This Alabama Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

Miles of mountain road carry drivers out of a breakfast counter in Heflin and up to the highest point in Alabama. The Talladega Scenic Drive in western Alabama is open year-round and perfect for nature lovers. At just 26 miles long, the byway is short enough for a one-day excursion. Yet the overwhelming beauty of the Talladega National Forest and the Appalachian Mountains may cause visitors to extend their voyage. Some road trips have stops with museums, famous landmarks, and popular cities. This byway is pure nature with a little bit of history.

Mountains and Waterfalls

A good way to start the Talladega Scenic Drive is to grab some refreshments from Rhythm Café in Heflin. Order a breakfast sandwich and a specialty flavored latte of French toast, coconut cake, or blueberry muffin. The scenic byway starts just west of Heflin at the US 78 and SR 281 intersection and proceeds south. There are two scenic overlooks in the first mile of the journey that will give immense views of the mountains and the horizon. Then drive about seven miles to start exploring the landscape at Pinhoti Trailhead, Highway 431. It will lead deep into the forest with ferns and a small waterfall along Jackson Creek. After the excursion, the other side of the byway has Cheaha Country Store for gas and refreshments.

Two and a half miles more on the byway leads to Horseblock Mountain lookout right off the road. Plenty of parking allows for adequate time to take in the mountains and wide green fields. Two more miles on the byway will lead to Pinhoti Trailhead CR 24. This trail leads to Choccolocco Lake and Morgan Lake Waterfalls. The trailhead will also go to Hillabee Reservoir and its calm waters lined with trees that turn yellow, orange, and red during the fall. Back on the byway, make a detour on Route 3 and drive south for two miles to Abel Gap Waterfalls. Visitors can get close to two levels of falls that pour into a small pool that would feel very refreshing on a warm summer day.

Back on the byway for just over four miles is the Cheaha Scenic Lookout with more sweeping views of mountains and trees as far as the eye can see. A one-and-a-half-mile walk along the nearby Cheaha Road will lead to the CCC Bridge over Hillabee Creek. This bridge was built in the 1930s by workers who were part of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Layers of local stone form this single-arched bridge, shaded by the trees around it.

Cheaha State Park

Just over five miles further south on the byway leads to the Cheaha Mountain Store, which provides food, beverages, and souvenirs to remember the scenic drive. Voyagers can search for gems and fossils across the street in the mine that belongs to The Pinhoti Mineral and Gem Mining Co. The Mountain Store sells mining and fossil bags with a pamphlet that will assist with identifying objects like agate, calcite, and jade in the mine.

Then begin to discover the wilderness of Cheaha State Park. The highest point in Alabama is only a half mile from the park entrance. There is ample parking at this spot, where the elevation is over 2,400 feet. At the top is Bunker Tower, a stone Civilian Conservation Corps structure completed in the mid-1930s. Inside is the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, which is dedicated to the young men who were given jobs during the Depression to build the watchtower, campsites, and roads in the state park. The museum has artifacts that include the tools they used and the cots and blankets they slept in. The tower allows visitors to climb to the top for panoramic views and catch glimpses of migrating hawks during the autumn season.

The state park has several hiking trails that also permit mountain biking. The Leave No Trace Bigfoot Trail takes hikers to the highest point in Alabama, and other short trails go to Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock. Both rock outlooks show green forests during the spring and summer and colorful trees during the fall.

Stay For Longer

Since Cheaha State Park has so much to see, consider staying the night at the campgrounds to enjoy as much as possible. Those without a tent or RV can stay in one of the cabins that were built in the 1930s. These cabins allow up to four guests, and some cabins reside on the Cheaha Mountain bluffs that provide sunset views. Safari tents and two-bedroom chalets are other options for a restful night's sleep.

There is a lot of water to see throughout the many acres of the park's mountains and woodlands. Fish for catfish, bass, and bluegill on the six-acre Cheaha Lake. There is also fishing at the 17-acre Lake Chinnabee and a two-mile trail around it that allows for a leisurely walk around the water. The lake is a start to the Chinnabee Silent Trail that goes to Cheaha Falls, where visitors can feel the falls with their hands as it flows over rock outcroppings. The same trail leads to Devil's Den Waterfall, another waterfall that descends into a swimming pool.

The Talladega Scenic Drive lasts for seven more miles after departing from Cheaha State Park and ends at the Adam's Gap trailhead in Talladega National Forest. More nature awaits on the Pinhoti Trail. Pinhoti means "turkey home" in the Native American Creek Nation language, and this trail will give good opportunities to see wild turkeys. The trail spans Alabama and Georgia, with about 170 miles in Alabama. The scenic drive may be over, but just 12 miles southeast lies Ashland, the Clay County seat, where local diners serve up comforting Southern food: fried chicken, collard greens, and mac and cheese.

Completing the Byway

The Talladega Scenic Drive is a nature-lover's byway. There are several scenic outlooks and trailheads on the drive for travelers to appreciate Alabama's environment. Cliffs and mountains give panoramic views. There is a history of the men who helped build the infrastructure of the region. An abundance of waterfalls can even make the byway a waterfall tour. Travelers can experience a distinctive road trip that is purely nature, one of the best ways to see Alabama's mountains without the bustle of cities and towns. Take it in for a couple of hours or a couple of days. Either way, this scenic byway in Alabama will produce memories for a lifetime.