3 facts to know about Alabama’s unique Pinhoti Trail [MAPS]

Sponsored

Even if your hiking boots are more “fashion than function,” you’re probably aware that Alabama has no shortage of beautiful, scenic places to escape everyday life.

Thanks to The Conservation Fund, years of dedication coupled with recent advances on the conservation front are making it easier than ever for hikers, mountain bikers and adventure-seekers to hit the trails that weave their way across our beautiful state—all via public lands.

But there’s one trek in particular that deserves another look: northeast Alabama’s Pinhoti Trail serves as our state’s missing link to the Appalachian Trail in northwest Georgia. We’ll show you why it’s worth breaking out those hiking boots—and contributing to efforts to expand and conserve the Pinhoti for future explorers.

#1. The Pinhoti Trail is the longest hiking path in Alabama

The Pinhoti Trail traverses land rich from a cultural, historical and ecological standpoint. Hikers can wander among centuries-old longleaf pine forests, through Creek and Cherokee native lands and eventually connect to the famed Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

And while parts seem remote, it’s accessible: The Pinhoti is within an hour’s drive of over 8 million people, according to the Alabama Trails Foundation.

“The Pinhoti Trail offers one of the wildest and most natural stretches of publicly-owned mountain crests in the Southeast—it’s a unique opportunity to hike and explore such a beautiful vantage point.”

_{Mike Leonard, Senior Advisor, The Conservation Fund}

# 2. Turkey lovers will be right at home

With a name translating from the indigenous Creek language as “turkey home,” there’s a good chance you may spot these wild birds along the Pinhoti—or simply look for a nod to the bird via their “footprint” on trail markers and signage.

In addition, it’s home to an important migration corridor for golden eagles.

#3 The Pinhoti will continue to grow + go to new places…with your help

_{The expanse of the Pinhoti Trail in its entirety (left); the southernmost leg of the trail reflects more recent conservation efforts from the Talladega National Forest south to Flagg Mountain (right). (The Conservation Fund)}

That’s all the more reason why efforts began 40 years ago to conserve lands so that the Pinhoti could be connected to the Appalachian Trail—and, in fact, grow to the epic, 350-mile stretch it now occupies.

The Conservation Fund’s work is a major contributor to this success. With support from donors and the Alabama Hiking Trail Society, the Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association and the Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association, they have:

• acquired private property to extend the trail north to connect to the Appalachian Trail + south to Flagg Mountain
• strategically conserved land to move the trail off of roadways where owners have been willing to sell
• constructed trail + created some camping areas along the trail
• assisted in restoring the 1930’s era stone observation tower at Flagg Mountain
• establishing a new observation point along the Pinhoti Trail in Coosa County 

This important work continues today, largely through donors and private funds and the work of long-time conservationist Mike Leonard, who has volunteered with The Conservation Fund as an advisor for more than 30 years.

This North Carolina native even convinced residents of his home state to contribute to the Pinhoti efforts, hundreds of miles away in Alabama—just one of the factors that led to his unofficial designation as the “Father of the Pinhoti.” Leonard is deservedly proud of these efforts and the long-term approach The Conservation Fund has taken:

“Not a dime of state or federal money has gone into acquiring over 2,000 acres of the Pinhoti Trail corridor that the Conservation Fund currently owns between the town of Weogufka in Coosa County and the Talladega National Forest.

This work is due to a combination of contributions from the corporate and private world—and largely from a North Carolina private donor. That means that, all told, about 10 to 14 miles of the Pinhoti Trail were all done privately.

Private money can do big things in the name of conservation. These are people that care.”

_{Mike Leonard, Senior Advisor, The Conservation Fund}

It’s these private donations, regardless of their size, that help get the work done. The Conservation Fund uses these donations to pay for the land and associated expenses like surveying, appraisals and other previous expenditures.

While The Conservation Fund is working hard to keep Alabama beautiful—check out some of their statewide efforts in our recent article here—they need your donations to keep their efforts going.

Learn more about The Conservation Fund here, and put your dollars to work to save at-risk lands for generations to come.

Sponsored by: