Wildsouth Hikes May 29th!

Bankhead National Forest (AL) hike day, May 29 PDF E-mail
Saturday, May 29, 2010
9:00 a.m.

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Upper Gillespie Creek and High House Hill
Leader: Janice Barrett
Distance: Approx. 3 miles, through-hike
Rating: Challenging, off-trail
Ages 12 and over

This hike will begin at Old Bulah Church on County Road 90 in northeast Bankhead National Forest and end on Alexander Motorway. We will follow a small stream into the canyon that forms the headwaters of Gillespie Creek and hike the creek and the bluffline downstream. Amazing things to see in this watershed include waterfalls, rock shelters, botanical diversity, huge sandstone bluffs.

Expect and be prepared for creek crossings, steep climbs, ticks, poison ivy, terrrain that is slippery and rocky. Bushwhacking all the way - no trail except at the very end. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are highly recommended.
High House Hill photo by Cynthia Volin

Sougahoagdee Falls
Leader: Julia Bright
Distance: 3 3/4 miles roundtrip
Rating: Moderate
Ages 12 and over

Sougahoagdee Falls is on a tributary of Brushy Creek, southeast of Grayson. After parking at the bridge on Hickory Grove Road, the hike route follows Brushy Creek through mature Eastern hemlock and beech forest. Waterfalls, sandstone bluffs and towering boulders offer spectacular scenery. Sougahoagdee Falls is a wide, year-round waterfall at the head of a box canyon. Thick ferns, holly and hemlock trees keep it green all year.

Big Leaf Magnolia Photo by Robert Goodwin

Sipsey River at Low Pressure Bridge and Caney Creek Falls
Leader: Kevin England, botanist
Distance: Approx. 2 1/2 miles roundtrip for both hikes
Rating: Moderately easy
All ages welcome

Kevin's hike will begin on the south side of the Sipsey River, off County Road 2, at the site of an old low water crossing. From the bank of the Sipsey, hikers will follow a small creek upstream into a beautiful canyon to explore the creek, the bluff line and a waterfall that comes off the edge of a huge rock shelter.
For those who want more, there will be an additional excursion to Caney Creek Falls, also off County Road 2. The hike in to the falls is one mile on an old forest service road.