Any recommendations?

[melonhead]

Wanting to take my girlfriend on a 2 day camping trip into some northern Alabama forests that includes elevation/mountainous terrain, some nice waterfalls and swimming holes, maybe some hidden gems etc. I read alot of peoples comments on Sipsey and I heard alot about Talledega NF.

It seems like we have alot of nice places to choose from, and I was hoping from some kind of direction or recommendation from you guys on where I should go. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Uncle Wayne]

When someone asks me this question who has never been to the Sipsey Wilderness hiking, I usually tell them to get a Carto-Craft map of the Wilderness, park at the Sipsey Recreation Area and head upstream.  You can't go wrong in that direction with places to explore.

But this is the wrong time of the year to enjoy the waterfalls and swimming holes in the Sipsey Wilderness.  And in fact, as hot as it is, 99 or above the last several days in the BNF, even the hidden gems won't be as enjoyable as later in better weather / insect conditions.

[wirerat123]

I'm going to have to agree with Wayne here.  Sipsey if absolutely beautiful, but not this time of year.  It's a Forrest in every sense of the word except on trail.  Once you get so far down the path, there is no breeze, there is no relief.  Unless you are hiking next to the river and there is enough water to jump into, it's not going to be real fun.

Sipsey when the temps drop below 85 (That's just my opinion.) or the water levels come up.

Chinnabee Silent Trail in Talladega National Forrest is well worth it, and the whole thing skirts a small river that may or may not be running this time of year, but there are near year round swimming holes along the length of it.  It should be just fine right now.

Guntersville State Park has some great trails all near the lake.  Once you get done with a trail, just head back to the car and cruise to the beach.  It's not really a Wilderness experience, but it gets the job done as a starter hiking area with some wonderful scenery.

Bucks Pocket State Park, similar to Guntersville, but with a river rather than the lake.  Beautiful place.

Right now I would stick to routes with plenty of water, and some swimming holes, it doesn't take long in this weather to over heat.  In fact, grab a canoe or a couple of kayaks and go to the Lower Sipsey near the lake and enjoy some true solidtude.

Me and my Wifes first date was about this type of weather two years ago.  We put my Kayaks in at Hwy 33 Bridge and paddled toward the lake.  We had 3 short drags, then the water flattened out, deepened and ended up being a beautiful and peaceful weekend.  We saw one canoe all weekend, and there is a house just on the edge of the Wilderness area that uses a boat to get to town, and we saw them.  Otherwise we saw no one.  It was dead still and quiet all but when the motor boat from the house passed by, and outside of them passing by, and canoers passing through our lagoon we were camping on, we had it all to ourselves.  We would paddle, stop on a rock when it got hot, then jump off of them and swim.  It was a great trip.  If you want more info PM me and I'll give you all of my details.

[JC785]

Sipsey is a great place there are tons of things to see. The best time to view Sipsey is during the winter when all the leaves are off the trees. This will allow you to get a better look at the rock formations as well as water falls. I'm sure we will be making several trips up there once it cools off a bit. You are more than welcome to join us.

[melonhead]

Sipsey is a great place there are tons of things to see. The best time to view Sipsey is during the winter when all the leaves are off the trees. This will allow you to get a better look at the rock formations as well as water falls. I'm sure we will be making several trips up there once it cools off a bit. You are more than welcome to join us.

That sounds like a great idea once fall/winter comes around.

On that note, we took all you guy's advice and didn't go to Sipsey or the Chinnabee. It is just too hot. But we did take what started out as a two day camping/kayak trip on Econfina Creek and ended up being a 4 day trip including a broke down car, stranded in Lynn Haven, FL, about 20 miles north of panama city beach.....my kayak is still on top of my girlfriend's car, in an auto shop as we speak. We had someone drive from Mobile to pick us up this morning....Hell of a trip. However, Econfina Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, and Pine Log State Forest was a fun, interesting, tiresome, frustrating, quote-worthy trip.

I wouldve made a trip report, but it didnt seem worthy and Im just plain exhausted.

Looking much forward to the fall season, so we can get up to north alabama and maybe meet some of you guys.