The Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River in northwest Alabama is Alabama’s only Wild and Scenic designated river.  Earlier this month, Wild South completed a cleanup and video project on the Sipsey Fork that was funded by a grant from River Network, a national water protection organization.   Massive amounts of trash were removed from the…

Read More

Wild Wednesday nature hikes for kids and families This summer, Wild South’s popular Wild Wednesday hikes in the Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness are being conducted in the form of videos because of the coronavirus pandemic. We like to see kids and families out exploring the wonders of our National Forests and Wilderness areas…

Read More

When we know better, we do better. Author – Janice Barrett Four wood nymphs and a troll, as our group was described by Robert Howell, Wild South volunteer, board member and self-declared troll, descended into a canyon of the Sipsey Wilderness on a solidly overcast, magnolia-scented morning in May.  The four wood nymphs were Wild…

Read More

This Wild Wednesday adventure is dedicated with great love to the memory of our friend Dave Hollaway – Camp McDowell’s Big Dave – who inspired us, entertained us and taught us with open-hearted enthusiasm that was as big and wild as the sky.   This week’s Wild Wednesday adventure is an exploration of the bluff…

Read More

The Sipsey Wilderness is the location of this week’s Wild Wednesday nature hike for kids and families.  Wild South staff member and Leave No Trace Master Educator Kim Waites weaves the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace into our exploration.  Today’s adventure includes a scavenger hunt that you can do wherever you are.  Follow the…

Read More

It’s Wild Wednesday time at Wild South!  Welcome to our very first Wild Wednesday video.  We are conducting our annual summertime nature hikes for kids and families in the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama a little differently this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.  Join us by watching a series of Wild Wednesday videos we…

Read More

Communities that Care for Their Forest It’s been a wonderful winter full of hikes, conservation projects, and wild lands advocacy.  With a beautiful spring around the corner, our shared lands remind us that together we can overcome shared challenges.    Now more than ever we understand that communities must come together to protect the places…

Read More

Work your turkey off and escape Black Friday with Wild South!    Friday, November 29   Wild South is hosting a trash pick up along Cranal Road followed by a short hike into the Sipsey Wilderness. Cranal road is the southern border of the Sipsey Wilderness. Come “give back” to public lands. Bring the whole…

Read More

Continue the fall hiking season with a class on map reading and wilderness navigation! Your safety depends on this!   Have you ever wondered what those funny lines and symbols are on a topographic map?  Do you feel you could safely navigate the Sipsey Wilderness if you were lost? Would you like to hone your…

Read More

Helping Hands Workday    Saturday, November 23 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.   Workday Details: Join Wild South staff, wilderness rangers and volunteers for an exciting work day in the Sipsey Wilderness! For this work day there are two projects to choose from.  Option one:  Campsite maintenance We will be naturalizing, cleaning and reducing the…

Read More