Our First Winter Hike in Bankhead National Forest
Wild South hike in the Bankhead National Forest
Short, easy, fun and beautiful!
Saturday, January 7
9:30 a.m. at Warrior Mountains Trading Company
Advance sign-up is required. Sign up at janice@wildsouth.org or 256-974-6166
Destination: The Natural Bridge near Houston, Alabama
Leader: Janice Barrett
Level of Challenge: Easy
Distance: 1 mile loop hike
All ages are welcome!
The Natural Bridge trailhead is located on County Road 63 in Winston County in the southern part of the Bankhead National Forest. This is a developed recreation area with picnic tables and a portable toilet. The trail is paved for half the distance of the loop hike, which is about 1 mile round trip. It is the oldest National Forest recreation site in Alabama.
Here‘s a map.
The forest in this area is mixed cove hardwood and pine set in a sandstone canyon. As we descend from the rim into the canyon, we will see interesting rock formations, including the natural bridge, a waterfall or two if we get more rain, ferns and other plants, and the beauty of our forest in winter.
Bring a backpack with a snack and drinking water.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and dress appropriately for the weather.
Dogs on Wild South hikes: Only dogs that are well-behaved, peaceable, that get along well with other dogs and humans are welcome on Wild South hikes. Dogs must remain leashed and under owner’s control at all times and not be allowed to mooch food from other hikers at lunch time. If dog poops on trail, poop must be picked up and discarded away from trail and any stream or packed out. There is a danger in Bankhead of dogs contracting Pseudorabies from feral hogs.
Wild South hikes are smoke free, and we don’t just mean forest fires. Thank you for not smoking.
Meet up: After signing up, meet at the Warrior Mountains Trading Company at 11312 AL Hwy. 33, Moulton (map link above) at 9:30 a.m.. Park on the south end of the building and come into the store. You will meet your group at the tables toward the back of the store. On a table you will find sign-in sheets and a donation bucket. If it makes sense for you to meet us at the trailhead instead, please indicate that upon sign up.
Wild South hikes are part of our Outreach and Education Program and are free of charge. However, donations to our Outreach and Education Program are gratefully accepted and keep the program going. Thank you.