Need Suggestions...

[jpjohnson93]

Hi,

Longtime lurker, but I'm coming out of the woodwork to ask for some help.

I have a group of four, going to Cheaha for a low-mileage backpacking trip.  I'm looking for an out and back trip, something on on the order of 4-7 miles round trip.  Waterfalls/views would be awesome...and, as a secondary priority, the group would prefer a "road less traveled"...

Any ideas?  I'd thought about parking at Turnipseed and doing the Chinnabee Silent Trail, out and back.  Thoughts?

[Mountain Dog]

Your problem is "the road less traveled."  Falls with views will be traveled a lot.  As far as the Chinnabee, I'd park at the Chinnabee campgrounds and hike to the Chinnabee falls and back.  The distance will not be much further than you want and the views will be much, much prettier if you incorporate the Devils Den falls and the walk along the creek itself.  The walk from Turnipseed is really, really easy but nothing spectacular except for the falls themselves, and they are not as pretty as Devil s Den.  One thought would be to hike in from Chinnabee Campground, see Devil Den and then hike a couple of miles up the Skyway where there is pretty good camping beside a creek.  You'll find more solitidude up the Skyway than the Chinnabee.

[Cuffs]

I agree with MD, theres no good area in Cheaha Wilderness that is not used much...

If you can get to Pine Glen Campground (about 1/2 way between I20 and the Burns trailhead)  its about 4 miles in each direction to a shelter. 

Head north outta PG, and you'll follow a creek for a ways, thru a 'canyon' then come out at Laurel Shelter that has a creek flowing right in front of it.

Head south from PG and you'll arrive at Lower Shoal Slelter.  This is a little more strenuous than NOBO, but I find the setting more beautiful.  Two creeks converge right in front of this shelter! 

[Joshua Szulecki]

There are a handful of waterfall features in the area that are not as visited as High Falls or the Cheaha/Devils Den complex, but they are not on any official trail nor are they within the Cheaha Wilderness.

There is a waterfall near Camp Mac (officially unnamed but I call it Hopeful Falls) and another near the Shinbone General Store (also officially unnamed but referred to as Shinbone Falls by me and Jaybird). I can give directions to either. Hopefull Falls is well visited, but nowhere near the level of the two popular falls in the area. Shinbone Falls is basically unknown. Jay and I stumbled on it based on the name of the creek. The only other mention of it was when Jay went into the local store and asked and somebody said they saw a picture of somebody's grandkid at a waterfall in that area.

There is also Salt Creek Falls, but again, off the beaten path, and a royal pain to get a good view of on a good day, impossible on a bad day.

[jaybird]

Here are your options at Cheaha:

Need Suggestions...

There aren't many options that involve views AND waterfalls.  You could start down at the High Falls trailhead and hike northward on the Odum Scout trail about 4 miles and camp somewhere near Little Caney Head (this is the intersection of the Pinhoti, the Chinnabee Silent trail, and the Odum Scout trail), then turn around and hike back to your car the next day.  There are great views along the way, and the hike starts with the triple falls and cascades of High Falls.  High Falls itself gets lots of day traffic, but the Odum trail is seldom used.

For the least traffic, I'd recommend the Nubbin Creek trail.  It has lots of water cascades, but no really impressive waterfalls.  The trail is the only one in the eastern part of the Cheaha Wilderness and is extremely remote and rarely used.  It's about 4 miles from bottom to top (all uphill) where it intersects with the Odum Scout trail, then 4 miles back down.

The absolute best views will be had along the Pinhoti from the Cheaha trailhead out to McDill Point.  This section is a little over 2 miles, but quite rugged. 

Need Suggestions...

There is an old airplace wreckage along this section, the Pinhoti dedication marker, the 2nd highest point in the state park (Hernandez Peak), and the famed McDill Point.  You can leave a car at the Cheaha trailhead, camp at McDill (or nearby), then walk out via the Cave Creek trail and not re-trace a single footstep.  The entire loop would be a little over 7 miles.

Need Suggestions...

Here is a shot of McDill Point, looking out over the Cheaha Wilderness:

Need Suggestions...

[Rigormortis]

Here are your options at Cheaha:

Need Suggestions...

There aren't many options that involve views AND waterfalls.  You could start down at the High Falls trailhead and hike northward on the Odum Scout trail about 4 miles and camp somewhere near Little Caney Head (this is the intersection of the Pinhoti, the Chinnabee Silent trail, and the Odum Scout trail), then turn around and hike back to your car the next day.  There are great views along the way, and the hike starts with the triple falls and cascades of High Falls.  High Falls itself gets lots of day traffic, but the Odum trail is seldom used.

For the least traffic, I'd recommend the Nubbin Creek trail.  It has lots of water cascades, but no really impressive waterfalls.  The trail is the only one in the eastern part of the Cheaha Wilderness and is extremely remote and rarely used.  It's about 4 miles from bottom to top (all uphill) where it intersects with the Odum Scout trail, then 4 miles back down.

The absolute best views will be had along the Pinhoti from the Cheaha trailhead out to McDill Point.  This section is a little over 2 miles, but quite rugged.  

Need Suggestions...

There is an old airplace wreckage along this section, the Pinhoti dedication marker, the 2nd highest point in the state park (Hernandez Peak), and the famed McDill Point.  You can leave a car at the Cheaha trailhead, camp at McDill (or nearby), then walk out via the Cave Creek trail and not re-trace a single footstep.  The entire loop would be a little over 7 miles.

Need Suggestions...

Here is a shot of McDill Point, looking out over the Cheaha Wilderness:

Need Suggestions...

Jaybird, great maps and great suggestions, what mapping system do you use? 

[jaybird]

Thanks!  It's called Terrain Navigator Pro.  The coolest part is being able to toggle 3-D such as this:

Need Suggestions...

Need Suggestions...

[PastorLarryT]

Thanks!  It's called Terrain Navigator Pro.  The coolest part is being able to toggle 3-D such as this:

Need Suggestions...

Need Suggestions...

Now that is impressive!  Thanks for sharing Jaybird.

[Joshua Szulecki]

TopoUSA, the software that comes with the PN-series GPSrs and handles their map cutting, provides similar functionality, including overlaid on aerial photography with a map subscription. It is available as a standalone product with yearly vector map updates.

I consider a program like TopoUSA or Terrain Navigator essential for planning bushwhacks.

[jpjohnson93]

Thanks for the help and suggestions!  Very helpful info.

I think we're going to park at Chinnabee, and take the CST to the Skyway Loop, then head south for a couple of miles.  Should be a blast!

[Firedog]

Good choice JP.

[jpjohnson93]

Late question...

How is the Cave Creek/Pinhoti Loop?  With rain/storms pushing in Sat. night, we'll probably just do Friday night...The idea would be to jump on the Cave Creek Trail at Cheaha Trailhead, hike a couple of miles and camp near Cave Creek Friday evening...then,  on Saturday, pack up our stuff and finish the loop...including a trip up to McDill Point.

Questions...I have conflicting info...trail report here on AlaTrails says there's water at Cave Creek...

However, thebackpacker.co m's trail report says to bring H20, because the trail is dry.
http://www.thebackpacker....m/trails/al/trail_590.php

I'd imagine it's somewhere between the two - water is available right at Cave Creek, but is scarce elsewhere.

Anyone been there lately?  If the site near the creek is taken, are there other campsite options with water anywhere along the loop?

[jaybird]

There are several campsites just before the main Cave Creek campsite (heading from the Cheaha trailhead towards Cave Creek) you refer to that are within easy walking distance to the creek.  The creek is always running.  This year, there will be all kinds of springs and rivulets running along the Cave Creek trail.  However, there aren't that many dependable sources up on the Pinhoti.  There's even a great campsite right at the crest of the ridge on the Pinhoti connector trail as you head over to the Pinhoti.