This fall, Readers Digest named Alabama’s Walls of Jericho one of the best hikes in America.

The “walls” which is a two hours and half drive from Birmingham was listed as one of the best trails in America alongside other iconic places to hike, including Mount Washington in New Hampshire and Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome.

Birmingham Alabama — View along the hike to the Walls of Jericho – photo by Greg Harber

In 2003, The Nature Conservancy in Alabama helped preserve this special place by purchasing 12,500 acres in Alabama that included the Walls of Jericho. That land was later acquired by Alabama’s Forever Wild program. According to The Nature Conservancy, the Paint Rock River watershed where the Walls of Jericho resides is home to 100 species of fish and about 45 mussel species.

From Reader’s Digest description of the trail:

“The 6-mile out and back trail located near Hytop, Alabama, features a waterfall, and many footbridges and caves. The start of the hike descends 1,000 feet to the canyon floor, where rocks form a natural amphitheater around a pool fed by numerous streams and waterfalls. During the wet season, the trails can be treacherous so best to avoid the trail if there has been a recent rainstorm. Just upstream from the amphitheater is a camping area for those who wish to extend their Walls of Jericho experience.”

According to Alltrails.com, the best time to visit the Walls of Jericho is between March to October. The trail is rated difficult and there is a 1696 foot elevation gain. The trail is also notoriously “slick” when you have wet weather, so make sure to plan ahead and wear proper shoes.

Here is a link of a map to the trailhead:

Walls of Jericho directions