Conecuh Trail

[jamfan]

Anyone hiked this trail recently (as in say the last year)?

I will be in the Troy area this weekend and plan on going over to Andalusia to sort of poke around Conecuh, find the trail heads, and scout it out a little for a future backpacking trip.  

I have researched what is available on the web, but any pictures anyone might have would be cool to see, as I couldn't find much in the way of a good image gallery of the trail.

[Bahen]

I have some pictures in my gallery:  http://www.alatrails.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=80

It is a really cool trail.  You'll be surprised by the varying terrain that you go through.  One minute you will be in a Long-Leaf Pine savanna and the next you will be in a hardwood forest.  There are several ponds and blackwater streams too, and you will likely have the place to yourself.  I would recommend the northern loop of the trail.  Both trailheads are right on AL-137 and are easy to find.

[jamfan]

Bahen - thanks for the tips.  I will take my camera with me and with your suggestion check out the north loop. I'll report back early next week. 

[melonhead]

I too am actually thinking about going to Conecuh tomorrow March 15 coming from Mobile. I plan on camping the night. So the northern loop is the most scenic and diverse trails of the forest? Couldnt find much info online unfortunately.

[Bahen]

I too am actually thinking about going to Conecuh tomorrow March 15 coming from Mobile. I plan on camping the night. So the northern loop is the most scenic and diverse trails of the forest? Couldnt find much info online unfortunately.

Here is some online information on the trail:  http://www.alabamatrail.org/hikingAL/

You can find more info in Joe Cuhaj's book Hiking Alabama.  They have this in the Mobile Public Library system.

You can also contact the National Forest.  They will have info on things like prescribed burns and hunting seasons.  http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama/recreation/rec_opportunities.shtml#Conecuh

The National Forest Service sells a map of the trail but it isn't very good.  It's not worth spending the $9 or whatever it is that they are charging for it.

[Bahen]

Also, Conecuh National Forest is a great place to view a night sky without any light pollution.  http://www.auburnastro.org/trips/cnf/conecuh.htm

[melonhead]

Thanks for the information. I will be sure to use it.

[jamfan]

The link to the Auburn Astronomical Society doesn't work for me.  But when going directly to http://www.auburnastro.org/ then clicking "Field Trips", then "Conecuh National Forest" i think this is what you trying to direct us to.

Well I ended up waking up pretty late Sat.  I guess working late all week took its toll.  I got out to Conecuh around 3 PM in the afternoon and hiked until close to sunset.  I put in at the second trailhead on 137 (zipped right past the first one), and hiked west over to the connector.  I opted to head south towards the south loop, and probably went a 1 mile or so before heading back.   Trail was in great shape, and would be great for mountain bikers as well.  Apparently horses and mountain bikes are allowed on the trail, and in wet spots you could see bike tracks.   I saw not a soul on the trail, and drove by 3 trailheads in all, not seeing a single car.  While driving around I did see several deer.

Anyway here are the pics I took:

Conecuh Pictures from Sat

From reading rules, I got the impression camping is allowed anywhere, but I did not see a single fire ring anywhere.  This surprised me because it sounded like fires are allowed and you are responsible for keeping them under control. 

[PastorLarryT]

Thanks for sharing your hike jamfan.  Looks like your dog had a blast too.  Watch out for him (or her) though in that area (placards warn of alligators!).  Last time I hiked Conecuh was Jan-2007 and I greatly enjoyed it.  I had water invading one section of the trail as well but it wasn't as deep as it appeared in your picture (I was able to bushwhack around it).  Most of my hiking at that time was on the South Loop and around the lake.  Your pictures make me want to give the North Loop at look-see before the weather gets too warm.

One question... any problem with ticks for your dog.  I sometimes like to take mine on the trail (an Eskimoe Spitz) but she picked up 6 or 7 ticks the last time we went hiking together (and the temp was just above 40 degrees!).

[jamfan]

Thanks for sharing your hike jamfan.  Looks like your dog had a blast too.  Watch out for him (or her) though in that area (placards warn of alligators!).  Last time I hiked Conecuh was Jan-2007 and I greatly enjoyed it.  I had water invading one section of the trail as well but it wasn't as deep as it appeared in your picture (I was able to bushwhack around it).  Most of my hiking at that time was on the South Loop and around the lake.  Your pictures make me want to give the North Loop at look-see before the weather gets too warm.

One question... any problem with ticks for your dog.  I sometimes like to take mine on the trail (an Eskimoe Spitz) but she picked up 6 or 7 ticks the last time we went hiking together (and the temp was just above 40 degrees!).

Thanks for the heads up about the Alligators.  When I do try to backpack the whole trail, it will most likely be without the dogs.  She absolutely loves hiking, so much so that she gets so sore afterward that it hurts her to move.    Right now I guess it was too cold for ticks, even down there in South Alabama, but I could see bugs being a huge problem in Conecuh as it warms up.

My wife and I have two dogs, and they both get ticks especially in the warmer months.  The one you see not so bad, but the other one has longer hair and gets a bunch.  This year we may try some anti-tick drops or pills.  We've used anti-flea stuff in the past but I don't think the stuff we used treats ticks.

[jedbear]

Because of all the rain lately, Open Pond Recreational Area is closed. Contact the Ranger District in Andalusia for updates on
the closure. The South Loop has one water problem. Five Runs Creek is in flood stage and the portion of the trail that runs
along this creek is under water. After Hurricane Ivan, the bridges were damaged and a detour of this area was created using
a Forest Service Road that can still be used to avoid the flooded area. The posted  maps at trailheads will show the Forest
Service Road nearest this area. I will see look to find more information and report back.



                jed

[PastorLarryT]

Because of all the rain lately, Open Pond Recreational Area is closed. Contact the Ranger District in Andalusia for updates on
the closure. The South Loop has one water problem. Five Runs Creek is in flood stage and the portion of the trail that runs
along this creek is under water. After Hurricane Ivan, the bridges were damaged and a detour of this area was created using
a Forest Service Road that can still be used to avoid the flooded area. The posted  maps at trailheads will show the Forest
Service Road nearest this area. I will see look to find more information and report back.

Wow, they must have closed it just after we left on Saturday afternoon.  Guess they got more rain Sat. night than we did at home.  I noticed that Open Pond was within a few feet of the Lakeshore Road and portions of the South Loop Trail were already under water on Friday/Saturday before any additional rain.  I had to detour using a FS Road on Saturday for my hike to Mossy Pond.