What are your favorite spots?

[Magic City Matt]

Along the trail here in Alabama? Having not been as well seasoned as some of you I would like to know what some of the cooler places along some of the trails here are and where I should be looking for them.

[Cuffs]

I hate to sound rude, but this is one thing I dont usually tend to share, for fear that these now quiet places become found and populated!

[Magic City Matt]

Ok how about you tell us about them and not where they are?

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm a lot less tight lipped than Cuffs, but the only thing I have to share that is easy to find is in a well populated area.

If you hike along either the Blue or Orange trail in DeSoto State park, pass Lost Falls, and continue a few yards past the bridge over the creek, there is a cool area of exposed rock that has all sorts of weird plants, lichen, and fungus growing on it. It is a fairly large flat spot, and is pretty cool. It is actually marked on my crude map on my site.

http://waterfalls.szulecki.com/al/desotodt.html

Much harder to find... In Shelby County, there is a location above a waterfall near Montevallo that has graffitti from over a hundred years back, and plants that don't belong in Alabama at all.

Matt, just be careful, don't ask about the cave in Sipsey. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Oh, and the waterfalls...

[Cuffs]

I know of the cave...

[Joshua Szulecki]

Seriously, that cave is probably the best kept (natural) secret in Sipsey, and probably one of the top five in the whole state. There is more secrecy surround that cave than it really deserves. Kinlock Shelter would have been a better recipient.

I know of a few waterfalls that are top-secret, but all are on private property. I'd never keep a waterfall secret if it was on public property. Cultural artifacts and sensitive sites (like the cave) are a different story.

I also know of the best roadside sunset spot in GSMNP. That one is easy to find, and known by thousands, but I'm not talking. Already too crowded! Great for impressing people who've never been there, btw.

[Cuffs]

I love GSMNP too!  I was on Mt Sterling in Oct. and had some of the best views from there!

[Joshua Szulecki]

I haven't had the pleasure of visiting GSMNP since I was in TN in May and June. I'm hoping to get up there during the spring, maybe catching this years dogwood bloom.

Speaking of secret cultural sites, isn't there some sort of cliff dwelling or something in Little River Canyon?