Afternoon short hikes/bushwhacks

[weathermansam]

Living roughly an hour from Sipsey/Bankhead, any recommendations for a good 2-3hr hike?  I know Borden like the back of my hand now, and I'm leaning toward wanting to know more unofficial trails,  turkey foot, little ugly, eagle creek, quillan, etc...never seen 'em.  Are they reachable in that time frame, or is a dayhike the better option?

[McDowra]

You could do turkey creek in that amount of time, Eagle/Little Ugly, and Quillen I would say no. You could get to eagle falls and back in that time but you would be hurrying.

My suggestions for a quick hike would be

1. Turkey Creek
2. Parker Falls
3. Kinlock Shelter/Kinlock Falls
4. Caspey Creek Falls
5. Upper Caney Creek Falls

[weathermansam]

I get off work at 3:15 most days, and didn't get the opportunity like I thought I might to get out there this past weekend.  I've seen upper Caney Creek falls, but not the lower one, and I've seen kinlock falls, but not the shelter.  I got "lost" on the "road" at the kinlock springs rambling through all of the blowdowns.  My wife was getting tired of hopping trees, so we left. 

[JustADude]

I would suggest either Turket Foot Creek or Falls Creek Falls.  Both hikes would start at the Recreation Area/Picnic Area. I am not familiar with Caspey Creek. Parker Falls would be OK except that it might take too long depending on how fast you hike.

[weathermansam]

Fall Creek Falls is one of my favorite spots in Sipsey, camped there several times.  Been a while since I've visited, though, and it'd be good to see it again.  I hike at a good pace provided my knees are in good shape, which they haven't been lately, and I also stop a lot to take photos.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Turkey Foot is a great short hike. You'll probably do it in less than 2-3 hours, but it is a nice hike, just watch the slick spot if you go after rain.

Kinlock Shelter is easier to find that you're experience suggests, and along with Kinlock Falls and the Kinlock Chute, makes that area pretty cool. Certainly doable in 2-3 hours.

Upper and Lower Caney are doable in 2-3 hours depending on how long you dawdle. It is hard NOT to dawdle at Upper Caney.

I'm assuming the falls on the tributary to Capsey Creek is the one I called Jay's Secret Falls, the one shaped like a T. That is doable in 2-3 hours, but I wouldn't do it in the afternoon, because it is really a bushwhack, and starting a bushwhack that late in the day is somewhat iffy in my book. If you had 2-3 hours NOW, I'd go for it. In November/December it would be too dark too early for my taste. 

Eagle Falls ONLY can be done in that amount of time, as McDowra says. Figure on 2-3 hours EACH WAY for Little Ugly.

What about White Oak Hollow? You could probably do that in that amount of time. Ditto on some of the side streams off of the trail to Clifty Creek along Braziel.

[McDowra]

I get off work at 3:15 most days, and didn't get the opportunity like I thought I might to get out there this past weekend.  I've seen upper Caney Creek falls, but not the lower one, and I've seen kinlock falls, but not the shelter.  I got "lost" on the "road" at the kinlock springs rambling through all of the blowdowns.  My wife was getting tired of hopping trees, so we left.  

OK lets give the bride a easy one. Take her to Holmes Chapel falls, 2 minute hike to the top, 15 minute hike to the bottom. When you go in from the bottom you will pass 2 abandoned still sites, a balancing Boulder and a artesian spring. Its looks like Falls Creek Falls except bigger, its is a great  photo area. Pictures Here. Its easy to get to drive past Brushy Creek Campground about a mile turn right park at the bridge over Rush Creek. Follow the creek on your right upstream, the trib that flows into Rush Creek, not Rush creek that goes under the bridge. To get to the top drive out the way you came park at first turn off you come to, follow the sound.

[weathermansam]

Thanks...I'm going to explore holmes chapel and turkey foot tomorrow, maybe kinlock if I have time.  I'd really like to see the shelter.  Much needed trip after a long week at work.  Introducing a newbie to Sipsey tomorrow as well.  Little iffy on taking him here, though.  He's got the jitters about tick critters big time.  He hasn't had a good set of outings with me so far this year....his first camping trip since he was a kid I took him a pretty rough hike at virgin falls pocket wilderness in TN, woke up to find why nobody had taken our camping spot first.....it was a bit of a depression not really noticeable until you have a driving rainstorm like we had that night.    all part of the fun, or that was my opinion....

[montysano]

If, like most of us, you're east-ish of Bankhead, then you can't get much quicker and easier than Capsey Creek.  From Huntsville, I can be at the trailhead in about 60 minutes.

Park at the Inmanfield Bridge and go upstream on the east side of the creek.  When the logging road starts uphill, stay down low by the creek.  Very nice.

[weathermansam]

I live close to you montysano, I'm in Madison, a couple miles west of the madison blvd exit.  I'll have to explore Capsey Creek next then.

[montysano]

Someone PM'd me for a clarification: what  I call Inmanfield Bridge is where FS 266 crosses Capsey. 

Lamar M. told me years ago that there's some very nice stuff up in there.  I noticed last winter that a Wild Alabama hike went up Capsey to Kemp Branch.

[McDowra]

pass any waterfalls going up Caspey to Kemp?

[montysano]

pass any waterfalls going up Caspey to Kemp?

Small ones.  But as you head upstream, the area where the first side creek comes in from the south is lovely.  I've probably gotten more good photos from Capsey than anywhere else in Bankhead (Sorry for the crappy scans.  I don't have a good way to scan medium format negatives).