Sipsey Water Report & Trail Conditions

[Lostsheep]

I went on a dayhike through Sipsey again this month 7.11-12 and have discoved that the water is not as reliable as it was in the spring/fall.

-Auburn Falls was dry
-Campsites along the Sipsey Fork near Eye of the Needle & Ship Rock had merely a trickle and very low flow.
-Water along the Sipsey Fork was unreliable with stagnant pools and low flow.
-Bee branch falls by the big tree, were dry.

It was tough. We took the opportunity to pump fresh water from the rapids as soon as we found it.

Also, several trails were very overgrown! We pushed through tall weeds waist high at times along FT209. Bee Branch Canyon Trail to the tree had even more blowdowns on it - some very fresh. Some required belly crawling to go under.

Be careful if you're going back out there.

[Big Dumb Admin]

Thanks for posting the condition LS.  I will promote it to the front page.

[Lostsheep]

I put it in the trail condition section too. We came close to turning back on count of the lack of water.

[Magic City Matt]

Wow Bankhead has been a flurry of activity lately.

I propose they lengthen the title a bit...


Bankhead National Forest... of DOOM



Thanks again LS