Sipsey

Hike Name: Sipsey Location: northwest AL Length: 10 Submitted by: Mountain Dog Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Alabama trail reviews Alabama national parks Alabama state parks
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Description
Trails 201 and 202. These trails use the same path for about 8 minutes. The first 3 minutes you are on a path in the woods. The next 5 minutes are on an old dirt road. There is a small sign showing where they separate. The sign is a tree cut off at an angle with the trail numbers cut into the slanted parts of the cut.

Trail 201 departs to the left of the road. This trail is on an old road but the old road is not as distinct as is the road trail 202 follows. The path is easy ,has a good smooth foundation, has plenty of places to camp, and goes slowly downhill. The scenery is mostly that of mountain hillsides as you transverse between hills. After about 40 minutes, you will be directed off the old roadbed onto a small path to your left. This path drops quickly as it goes around a bluff and down to the Sipsey. The trail follows the river after it reaches the Sipsey. The ground around the trail is flat and there are many places to camp. This is a really pretty place with the river on one side and bluffs on the other side of you. The river looked too deep to ford without getting really wet high on your body. I think this trail and the land at its end is prettier than trail 202. (It took me about 55 minutes to reach the end of the trail from the trailhead.) My Carto-Craft map shows trail 209 intersecting trail 201 south of the Sipsey. I did not see any indication of the intersection. (I rate this trail as being extremely easy to hike.)

Trail 202 is mostly an old roadbed. The old roadbed is very distinguishable most of the time. The trail cuts through an old cemetery about 25 minutes after the trails separate. The latest date I saw in the cemetery was about 1920. A dirt barrier has been laid across the road just past the cemetery. You can easily see the trail cutting through the dirt barrier. The trail becomes more of a trail than an old road bed after another 30 minutes of hiking. At this point, the trail drops down to the river. The river crossing here looked fine. The river was unusually high during my hike but I believe wading across would be relatively easy most of the time. This is a real easy trail and the reward at its end is a very good place to play in the river. (It took me 1hr. 15 minutes to hike from the trailhead to the river ford.) (I rate this trail as being easy to hike.)

Thompson Creek or Trail 206. This trail runs south from the trailhead and on the east side of Thompson creek. Maps erroneously show the trail crossing the creek. The trail takes about 1 hour. The trail is smooth and fairly level since it basically parallels the creek. There are plenty of places to camp. The trail is beautiful because you have the creek to your west and bluffs to you east. The bluffs are worth exploring because they have overhangs and unique formations near their base. There is a nice waterfall about 45 minutes into the trail. The trail ends at the Sipsey where Thompson Creek empties into the river. There is a sign point to a crossing for trail 201. The crossing looked deep. My Carto-Craft map does not show a trail on the north side of the Sipsey heading east. However, there is a very good trail here tying you into trail 209. (I rate this trail as being easy to hike.)

Trail 209 from trail 206 to Bee Branch on the Sipsey. This trail runs east and west on the north side of the Sipsey. The trail is smooth, level, and beautiful. The river was clear and blue. The boulders in and near the river are stunning and offer many places to sit and enjoy both the forest and the river all at one time. There are numerous bluffs to the north and they are worth exploring. There is a sign showing trail 209 crossing the Sipsey, tying into trail 202. The Sipsey was very high at the crossing I hiked because of recent rain and the water was flowing very fast. There are many places along the trail to camp and to play in the water. It took me about 45 minutes of easy walking to hike to the Bee Branch. The trail to the Big Tree is on the east side of Bee Branch. The trail is very clear and easy to follow. The Bee Branch is a fairly good size stream and you will not easily pass over it without realizing you have crossed more than just a wet weather stream. The trail to the old tree requires some uphill hiking, but nothing strenuous. This trail is beautiful and the canyon at its end is breathtaking. It took me about 30 minutes of leisurely walking to reach the big tree from the Sipsey.

Directions to Hike
The hardest part of this trip was finding the trailheads because road names and numbers are missing. All references are starting from Russellville, Alabama.

Trail Heads 201 and 202: South on hwy. 243 to hwy 195. Turn left on hwy 195 and go to mile marker 33.5. (At this point, you will see a sign for the Bankhead forest.). Turn left onto Winston County Rd. 23. Go 1 mile and turn right. (There will be a sign here pointing the way). There are no road name signs but I believe this will be Cranal Rd. Trail Head parking for trails 201 and 202 on your left at the Randolph Trail Head.

Thompson Creek Trail Head: South on hwy. 243 to mile marker 1.5. Turn left on hwy 93. Follow hwy 93 for 4 to 5 miles to hwy 92. Hwy 92 is a small road to the right and an old Bankhead Forrest sign will precede it. Turn right onto hwy 92. Hwy 92 turns into a dirt road (fs rd 203). Once on 203, follow signs to the trailhead. The signs will have you turn right onto fs rd 208, which terminates at the trailhead.

Contact Information
(205)489-5111

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