Find a Seminole/Seminole Wellness Dealer | Zip Code: Search within: miles | Advanced Search | 1-800-683-1881

Facebook


Founding Sponsor

Seminole Feed

Sponsor Links

Seminole Wellness
Buckeye

Ride Our Nations Trails, Part II

 

By Georgia Brown
Pack up your gear and head for Alabama’s National Forests, 667,000 acres of forested coastal plains and mountains punctuated by sparkling streams and wooded trails. In the three national forests with horse trails, riders will be rewarded with flashes of nearly hidden waterfalls and gentle climbs that end at ridges with panoramic views of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Alabama leads the South in National Forest restoration, a plan that returns the land to its natural state before it was changed by decades of clear-cut logging. The plan will create open woodlands of mixed pine and hardwoods carpeted with native grasses that are visually appealing and more conducive to camping, hiking and wildlife.
Tread lightly on the trails and you’ll find you are sharing the forest with 900 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Quiet areas may reward the hiker or rider with glimpses of deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, and if you are lucky, rare, endangered or sensitive species such as gopher tortoises, flattened musk turtles and the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Spring and Fall are considered the best times for horseback riding; however, in rainy periods there can be trail closings, or muddy trails. Fortunately mud doesn’t bother most horses—they just plod through it.

1


William B. Bankhead National Forest

The Bankhead National Forest on the Cumberland Plateau offers 101,000 acres laced with a labyrinth of long canyons, deep gorges and more than 100 waterfalls—20 of them large—cascading from bluffs that often rise to 100 feet. The forest is also particularly rich in cultural heritage sites including bluff shelters that were inhabited by Native Americans.
The Bankhead National Forest Health and Restoration Project, initiated two years ago is removing stands of loblolly pine devastated by beetles and replanting native short and long leaf pine in the southern half of the forest. Gradually young oaks will emerge from old root stock to create a natural mixed pine and hardwood forest.

1. Black Warrior Horse Trail System

Located in the William B. Bankhead National Forest, the Black Warrior Horse Trails were specifically designed with input from riders. The 30 miles of horse trails include the Pine Torch Loop, the Brushy Loop and the Key Mill Loop. These trails are laid out in loops of 6, 11 or 12 miles, which provide the option of choosing from short rides easy enough for beginners to those requiring a well-conditioned horse. Wide trails are suitable for wagons and cross-country carriages.

If you come for the day, there is an access point and parking area at Pine Torch Trailhead on US 246 off of Highway 33. If overnight camping is your style, the Owl Creek Horse Camp is near the Key Mill Loop of the trail. Hikers and Trail riders like Owl Creek Horse Camp for its proximity to sandstone cliffs and native hardwood forests of hemlock, poplar and oak. The horse camp now has potable water and improvements that are supported by modest fees for day use and camping.  

2. Sipsey National Wilderness

Riders in the Bankhead also have the choice of exploring the Sipsey Wilderness area where 13 miles of horse and hiking trails offer solitude and isolation as part of the backwoods experience. It is the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River and one of the South’s greatest treasures.

Two rivers, the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River and Brushy Creek, flow through this unique ecosystem. Sometimes referred to as “the land of a thousand waterfalls,” the Sipsey supports a vast range of plant life and offers outstanding opportunities for bird watching. Part of the official Alabama Bird Trail passes through the region. Motorized vehicles are not allowed anywhere in the wilderness; however, primitive camping, hunting, and fishing are permitted. 		1
A horse trail in the Sipsey National Wilderness.

Little River Canyon National Preserve

Sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the East, the Little River Canyon Preserve is an ideal area for horseback riding and other recreational activities.
3. Little River Canyon Back Country Area

On the trails of the Little River Canyon System, riders cross the high plateau country of northwest Alabama, which is known for its long seasons of blooming mountain flowers, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, and upland forests that are ablaze with color in fall.

The Little River flows atop Lookout Mountain, which is not really a mountain but a plateau that extends into Georgia and Tennessee.
1
A breathtaking view of the Little River Canyon.


The canyon has 19 miles of multi-use trails shared by horseback riders and all terrain, 4-wheel drive vehicles (permit required). Up on the bluffs there are breathtaking views of the Little River and the spectacular Southern Appalachians. Trails are wide, over rolling terrain with some climbs past boulders and rocks to the rim of the canyon. From March to June, the woods are blanketed with mountain laurel, trillium, wild azaleas, lady slippers and many varieties of wild rhododendron.

The trail to High Rock is a popular day trip leading to an ideal picnic spot with a view of the surrounding mountains. The Little River Trailhead is easily accessible.

 Talladega National Forest

Central Alabama's Talladega National Forest covers 375,000 acres at the southern edge of the Appalachians. Before it was bought by the federal government in the 1930s, the area that comprises the Talladega was extensively logged and represented some of the most abused, eroded wastelands in all of Alabama. Pine forest regrowth now hosts a diverse eco-system.
1
The Talladega National Forest is physically separated into two areas, and divided into three Ranger Districts: The Oakmulgee District, the Shoal Creek District and the Talladega District. The northern section of the Talladega offers the richest mountain experience with views of 2,000 foot peaks. The trails wind around the highest points in Alabama near Mount Cheaha and are challenging for horse and rider.

5. Shoal Creek Horse Trail System

The Shoal Creek Horse Trail System has 37 miles of loop trails that are well marked with horseshoes painted blue, white and yellow. The most difficult is the18-mile Piedmont Loop. The 14-mile long Sweetwater Loop and the 4-mile Short Loop are suitable for most riders. Trails and dirt roads intersect each other at several points. To avoid a mistake and inadvertently taking a longer ride than expected, use the maps that are available at the Ranger Station.

The Warden Station Horse Camp, located at the trail head, has 45 first-come, first-serve, primitive campsites. There is a vehicle fee and access to hot showers for a modest fee. Bring small bills for exact change. Call ahead and check for trail advisories and closings on some weekends during hunting season.

Tuskegee National Forest: The Tuskegee National Forest on the Coastal Plain is the smallest of Alabama’s National Forests. The forest’s topography is level to moderately sloping, broad ridges with stream terraces and broad floodplains.
6. Bold Destiny/Bedford Cash Trails

There are 14 miles of trails in the northeast half of the forest that are open to hikers and riders exclusively. Trails cross streams and wind through long leaf and slash pines in sandy, gently rolling terrain with elevations up to 300 feet.
 1


The horse trails were designed with input from members of the War Eagle Horse Association and are still maintained by volunteers and horse enthusiasts today. Trails were named for Bold Destiny, the horse ridden by the group’s first president, and the district ranger at the time, Bedford Cash. Three primitive, first come, first serve, campsites near the horse trails will accommodate horse trailers, but you should bring water for all of your needs. Call the Forest Service Office for maps and permit information.

Trails End

The national forests in Alabama, created in the early 1900s, are managed for multiple recreational uses today. Some trails are designed for hikers and horseback riders exclusively; others are also used by hunters and motorized vehicles. In the fall hunting season weekends are crowded. Riders should call the ranger stations to check for optimum times to use the horse trails.

Networking with other trail riders who have traveled before you is the best way to enjoy a new trail. But be prepared to be surprised by twisting trails and old road beds that may lead to a stunning hollow sprinkled with wildflowers.


If primitive camping in the woods is not your style, there are many places that offer comfortable accommodations. You can bring your own horse and ride with fellow equestrians at: Bear John Hollow Ranch in Asheville, Circle S Stables in Beaverton, Fort Rucker Equestrian Center, KC Ranch & Stable in Double Springs, Riverbend Trail Ride in Myrtlewood, Seven Springs Lodge in Tuscumbia, Walls of Jericho in Hytop, Faye Whittemore Farms in Jasper and Cherokee Trailride in Cherokee.

There are several outfitters located near wildlife management areas that will rent you a horse or let you saddle up your own mount: Holly Springs Stables and Shady Grove Dude Ranch in Mentone, Doublehead Resort or 3-H Stables in Huntsville, Apple Hills Cabins near Andalusia, Heart of Dixie Trail Ride in Troy, Hidden Creek Ranch in Sterrett, Tannehill Trails in McCalla, or Oak Hollow Farm near the coast in Fairhope.

To learn more visit the Alabama tourism site at www.800alabama.com.


Looking for horse feed in Alabama? Seminole Feed has over 150 dealers in the Southeast!

Georgia Brown is a freelance travel writer who frequently writes about horses. She raised horses for several years and learned many life lessons while competing in dressage and distance trail riding with a gentlemanly Arbian Stallion that live to the ripe old age of 33. She currently lives in Sarasota, Florida

 


Equus Caballus, the magazine of the domestic horse, has been dedicated to the proper care and feeding of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules for over seven years. This site is a compilation of over 400 archived articles and new features about nutrition, health and equine management.

Welcome and please come back often.