Sougahoagdee Falls

[weathermansam]

I've been eyeballing this waterfall on my cartocraft map for a while now, and I think I've decided to venture there this weekend, assuming I can find it.  There are GPS coordinates listed on the map itself, but I'm not one to fly solo on bushwhacking adventures too much.  I guess my questions are:  Is there an established trail to the waterfall?  What's the easiest way to get there, if not? 

And is anyone up for a hike tomorrow? 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Another wish I was there hike...

The easiest way to get to the falls is via canoe/kayak from Brushy Lake.

Over land, I've seen three routes described. I think Alabama's Canyons says to follow Brushy Creek from the road crossing. This geocacher in the link uses a trespass to do an overland route: http://www.geocaching.com...f0-469b-bd78-dddb6c36a5d4 I seem to recall a third route that did not require a trespass, but I can't remember the specifics right now...

I don't know if there is an unofficial established trail, but I haven't heard of one, since most people I've talked to visited via water. The safest route to avoid getting lost would have to follow Brushy, but that is certainly not the easiest way.

[Cuffs]

there used to be a geocache at that fall...  I found it a couple years ago, so I dont know if its still active.  maybe search geocaching.com to see if you can find its coordinates to help you out???

[Joshua Szulecki]

there used to be a geocache at that fall...  I found it a couple years ago, so I dont know if its still active.  maybe search geocaching.com to see if you can find its coordinates to help you out???

If it was GCTVQQ, I beat you to it... See above. No clue if it is still active, but the last comments are from last fall, so it might be.
 
PS... The coords are approx: 34.253889, -87.264167, but I think they are on the Cart-o-craft with better accuracy.

[weathermansam]

Cart o Craft gives those same coordinates, just in dms.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Cart o Craft gives those same coordinates, just in dms.

That's good news, I wasn't sure how good those were.

Personally, I think I'd walk along Brushy Creek, mostly because I'm a stream follower whenever possible.

[McDowra]

coming from Moulton take hwy33 to Co rd 63(Grayson). Follow 63 till you come to a white church on your left, this is Co Rd 3159, it will turn into FS255. Follow it till you come to a bridge crossing Brushy Creek. Don't cross the bridge, there is a trail that follows Brushy creek for a while. It will turn left and take you straight to the falls. The geocache is still active, as are the 5 geocaches you pass walking there.

[Joshua Szulecki]

coming from Moulton take hwy33 to Co rd 63(Grayson). Follow 63 till you come to a white church on your left, this is Co Rd 3159, it will turn into FS255. Follow it till you come to a bridge crossing Brushy Creek. Don't cross the bridge, there is a trail that follows Brushy creek for a while. It will turn left and take you straight to the falls. The geocache is still active, as are the 5 geocaches you pass walking there.

Oh sweet, there is an unofficial trail! What condition is it in?

[Skippy]

Josh, I think its about 2 miles. Takes about a hour to walk it and it is easy walking.

[weathermansam]

McDowra, thanks for the directions!

Skippy, is that 2 miles one way or round trip? 

Josh, I'll be sure and post on the trail conditions tomorrow.


Thanks everyone for the info!

[Skippy]

2 miles 1 way. Look for some pink ribbon someone has tied off on a tree branch  that marks the trail going to the falls. They should be awesome tomorrow with all of the rain.

[southmark]

Was  there in February. It's an easy hike. Trail was in good condition. The trail continues behind the falls and leads to a great bluff shelter on the other side. You will pass a couple of nice waterfalls on you left going in. There is a shorter route, about 1/2 mile but you have to know where you are going, no trail. The falls will be spectacular with all of the rain we have had. Have a good trip!

[Miner]

It is a nice waterfall. Here's a photo.

Sougahoagdee Falls

[WolfVanZandt]

Actually, this is a great trail with several nice waterfalls (one is terraced as though it were designed for a garden), but it's a goodly distance to Soggy Hoggie, so start up early.

In fact, there's a little cascade right are the trail head that looks like a river following an old road bed - very photographable. There are some nice rapids in the creek, several big rocks worth seeing, and where the other creek (what is it - Storm Creek?)comes into Brushy on the other side from the trail, there's a really nice waterfall that you'll miss if you're not paying attention. THis will most certainly be a regular trip for the SEHowl.

Now, don't miss the hidden waterfall - one of the prettiest ones I saw in the area. As you pass Brushy Lake camping area and go over the creek, you continue up the hill. At the top, there's a spike that says "Water Valve". If you get out there, you'll hear water running back in the woods. Follow the sound to a very nice waterfall. The last thing the Howlers did this year was to clean the trash out from behind it - seems the locals like to camp and picnic there.

:p

There are actually some pretty falls coming off the bluff at Brushy Lake Recreational Area. One is "hidden". If you follow the trail up to the bluff but take a side trail to the right instead of taking the main trail to the left along the bluff at the top, you come to a little amphitheater shaped waterfall - it may be intermittent but it has a stream bed running from it, so it's a legitimate fall and not just runoff from the bluff.

[weathermansam]

some notes before I shower and chill for the night, full update later when I have the photos/video organized and online:

~Missed the church the first time past, may have been white before, but it looks like tan/beige stonework on the outside now.  Was a good thing, though.  I found a place called Bankhead National Forest Natural Bridge Recreation Area.  Short 10-15minute loop trail to a nice natural bridge and back.

~Trail to Sougahoagdee was very nice, good condition, easy to follow.  Don't rely on the pink tassels to navigate you to the falls.  Follow the trail until it makes you cross a tree w/ a fire ring on the other side.  The trail going left there goes to the falls.  I followed two side trails with pink tassels along the way, one of which led to a smaller waterfall, the other led steeply uphill and then vanished [not that it was discernible beyond the pink tassels] on an old road bed.  I wandered for good half hour before giving up, and going back the way I came.  In retrospect, if I'd followed that road bed I have a feeling now it would have led me to the top of Sougahoadgee.  At any rate, there is a nice campsite w/ fire ring where the trail tuns to go to the falls.  

~I photographed/waypointed 6 other waterfalls along the way.  I also collected points along the trail on the way back.

~I picked more spiders off of me than ticks.  

~Someone's been there recently.  Lots of shoe prints [and m&m wrappers and water bottles] left behind.   Thankfully, though, I never saw any markings on trees.  It's nice to know there are still places to visit without having to see someone's initials and recent year gauged into the bark.  

~Either my GPS is lying or Cart-o-Craft's coordinates are incorrect for the Falls.  My unit was telling me it was accurate to within 27ft, but the lat/long values should have been closer I think.  

~Uploading three  videos to youtube, 2 of the unnamed waterfalls and a 1 minute video of Sougahoagdee Falls.  


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edited to change # of waterfalls I spotted, and to include info about videos.