The AL-NW GA Trails Handbook of 40 pages covering hiker amenities and mileages from the AL-FL State line to the beginning of the Appalachian Trail is available for $5. S&H is $5.
A map and a trail description of the 28.1 miles of the Alabama Trail through Conecuh National Forest is available for $1.
Make your check payable to F. Guhse' and mail to: 48 Russell St., Keene, NH 03431. A donation of $5 is made to AHTS for each Handbook sold. A donation of $1 is made to AHTS for each Conecuh Trail map sold.
Pinhoti Trail Maps 1-5 are available by contacting the National Forests in Alabama, 2946 Chestnut St., Montgomery, AL 36107-3010 Ph 334.832.4470
New trail is being constructed south of Porters Gap and a new trailhead will be established soon.
Current Southern Terminus: Porters Gap; Highway 77, 4 miles south or east of Waldo.
Northern Terminus: The Alabama Trails Association extended the trail to the Georgia state line. You may access the trail from the former northern terminus on Cleburne County Road 55, Rabbittown Road, north of Heflin.
Trail Maintaining Organizations and Sections Each Maintains:
The Alabama Hiking Trail Society maintains 31.7 miles of the Pinhoti Trail. It includes the 8.7 mile section from Porters Gap to Clairmont Gap. And the 23 mile section from Adams Gap to County Rd 24.
The 6.5 mile section from Clairmont Gap to Adams Gap is maintained by our Affiliate Organization, Vulcan Trails Association.
The 5.3 mile section from County Rd 24 to Hwy 431 is maintained by our Affiliate Organization, Anniston Outdoors Association.
The 8.7 mile section from Hwy 431 to Trailhead-FS 5000 at Railroad is maintained by the BellSouth Pioneers.
The 25.8 mile section from Trailhead-FS 5000 at Railroad to Choccolocco Watershed is maintained by the Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama.
The 25.9 miles from Choccolocco Watershed to Hwy 278 is maintained by the Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama.
The 8.8 mile section from Hwy 278 to the Alabama-Georgia state line is maintained by the Alabama Trails Association.
Trail Conditions:
12/02/2005 Todd Coffield, Trail Maintenance Coordinator for the Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama, reports that the 18-mile extension of the Pinhoti Trail from Porters Gap (AL 77) to Bulls Gap (AL 148) has been blazed with blue blazes. The Pinhoti metal diamond markers have yet to be placed. Special thanks needs to go out to the many volunteers who were involved in getting this section in shape and those who spearheaded the effort including O. Kenny, Katie Ford, Frances McCrea, Tom Coffield, Hugh Hickman, and John Calhoun, members of the ATCA and Horn Mt Trail Club.
11/11-17/2005 10.0 miles of the Pinhoti Trail from the Cheaha Wilderness north to CR 24 with the exception of 1.5 miles on either side of Hillabee Creek (3.0 miles total) was mowed or brush cut and weed whacked. All blowdowns from summer storms were removed. The blue blazes appear to be in good shape.
6/16-20/2005 Painting of blue blazes was completed from Porters Gap to Clairmont Gap with the exception of 0.5 miles beginning 1.0 mile south of Clairmont Gap. Ran out of paint.
6/16-20/2005 Painting of blue blazes is complete from 1.0 mile north of the Cheaha Wilderness to CR 24.
3/25-27/2005 Except for the Cheaha Wilderness all blowdowns caused by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 have been removed with the further exception of four tree trunks from Porters Gap north to the Talladega River.
3/25-27/2005 Blowdowns were removed from the Talladega River north to FS 600. All blowdowns caused by Hurricane Ivan between the Talladega River north to where the Pinhoti Trail first crosses FS600 south of Clairmont Gap were removed. There are no blue blazes in this section but there are the white diamond markers with the turkey foot.
9/2004 Blue blazes were painted on trees in the southernmost 3.5 miles from Porters Gap north to the Talladega River. All but four blowdowns were removed. Four tree trunks lie across the trail but are easily stepped over.
11/23/04 From the north boundary of the Cheaha Wilderness north to CR 24 all trees fallen over the Pinhoti Trail were removed! Blue blazes are complete in this section but need repainting due to Hurricane Ivan's winds.
11/23/04 All fallen trees over the Pinhoti Trail from Clairmont Gap south to the first crossing of FR 600 were removed! There are no blue blazes on this section. However, there are diamond shaped markers with the imprinted turkey foot.
11/23/04 The section from the first road crossing (FS 600) south of Clairmont Gap south to the Talladega River has not been cleared of fallen trees. There are some monster blowdowns! Blue blazes haven't been painted in this section.
11/26/04 Cheaha Wilderness has about 200+ blowdowns (trees fallen over the trail.) Inaccessibility and the requirement not to use mechanized equipment such as chainsaws along with the tremendous damage from Hurricane Ivan slowed our work to clear this section. Furthermore, a trail bed doesn't exist in the rocky areas where it's difficult to know the trail route. Orange flagging tape was used to mark stream crossings and clarify the route through confusing areas. Thoughtfully someone painted dark blue blazes on the route through the most difficult areas. Be carefully prepared for this very difficult section of the Pinhoti through the Cheaha Wilderness!
Thanksgiving Week 2003 AHTS Members removed 40 blowdowns in the Cheaha Wilderness section from Adams Gap north 2 miles.
In the 8.8 mile section from Hwy 278 north to the Georgia state line: The Alabama Trails Association built a new shelter. Several new campsites have been designated and fire rings have been set.
As of 2003: A Hiker Register has been placed in the store at Cheaha State Park and in Blue Mt. Shelter. Registers are vital in knowing where hikers have been for emergencies.
As of 2003: AHTS began painting blue blazes on the Pinhoti Trail as required by USFS. However, about 10 miles remain to be completed. There are no authorized blazes marking side trails.
If you see any trail mainenance problems while on the trail, please contact the AHTS office at 334.244.1579 or ahts@hikealabama.org
Georgia Pinhoti Trail
The Georgia Pinhoti Trail is located in northwest Georgia.
You may learn about this great trail by clicking the link below.
