Has anyone hiked Trail 210 lately?

[elbowman]

I was thinking about doing trail 210 soon. Has anyone been on it lately? I know Sipsey Hiking Club is maintaining the trail, so I expect it to be clear and well marked, just curious what to expect. Seven miles makes it a very long trail.

Eric

[Uncle Wayne]

Seven miles makes it a very long trail.

Eric

It's been 10 years since I hiked it so I can't say about the condition now. A few photo ops near the old NW road but not much else.  And while there may be some wet weather springs now, it's usually dry.

[buttermilkmeeks]

I hiked Mitchell Ridge/210 back in September (2010) and it was in pretty good shape at that time. I did a solo overnighter in a big loop from the Gum Pond trailhead down 223 to 208 and back via 210. There may be some scenic attractions if you bushwack from these trails - but they are definitely the least interesting trails I've been on in the Sipsey. I missed an opportunity to bushwack along Braziel - I might try to bushwack this area again if I get a chance.

The Sipsey Hiking Club have done a great job in maintaining the trail; however, the trail is not particularly well marked. If you hike it east to west, you must look out for a small rock cairn pointing you to the trail up and over the bluffs near the eastern end of the trail.  There were also a couple of spots where the trail disappears at the top of some ridges - I think this is because traffic is rare on the trail and no single path has been heavily trodden in these spots. Also, you have probably read it elsewhere, Mitchell Ridge/210 is definitely an easy trail upon which to run out of water. I lost count of how many "ridge and valley" hills I had to climb and descend in 80 degree weather - it was enough that I ran out of water about four miles from my car (where I had several gallons waiting for me). It was a really dry weekend - there wasn't any water in Braziel or Hagood Creeks to replenish my supply. (Valuable lesson learned here!)


Aside from the eastern end of Mitchell Ridge/210 where there are the typical Sipsey sandstone bluffs, you might as well be hiking the Blue Trail at Oak Mountain. It doesn't feel like you are in the Sipsey at all.

[vapor]

I backpacked 210 Feb 2010 & while the trail was prob my least fav trail in all of sipsey it was well marked. The reason the trail wasn't so appealing is because of all the downed trees. They weren't on the trail but were everywhere you looked. I will say though that we found one my fav shelters there so I wouldn't say the trail is a waste & like previous said I am sure there is some nice bushwacking there.