Backpacking on the Skyline Loop

From Adams Gap we will walk 5.4 miles North on the Pinhoti trail until its intersection with the Odum Scout trail and the Chinnabee Silent trail. Estimated hiking time: 4 hours. Several years ago there used to be a shelter at this spot, and it is a good place to stop and have lunch, since water is available nearby. After lunch we will turn left on the Chinnabee and descend from the ridge down to AL 281, which we will cross at the Turnipseed Camp after a 2 mile walk. We will then proceed another mile or so to the Cheaha Falls shelter, after crossing Cheaha Creek. If the shelter is already occupied we will have to pitch our tente at a nearby location. Estimated hiking time on the Chinnabee: two hours. The next day we will continue on the Chinabee for another two miles until Devil's Den falls. After the falls we will turn left onto the Skyline trail, which after 6.1 miles will take us back to Adams Gap. Estimated hiking time: four hours before lunch and two hours after lunch. Cheaha Falls shelter is located on a hill with a nice view of Cheaha mountain.

Drive west on I 20 to Alabama exit 191. Turn left (south) on US 431 for about 3.7 miles. Take a right onto County Road 131 towards AL 281, where it dead ends after curving backwards for about a mile. Turn left on AL 281 and continue for about 19 miles until its end at Adams Gap.

Share gas expenses with carpool driver.
Expect the overnight temperature at the campsite to dip into the low twenties.

Trail Notes (Fall 2008): After leaving Adams Gap the Pinhoti follows the ridge of Talladega Mountain and rises rapidly about 120 feet to an altitude of roughly 1500 ft. It never dips below this altitude, and for the first three miles or so it never goes above 1700 ft. In the next mile there is a steep 600 ft. climb on switchbacks and along boulder fields. After that the trail keeps a more or less constant altitude until its intersection with the Chinnabee. This section of the Pinhoti is rocky and dry. A couple of streams cross it, but they don't look very reliable. It offers nice views of the surrounding area. The Chinabee is quite precipitous and rocky for the first 1.5 miles. From then on the treadway becomes soft and the ascents and descents quite moderate. Although the trail doesn't cross any significant streams until just before the shelter, there is plenty of water nearby. From about 0.5 mile past the shelter, the Chinnabee runs right next to Cheaha creek, which we will cross a few minutes after getting onto the Skyline trail. This is a misnomer, since this beautiful trail actually runs deep into the forest. After crossing the creek the trail rises steeply 170 ft. to an altitude of about 850 ft. For the first five miles it maintains an altitude between 850 ft. and 1,000 ft. In the last mile it ascends steadily 500 ft to Adams gap. The treadway is mostly soft, and the trail crosses four significant streams including Cheaha creek, and three Forest Service roads. These trails are very lightly used, and we may not see anybody during the whole trip, except perhaps near AL 281 or at the falls.
Cell phones work on the Pinhoti and part of the Chinnabee.