odum scout trail

[calicojack]

Thinking about heading up there for a little R&R this coming weekend / next week. i need driving directions from montgomery as well as some easy to follow trail maps. i've not been out in the woods in almost 13 years. i will be taking a gps

[luke724]

You have a couple of choices. I go to Sylacauga, turn right on the scenic drive(hwy148 I think), go about ten or eleven miles turn left on county rd.7. Follow it for about 5 or so miles you will end up on hwy77. Take a left go 1 or 2 miles turn right on county rd 209. Turn left on Clairmont Springs rd., turn left on blue ridge rd(Adams Gap Rd.), you will end up at Adams Gap Trailhead. From there follow 281 to Cheaha Tralhead.

Or you can follow hwy231 it turns into hwy21, follow it through Talladega, after you through town there will be signs for the State Park about eight or so miles out of town.

Or, you can go north on I65-Birmingham, East on I459 to I20. Follow I20 to the exit past Anniston which will be Hwy431, turn right go about 5-7 miles, turn right on Hwy281, Cheaha will be 11 miles away. This way is the most mileage but the ride time is about the same.


From Cheaha, you can go to the store and get free map flyers with driving directions to all trailheads. The Pinhoti Trail Map 4 has all of the trailheads in the Cheaha area.

[BCM]

If you already have a map, don't need to go to Cheaha, and you want to start at High Falls Trailhead, you can go to Talladega, follow AL 148 east to Ashland and turn left on AL 9 and turn left on AL 49.  At Watts Crossroads, turn left on State Lake Rd, At the T, Turn right on Oak Grove Road and take it to Co Rd 31 and Turn left on 31 to Co. Rd 12/Clairmont Springs Rd.  Follow that to the High Falls Trailhead sign.

If you don't like to get off larger Highways, you can take AL 49 to Co Rd 31 and turn left on 31 Co. Rd 12/Clairmont Springs Rd.  Follow that to the High Falls Trailhead sign.  It makes you travel two sides of a triangle and is longer.

I hiked the Odum Scout Trail back in October.  Great hike.  It used to go all the way to Cheaha on the ridge of Talladega Mountain, bypassing McDill Point.  Now it ends at the Odum/Pinhoti/Chinnabee interesection.  I have been told that you can still find the traces of the trail at or near the crest of the ridge.  I have wanted to try and find it, but have not had a chance yet.  It would eliminate the climb up Hernandez Peak.  However I don't like to miss McDill, so I guess all in all it is a wash.