Collier Creek & Shangri-La Falls 6/5

[jaybird]

Headed out to an unexplored part of the Bankhead today.  For me, ranks right up there with Quillan!  Unbelievable that I hadn't heard more about this canyon before.  Thanks Uncle Wayne for the flawless directions!!  Only 6 ticks to remove when I got home...

Collier Creek & Shangri-La Falls 6/5

Collier Creek & Shangri-La Falls 6/5

Collier Creek & Shangri-La Falls 6/5

Collier Creek & Shangri-La Falls 6/5

Collier Creek & Shangri-La Falls 6/5

[Pully]

Great pictures. I love the shot of Collier Creek Falls from that vantage point.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it ranks with Quillan but from Shangri-La Falls to Collier Creek Falls is one of my favorite canyon hikes. The only problem is it would be difficult to do after a 2 or more inch rain due to the narrowness of the canyon, creek crossings and having to climb up a ledge on the creek that water would be flowing over after a rain.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Awesome Jay! I love seeing pictures from areas like this, especially when it is an area that I've been itching to get at for years. The picture of Collier Creek Falls is quite nice.

I'll make a post on the subject when I get a chance, but I want to put together a group hike for Collier for when the seasonal road is open, to allow for a one-way hike, for greater loiter time in the canyon.

I think Pully may have answered our question as to why it is so poorly covered. It is clearly quite narrow, and when the water is flowing well, the only access is via kayak, otherwise you have to view from above.

[toph]

"the only access is via kayak"

I assume you mean by going over the fall itself? 

[Joshua Szulecki]

"the only access is via kayak"

I assume you mean by going over the fall itself? 

I should have said "would probably be" via kayak or from above, since I haven't viewed the area under those circumstances... But...

What I read at Alabama Whitewater was that it could be done by rope, or by going over the falls, which I was somewhat shocked by, because that's a pretty decent drop, and since they used the ropes, I'm guessing it would be dicey. I sincerely doubt 3 feet of water would be enough to stop my fat butt, even with the bouyancy boast of a kayak.

I mean, idiots like us would probably drop in and out of the canyon multiple times to visit during high water on foot, but most people probably wouldn't and I'm assuming that's part of the reason why we hear/see so little, because when it flows spectacularly, nobody knows about it, and the rest of the year there are easier places to get at.

[jaybird]

The canyon was not that easy to get into either.  I came in from the NE side -- and right away picked up on some orange flagging tape.  This tape takes you on an old logging road around to the top of the main falls and follows the other side downstream for a good long ways to the exact spot where you drop in.  The drop-in spot is not that easy, and it's the only one I saw.

Any idea what the 2 large rock pillars are there next to the main falls?  Perhaps they held a flume for a mill?  I saw in another post where upstream there is/was a CCC dam and lake.  Is this maybe something to do with that?

http://almtnman.proboards...on=display&thread=467

[Uncle Wayne]

Any idea what the 2 large rock pillars are there next to the main falls?  Perhaps they held a flume for a mill? 

http://almtnman.proboards...on=display&thread=467

J.C. Riddle, a renowned stone mason of his day, built the pillars between 1902 and 1910.  Originally there were 4 of them just like the two you saw.  The two missing pillars have been washed away. If you study the area carefully, you can pick out where the missing pillars stood. The mill operated up until WW1 as far as anyone knows.   On top of the falls you'll see several square holes cut in the rock all the way up to the edge of the falls. They formed the upper support for the flume.   Those were used by the mill owners to direct or redirect the water flow as needed by the mill. I wish there was a picture of it.

[jaybird]

Any idea if the mill may've been related to the modern-day nearby Grayson Lumber Yard?  Might be a good place to see if they know of a picture of the old mill.

(Found the following at http://wcgs.ala.nu/graysonhistory.htm)
In 1941 Grayson Lumber Company owned by Claude Grayson was granted a twenty year contract to harvest timber in the Bankhead Forest. During the summer of that year the site was selected and land was cleared to construct the sawmill town. One of the reasons for this site was the land was fairly level and Collier Creek which was close by provided a good source of water to operate the mill. This was at the beginning of World War II and lumber was in much demand. The forest service decided to harvest the timber in the forest. Mr. Grayson decided to build a complete town with a commissary. Grayson is located near the Lawrence County line off Cheatham road. The CCC Camp at Grayson was located across the hollow from the mill site. Several families lived in the old barracks and were employed to clear the land for the mill site. In order to get a post office the town had to have a name. It was suggested that it be called Grayson after the owner of the mill. Through Mr. Grayson’s political connections a fourth class post office was secured and John L. West was appointed its first post master. Mr. Grayson purchased a set of post office boxes and were installed in the front of the store. The store was 40 feet by 60 feet; more was added later. The store was heated by a large pot-bellied stove. For water Mr. Grayson had wells drilled and a rope and bucket was used to draw out water. Later a water system was installed. Water for the boilers for the mill was pumped out of Collier Creek. A generating system for electricity was installed at the mill, but none was provided for the homes. Kerosene lamps were used for light.

[Uncle Wayne]

My father-in-law was a member of the CCC camp at Grayson and the mill at Collier Falls was already gone then.  I'm not sure of the years he was there however but it was before WW2.

I worked at the Grayson lumber yard in the late 70's and early 80's.  They had a huge dining room in a boarding house where all the work hands (and anyone else with $1.25) ate dinner.  The food was delicious.  The food was brought to the long table in huge bowls and passed from one person to the next around the table.  It was an "all you could eat" type meal with only one restriction: "eat what you got".

Ahh, the good ole days.....

[jaybird]

Uncle Wayne,

Your knowledge of the area is such an asset.  Have you ever considered writing this all down in a book?  I'd buy it!

[McDowra]

Uncle Wayne,

Your knowledge of the area is such an asset.  Have you ever considered writing this all down in a book?  I'd buy it!

yep i'd buy a copy myself.

[JustADude]

Exactly where are the two waterfalls, and how is the best way to get there?

[Uncle Wayne]

Exactly where are the two waterfalls, and how is the best way to get there?

Look at replies 13, 14, and 15 in this thread.  This will get you very close. http://www.alatrails.com/...dex.php/topic,1419.0.html