of wildflowers per mile is Thompson Creek.  But there are many many more areas almost as good.

This loop is a good one regardless of the season.  Thanks for letting me know you made the trip.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Uncle Wayne,

I'm just curious, where were most of the flowers? Along the streams, or where you diverged? And on what streams? Do you have a list of what you saw?

[Uncle Wayne]

Uncle Wayne,

I'm just curious, where were most of the flowers? Along the streams, or where you diverged? And on what streams? Do you have a list of what you saw?

Joshua,

They were everywhere.  The old logging road is a good places along Wolfpen Creek for wildflowers.  I believe we saw 18 different varieties between the falls and Sipsey.  Several varieties grow along the banks of Eagle / Little Ugly creek.

Don't have a list per se, but do have pictures.  I'll get a list together and post it.

[montysano]

My girlfriend, our hiking buddy Jeff and another couple (their first time to go hiking) made this loop this past Saturday. What a great loop! We followed the directions you posted on the other board Uncle Wayne (that board seems to be down right now - my screen name there is jackprtr) and they were spot on. No problems at all following them.

All the waterfalls were flowing well and everyone was happy. It took us about 7 hours to complete the loop but we spent a good deal of time at each waterfall just enjoying it.

Thanks again UW for the directions. It is certainly one of my favorite loops and one that we will do again.

Jack

Would you be willing to post those directions, or tell us where the "other board" is? 

[Uncle Wayne]

Would you be willing to post those directions, or tell us where the "other board" is?  

Of course.  The other board is a sister to this one. http://alabamatrail.org/f...b2adf1c948b21f0a9d418d459
When making this loop I park at Wolfpen cemetery, drop off in the drainage to the east of the cemetery and follow it to the falls. It's usually easier to work your way down on the left side. After that it's a tough hike to Sipsey because of the downed timber. Sometimes you'll walk in the stream and sometimes you'll have to climb up on the steep banks. There is an old road bed on the left side of the stream going toward Sipsey which I try to follow as much as possible.

When you reach Sipsey, turn upstream and, it's not very far, the next creek you'll find is Eagle Creek although some call it Little Ugly. Turn upstream and less than a 100 feet, Fernglade stream joins from the left. It's a tough climb but Fernglade falls is worthwhile to see if there's been a recent rain.

The next stream entering from the left going upstream Eagle creek is Hemlock creek. You can see this high waterfall from Eagle creek but it's better up close, even better than Fernglade so while you're there visit it also. You won't regret it.

Little Ugly joins from the right just a little ways after you pass Hemlock creek. Got to visit it while you're there. The 3 falls or two and a cascade are very nice .

Of course Eagle Creek Falls is the granddaddy of them all on this loop and seldom disappoints. After admiring it for a while, work your way up on the left side of the falls from downstream and in about a 100 yards of so you see another stream join from the left. This is a very popular camping spot. While there, notice the 4 or 5 trees with barbed wire sticking out. One of the men who logged that area in the late 30's told his son that's where they kept the mules at night while logging.

The best way back to the car is to turn upstream of the little stream joining Eagle Creek at the barbed wire and watch for the first drainage I believe that goes right. (someone has
"carved" a rattlesnake outline in a Beech tree at the junction, the second rattlesnake carving of this leg). Someone has flagged a way straight up the side of the drainage and if you follow it, you'll come out 1/2 mile west of Wolfpen cemetery on Cranal road. Not a bad hike at all and the scenery is well worth the effort.

[Uncle Wayne]

Joshua,

They were everywhere.  The old logging road is a good places along Wolfpen Creek for wildflowers.  I believe we saw 18 different varieties between the falls and Sipsey.  Several varieties grow along the banks of Eagle / Little Ugly creek.

Don't have a list per se, but do have pictures.  I'll get a list together and post it.

As promised but not a complete list: Ferns: Fiddlehead, Cinnamon, & Film.
Trout Lilly, Wild yam, Wild Buttercup, Wild honeysuckle, Solomon Seal, False Solomon Seal, rattlesnake plantain, Indian Cucumber, Two tier Indian Cucumber, Beech Droppings, Little Brown Jugs, Hepatica, Wintergreen, Foam Flower, Wild Ginger, Witch hazel, Virginia Bluebells, Dwarf Iris, Spider Lilies.