Sipsey Fork Loop
It has been called the "Land of a Thousand Waterfalls." It is an area within the boundaries of the Bankhead National Forest that was designated a wilderness area in 1975. It is the Sipsey Wilderness.
The rolling sandstone hills of northwest Alabama have eroded over the centuries by the Sipsey River and its many tributaries resulting in this lush forested landscape. The best time to visit the Sipsey is in the winter when the leaves are down and the canyon walls tower around you, some 100 feet tall.
As you walk along the trails you will come across many waterfalls, big and small. The cascades are seasonal and are pretty much non-existent during the summer months. Many of the falls you won't see but will hear them from the trail. A little careful bushwhacking off the path will take you to them.
There are many trails through the wilderness for you to explore that provide fantastic day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. We invite you to visit the Sipsey Hiking Club's Web site (see additional information) for detailed information and organized hikes.
One of the more popular backpacking trips here is the Sipsey Fork Loop. This is a 14-mile loop trail that takes in a little bit of all that the wilderness has to offer from the canyon walls to waterfalls to wildflowers.
It begins at the Sipsey River Recreation Area by taking the Borden Creek Trail north for a short distance, then heads west along the Sipsey River Trail (Trail #209) next to the cold, clear water of the Sipsey River. The westernmost portion of the loop heads south along the Rippey Trail (Trail #201), then back to the east on the Randolph Trail (Trail #202) where it meets back with the Sipsey Trail for the return to the trailhead.
Be ready to ford some cold mountain streams on this route. The trail crosses the Sipsey twice, once just before the Sipsey Trail meets the Rippey Trail and then again as the Randolph meets the Sipsey for the return trip. Just after the first crossing, other visitors to the wilderness have established campsites. Whenever you are backpacking in our National Forests it is recommended that you reuse previously established sites to reduce your impact on the environment. The site is located at the bottom of the canyon right next to the river. It is a rather steep climb up the canyon wall to the Rippey Trail once you pass this location.
The Randolph Trail is a nice respite from the climb you just had, thick with green grass, magnolia and wildflowers in the spring as it travels just below the ridgeline of rolling hills. You will also pass the Johnson Cemetery en route to the trailhead. From the tombstones it appears the cemetery was established in the mid-to-late 1800s.
- Trail Type:
- 14-mile loop
- Difficulty:
- Easy to Moderate
- Hours:
- Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
- Maps:
- Available online at the Sipsey Wilderness Hiking Club Web site.
- Fees:
- No fee to hike. There is a $2 day-use fee to park in the recreation area.
- For more info:
- None
Contact any of the following for additional information:
- Bankhead National Forest
-
Street Address:
N/A
Wetumpka, AL N/A
Phone#:(205) 489 - 5111
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama/bankhead/
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