Alabama Hiking and Nature Book List and Summaries

[Joshua Szulecki]

Hey folks,

I'm going to offer a quick survey of the various Alabama Hiking and Nature books I know of, not only so that I can find out which one's I haven't read yet, but also so you can find out which ones might be helpful to you. If you know of another that I've missed, or read one of the ones I haven't read, CHIME IN!

Alabama's Canyons
Authors: Charles Seifried and Jim Felder
Publisher: Big Leaf Press

Summary: An all around must-have for the Sipsey lover, to look at, and to introduce friends to Alabama's surprisingly well-kept secret. The photography is excellent, and the illustrations are also top-notch. Don't expect a trail guide, but there are some detailed directions that most hikers should have no trouble following. Some background information on the history of Sipsey. My only real criticism is the softback coffee-table shape of the book, which makes it hard to carry while hiking, but the fact that it isn't a trail guide excuses that.

Alabama Outdoors
Authors: Charles Seifried and Jim Felder
Publisher: Big Leaf Press

Summary: A general overview of the outdoor activities possible in Alabama. Decent coverage of climbing and whitewater sports, often neglected topics in Alabama. Photography is excellent, but there did appear to be some recycling of material from Alabama's Canyons in a few spots. Excellent listing of places to go in Alabama. Great book for a new arrival to Alabama.

Alabama Simply Beautiful
Author: Charles Seifried
Publisher: Farcountry Press

Summary: I haven't read it.

Scenic North Alabama
Author: Robert Schuffert
Publisher: R. Schuffert Studios

Summary: If you don't own this book, buy a copy and keep it in your car. If you ever get bored in N. Alabama, you'll find something to do with this book. Excellent waterfall coverage for short-hike locations, along with great historical and natural sites of significance. Not a hiking book, per se, but lots of hidden secrets that you probably never would have discovered unless somebody local told you they were there. Doesn't really cover Bankhead extensively, although I'll give Mr. Schuffert some leeway, because I know how much trouble he went through finding all those locations, because I only found out about his book after I found out about most of them. Truly a work of love. Currently between printings I believe.

Walking Sipsey
Author: Jim Manasco
Publisher: Lawrence County Schools' Indian Education Program

Summary: A great book for the Sipsey lover, if you can find it. I stumbled across a copy of it this year, and I'm glad I did. It is basically an information packet comprised of several individual portions, rather than a full book, but the information it in is invaluable. There is some good hiking information, but the real value comes from the books coverage of the history (Native American and Civil War, specifically) of the area, and the discussion of spiritual value of the land in the area, and the need for protection. Good coverage of Turkey Foot Canyon, Parker Falls, Kinlock, and also of some previously unknown to me non-canyon features of Bankhead. You can find it if you look really hard, but local libraries in N. Alabama might have it, and Samford University has a copy in their library.

Hiking Alabama
Author: Joe Cuhaj
Publisher: Falcon

Summary: A very good general hiking book for Alabama. Has a number of trails all over the state that I bet you haven't heard of if you don't own the book. I recommend it. Little coverage of Sipsey in 2nd edition. A 3rd edition came out in September, I have not yet read it.

Waterfall Walks and Drives in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee
Author: Mark Morrison
Publisher: H. F. Publishing

Summary: Okay, this book is really a guide to Georgia and Tennessee, with some waterfalls in and around Little River Canyon crammed in. The directions to the falls in Alabama are okay. I recommend it if you are taking a trip to Little River Canyon or Desoto SP.

Hike Alabama
Author: Joe Cuhaj

Summary: Haven't read it. Got a good review on Amazon.

Alabama Trails: Hiking and Backpacking in North Alabama
Author: Richard Huey

Summary: Haven't read it. Old.

Alabama Trails: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in Alabama
Author: Patricia Stenger Sharpe

Summary: Haven't read it. Old. One good review from 1998 on Amazon.

Btw... The truth is, Alabama needs a new waterfall-specific guidebook. Schuffert's book comes the closest to the coverage I'd like, but it is just N. Alabama.

[ednotmilkman]

hi Joshua,
I've been checking out the Cuhaj book - Hike Alabama (2001, 1st edition) from my local public library and want to buy my own from the internet.  Do any of you know what the difference is between the 3 editions? according to amazon.com, or alibris.com 3rd edition has 313 pages, 2nd edition has 350something, and my library's 1st edition has 348.
Also the 2nd edition got bad reviews from three people saying that there are many inaccuracies in the trail descriptions.  The 1st and 3rd editions only have one review each, both of which are good, and my own accessment of the 1st edition is that it has a good, accurate description of the Conecuh National Forest trails; the only only time I've actually hiked with the book in my pocket.
I wonder why anyone would need three updates since 2001 anyway??

Edwin in Enterprise

[Joshua Szulecki]

My guess is that there have been a lot of innaccuracies of varying degrees that explain the bunch of editions.

[Cuffs]

hi Joshua,
I've been checking out the Cuhaj book - Hike Alabama (2001, 1st edition) from my local public library and want to buy my own from the internet.  Do any of you know what the difference is between the 3 editions? according to amazon.com, or alibris.com 3rd edition has 313 pages, 2nd edition has 350something, and my library's 1st edition has 348.
Also the 2nd edition got bad reviews from three people saying that there are many inaccuracies in the trail descriptions.  The 1st and 3rd editions only have one review each, both of which are good, and my own accessment of the 1st edition is that it has a good, accurate description of the Conecuh National Forest trails; the only only time I've actually hiked with the book in my pocket.
I wonder why anyone would need three updates since 2001 anyway??

Edwin in Enterprise

As soon as the 2nd Edition was published, many trails in the south were destroyed by hurricanes.  They were either never rebuilt or re-routed, hence the statements of discrepancies.  Some trails, especially those on Rainbow Mtn. were completely removed, no longer exist, this also occurred right after publication. 

The varying page numbers come from the fact that Falcon removed the elevation charts from the current edition.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Cuffs,

I forgot about the string of hurricanes that came through the state before I moved here.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Just got Alabama Trails: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in Alabama
Author: Patricia Stenger Sharpe

the other day. Alot of trails I've never heard of (isn't that why we buy these books) such as Lookout Mtn Trl and Bridgeport Historical trail in the North. And a few questionalbe inclusions like Point Mallard in Decatur. Not very many longer trails included, most 0.5-2Ms. A decent place to get a couple of new ideas, but not very inclusive. No mentions of Walls of Jericho, Keel Mtn, Huntsville Land Trust in NA, but decent treatment of Sipsey and Little River Canyon. I can't comment on the accuracy of the Central and Southern sections since I'm less familiar w/ those areas.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I have to second Jaybird's recommendation of Wildflowers of Alabama and Adjoining States, as I've found it to be a very good book. Simple, easy to read and use, and good photographs. My only complaints would be the lack of a quick guide of common species or a quick method of finding species, and the lack of some common names that get used often around here. Oh, and it is a nasty yellow color. Other than those minor complaints, I'm finding it useful.

[Nalgene Ninja]

I picked up the 3rd ed of the Cuhaj book Saturday. I highly reccomend it. 

[McDowra]

I found Scenic North Alabama at BAM in huntsville and picked it up today.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I can also now recommend "Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians" by Horn, Cathcart, Hemmerly, and Duhl. It is published by Lone Pine and is the official field guide of the Tennessee Native Plant Society, and either contributes to them, was bankrolled by them, or both.

It covers N. Alabama, N. Georgia, N. Mississippi, Tennessee, W. NC & W. SC, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, W. Maryland, and a few other surrounding states. It has excellent pictures, much clearer and of higher quality than the yellow Alabama text, but not overly processed like some of the more popular national guides. The orchid section is particularly good. Lots of leaf AND flower photos. It is also current.

[Bahen]

hi Joshua,
I've been checking out the Cuhaj book - Hike Alabama (2001, 1st edition) from my local public library and want to buy my own from the internet.  Do any of you know what the difference is between the 3 editions? according to amazon.com, or alibris.com 3rd edition has 313 pages, 2nd edition has 350something, and my library's 1st edition has 348.
Also the 2nd edition got bad reviews from three people saying that there are many inaccuracies in the trail descriptions.  The 1st and 3rd editions only have one review each, both of which are good, and my own accessment of the 1st edition is that it has a good, accurate description of the Conecuh National Forest trails; the only only time I've actually hiked with the book in my pocket.
I wonder why anyone would need three updates since 2001 anyway??

Edwin in Enterprise

Joe told me that Falcon usually asks him to put out another edition when the book's sales start dropping off.  I believe he has several things he wants to change or add but they don't want him to put out edition yet.

[Bahen]

Lost Worlds in Alabama Rocks - Jim Lacefield

Gone to the Swamp: Raw Materials for the Good Life in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta - Robert Leslie Smith

[jedbear]

Anyone involved in trail work in Alabama or any trails in the Gulf states will know exactly what Cuffs was referring to.
Another reason for a need of a third edition and more future editions is the creation, movement, relocation, and yes
elimination of trails. The various trail organizations in Alabama are busier than ever with trail work. Some of the work
is on new trails. Some are just in the planning stage and are known only to a select few within the organizations and
the land managers. My hope is that in a few years, the editions can't be published fast enough!

                                              jed

[jamfan]

I have these books:

Long Trails of the Southeast
by Johnny Molloy
It's a bit dated but still a great resource for the Pinhoti Trail

60 Hikes withink 60 Miles (now in 2nd edition)
by Russell Helms
covers plenty of dayhikes (mostly beginner level) within the Bham area.

also there is a "trip" in The Carolinas, Georgia, & the South Trips (Lonely Planet) for Cheaha and Talladega Nat'l Forest

[WolfVanZandt]

Here's a pretty exhaustive (and exhausting) treatment of trails in Alabama -

http://www.adeca.state.al...20Plan%202008%20Final.pdf