What is your favorite trail/area of Sipsey Wilderness?

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm curious to hear what everybody's favorite trail or area of the Sipsey Wilderness is, or what area you dream about the most.

For me it would have to be Eagle Creek. But if Caney Creek was added to Sipsey, I'd have to change my opinion!

[Joshua Szulecki]

Eagle Creek is pretty cool in the fall, because there is so much decidious forest there on the upper parts of the canyons. Unfortunately, unlike a few hours drive north in TN/NC, you are still subject to the Alabama foliage rule, which indicates that unless the conditions were perfect all year, the leaves won't all change together. But when they do, I think the colors are entirely unique in Alabama, because the forest population is different than a lot of the popular foliage places. A little more brown and orange and less red and purple.

[PastorLarryT]

Unfortunately I have not been to the Sipsey (yet), but it is high on my list.  Perhaps this Fall I'll have opportunity to go.  My brother and I have been talking about a backpacking trip there during the fall or winter.

[Joshua Szulecki]

PastorLarryT,

While I'm 99.9% sure I couldn't do it myself, you might consider posting a quick "can somebody introduce me to Sipsey" message when the weather cools down. We have a lot of people around here who know Sipsey pretty well, and I'm sure they could work something out with you. Plus, Matthew is planning that camping trip at Brushy Lake, which will most likely involve a ton of time in Sipsey.

[PastorLarryT]

Good idea Joshua.  Thanks.  I'm sure there are plenty of Sipsey experts here that can help me!

[cwhiker]

I would have to say my all time favorite area is Quillian Creek, followed by Parker Branch and Eagle Creek, but as most of you know if it has a waterfall its on the favorites list   

[McDowra]

My favorite would have to be eagle creek/little ugly falls area. I love the dual waterfalls of little ugly.

What is your favorite trail/area of Sipsey Wilderness?

[Joshua Szulecki]

McDowra,

I count that as part of the "Eagle Creek" area.

[montysano]

I couldn't possibly pick just one.

- Upper Quillan creek.  Great campsite where the Arnold Motorway crosses Quillan.  The dayhike downstream is rough but worth it.

- West Bee Branch.  Biggest trees in the Sipsey?

- Come in to North Caney from the north, go downstream to the junction with South Caney, then up South Caney.  Very nice.  Pristine, lightly travelled.  Lots of signs of the original residents.  North Caney is a beautiful creek when the water is up, but you'll have to wade it to cross it.

I've never yet made it up South Caney to either of the falls.  BTW: does anyone have accurate directions to the trailhead for South Caney?  I've driven by there, but wasn't sure where it was.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Yes.

I put up a trail guide here on Alatrails: http://www.alatrails.com/...-dayhike-unofficial-trail

It has the coords of the parking site, and some directional help.

The TrailTalk (backpacker) Fall Sipsey Bushwhack was to South Caney in 2007, and Toph and others posted good directions, including photos, in this thread: http://www.thebackpacker....682c3c35007e4e92982f1a2ba

[montysano]

Thanks, Joshua.  I'm so glad that I finally found where the Sipsey geeks were hiding    

I also just discovered that, in the "Areas of Ignorance" article, the piece about Capsey Creek links to some of my photos.  I'd forgot they were still out there in cyberspace  

http://www.thebackpacker....ctures/album/jsiq6euf.php

http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=200883

[Joshua Szulecki]

So... Not only are you a Sipsey Geek, but you also have been on Photo.net.

[montysano]

So... Not only are you a Sipsey Geek, but you also have been on Photo.net.

I checked out your Photo.net page.  Very nice!

One of the reasons that I got serious about photography was that I wanted to try to capture the essence of the Sipsey.  What I discovered is that (for me, anyway), it's a very difficult place to photograph.  So much of the Sipsey's magic is the "feel" of the place, which it tough to capture on film.