Pinhoti Loop

Much care in selecting a starting point and clockwise or counter clockwise direction through the loop should be taken. Water and terrain should be considered as part of this because parts of this hike can be very dry in the upper elevations when there has not been recent precipitation.

Starting from the Turnipseed Hunters Camp lot A clockwise hike takes you immediately up the steepest portion of the Chinabee Silent trail. This is a rocky and challenging ascent but the payoff is getting past the hard part of the trail first and spectacular views from the top of Talladega Mountain early in the journey.Further down the trail this direction you will come to the junction of the Legendary Pinhoti Trail and start a descent down Talladega Mountain towards Adams Gap.

A counterclockwise direction will take you immediately to the Cheaha Shelter Which is a very nice shelter built specifically for users of this and other local trails. There is no fee to stay at the shelter and it can be a welcome option to a tent. The Shelter has a great view of Talladega Mountain and is very close to Cheaha Falls which has a great swimming hole for warm weather use. Further down the Trail you will come to the junction of the Skyway loop trail which takes you across several creek which are both beautiful and great for replenishing water supplies. This is the easiest portion of the trail due to a series of large switchbacks that follow along the hill sides and keeps you from having to do much strenuous climbing.

The Southern most tip of the loop is at the Adam's Gap parking lot and trail heads. This can be a good Starting point if you are looking for a more gradual approach east towards Talladega Mountain and gets you almost immediately into the most beautiful portions of the Skyway loop trail including the aforementioned creeks and streams.

Some precautions you may want to take when hiking this trail are to first contact the Talladega ranger district office and check such things as trail closures and water accessibility along the trails. Attention should be payed to hunting seasons as hunting is allowed in almost all of the areas in which you will be hiking. Carrying extra water is always a good idea when hiking the eastern portions of the loop because the small streams in the higher elevations tend to dry up without warning and very quickly. 

This truly is one of the most challenging and rewarding hikes in Alabama. Please feel free to comment here if you have anything to add to this guide.