Quillan Creek Deviation

[DavidR]

I'm planning to hike the Quillan loop that Eric & JC reported, but a different route. I used the tracks that Eric sent me as a base for the route. I've read McDowra's report on her trip a while ago and all other info that I can find. Can anyone tell me where the John A. Riddle hands up tree is on my attached map? I know there are many other waterfalls and I'll take time to see them. Is there anything else I'm missing? Also, if the walls of the canyon are like Parker Branch (seems they are by what I've read), do I need to bring rope for climbing? I'm planning on hiking 2 full days and camping one night, but may stay 2 if needed. Thanks

Quillan Creek Deviation

[McDowra]

you shouldn't need any rope. The riddles hands up tree is located next to a old still site HERE, Its above the number 1. That should be pretty close to it I can pm you the coordinates tomorrow I think they are in my spare gps and it should be back tomorrow. There are 3  waterfalls on Riddle Creek and the old Mill site I know of is located close to number 10.

[DavidR]

Thanks McDowra. I'll update my map tonight. I'm looking forward to the 30 degree nights next week.

[McDowra]

HERE is the old mill site that I know of.

[JC785]

David

That looks like a great route, I wanna head back to that area soon and explore more. While we were there we ran into a boyscout group that entered the Quillian area by following the drainage that the big cascades are located on.

[Haveuseen1]

Keep me posted on any Hog sign you see.

[DavidR]

Thanks McDowra. I followed the links you included, but I'm not a member there so I couldn't get the GPS coordinates. I've updated my map to include the things you mentioned. Let me know if I have them indicated in the correct general area.

Cool, Thanks JC785. That might allow me to use my car as a restocking point midway in the hike. I don't think I'll need to restock, but it's good to know that I easily can if I want to.

This is a beautiful loop hike.  Quillan is one of my favorite places to go in the forest.  When you get to where Arnold motorway crosses Quillan, go upstream for maybe a half a mile, not for sure, until you find a waterfall.  It's the first on upstream from the crossing. Along side this waterfall you'll see some old parts left from the time when there was a grist mill across Quillan waterfall.  When i was a boy there was still some of the old supports standing which helped support the water wheel as it spanned the creek.  Almost any drainage you turn up through here will carry you back to FS road 208.

Look at the Beech trees through this area. Several old dates and a couple of arborgylphs besides the John A. Riddle hands up tree.
It is a beautiful time to visit this area.

Does anyone know if these arborglyphs are north of Arnold, or close to the Hands up Tree? I just realized that I saw the 1800 tree beside Parker Branch right beside the mortar. I thought it was just random numbers and letters until I saw a picture that Pulley had taken of the tree and it was more legible...lol.

Updated Map

Quillan Creek Deviation

[Old Hickory]

HERE is the old mill site that I know of.

I was in the area earlier this week. I think I may have found the impeller you mentioned:

Quillan Creek Deviation

[Old Hickory]

Keep me posted on any Hog sign you see.

I saw hog sign everywhere in the drainage.

A large, well used wallow:

Quillan Creek Deviation

A rubbing tree:

Quillan Creek Deviation

[dayhiker]

I was in the area earlier this week. I think I may have found the impeller you mentioned:

Quillan Creek Deviation

Is that upstream of Arnold?  It seems like upstream of Arnold there is a falls on a right hand branch, but the left hand branch has some nice cascades, plus random metal bits similiar to your photo.  It's been a few years since I've been up that way though.

[dayhiker]

Thanks McDowra. I followed the links you included, but I'm not a member there so I couldn't get the GPS coordinates. I've updated my map to include the things you mentioned. Let me know if I have them indicated in the correct general area.

Cool, Thanks JC785. That might allow me to use my car as a restocking point midway in the hike. I don't think I'll need to restock, but it's good to know that I easily can if I want to.

Does anyone know if these arborglyphs are north of Arnold, or close to the Hands up Tree? I just realized that I saw the 1800 tree beside Parker Branch right beside the mortar. I thought it was just random numbers and letters until I saw a picture that Pulley had taken of the tree and it was more legible...lol.

Updated Map

Quillan Creek Deviation

I've looked for that hole in roof fall before but never found it.  The cascade you show just below it, is that the really nice "S" shaped cascade?

Also, I've looked for  Hands UP several times over the years and never found it.  I think Uncle Wayne first told me about it 5 years or so, but no luck so far.

toph and I are camping in Quillen again in a few weeks.  Maybe we can finally find Hands Up and the hole in roof falls.  That falls is what first made me want to explore Quillan.  There was a picture of it posted maybe 8-9 years back on the original hiking alabama site.

[DavidR]

I'm not sure about the flow of the cascades. This will be my first run at this area. Everything on my preliminary map is from research and other members input. Yeah....I have OCD....lol. I have coordinates for the hands up tree thanks to McDowra. I'll post a report when I get back late next week and everything will be marked accurately.

[weathermansam]

If the weather holds I think I'm going to try for a Quillan adventure this coming weekend.  Good to see so many reports of this area up!

[elbowman]

We also are heading out next weekend for Quillian. Looks like we might have a Alatrails gathering.

Eric

[Uncle Wayne]

I've looked for that hole in roof fall before but never found it.  The cascade you show just below it, is that the really nice "S" shaped cascade?

Also, I've looked for  Hands UP several times over the years and never found it.  I think Uncle Wayne first told me about it 5 years or so, but no luck so far.

toph and I are camping in Quillen again in a few weeks.  Maybe we can finally find Hands Up and the hole in roof falls.  That falls is what first made me want to explore Quillan.  There was a picture of it posted maybe 8-9 years back on the original hiking alabama site.

Here's a bad picture of the Hands up tree.  Good luck and enjoy.

Quillan Creek Deviation

[DavidR]

Thanks Uncle Wayne. I had imagined that it was a tree with hand like limbs. Does anyone know why this is called "hands up tree?" Bullet holes?

[Uncle Wayne]

Thanks Uncle Wayne. I had imagined that it was a tree with hand like limbs. Does anyone know why this is called "hands up tree?" Bullet holes?

Old brother John A. Riddle was a local moonshiner.  He got caught near this vicinity at his still.  A contemporary of my father-in-law, he said after John paid his debt to society for making whiskey, he carved the torso with up stretched arms  on the beech tree. 

[dayhiker]

Here's a bad picture of the Hands up tree.  Good luck and enjoy.

Quillan Creek Deviation

I looked for it around that still the first time you told me about it.  I think that was before my '04 trip to Quillen.  A year or two ago toph and I tried again with gps coords that he got from either you or Jeff.  We struck out again.  We're supposed to go back again weekend after next.    Can't go this weekend because of some ballgame Sat afternoon.

[dayhiker]

I'm not sure about the flow of the cascades. This will be my first run at this area. Everything on my preliminary map is from research and other members input. Yeah....I have OCD....lol. I have coordinates for the hands up tree thanks to McDowra. I'll post a report when I get back late next week and everything will be marked accurately.

Here's a pic of the cascades.  It veers back to the right at the top of this photo. 

[Pully]

Can't go this weekend because of some ballgame Sat afternoon.

lol  You're choosing football over hiking? I don't blame you. Should be a good game if 'Bama comes to actually play. I plan on doing Quillan and watching the game 

You up for another trip to the Well next year after the cave ban is lifted?

The hole in the roof falls is just before the S shaped cascade you are talking about. Cross the creek at the top of the cascade and go above the first waterfall.