The Cheaha Wilderness lies next to
Cheaha State Park, near the Talladega Mountains in
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It lies within the
Talladega National Forest
The Talladega National Forest is located in the U.S. state of Alabama and covers 392,567 acres (613.39 sq mi, or 1,588.66 km2) at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains.
Before it was bought by the federal government in the 1930s, th ...
and is administrated by the
US Forest Service
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency inc ...
. Congress designated the area on January 3, 1983
[Cheaha Wilderness Act, .] and expanded it in 1988.
From the stone tower on the summit of
Cheaha Mountain
Cheaha Mountain , often called Mount Cheaha, is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located a few miles northwest of the town of Delta in Cheaha State Park, which offers a lodge, a restaurant, and other amenities.
Desc ...
, Alabama's highest point at , a dense second-growth
woodland
A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the ''plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade (see ...
stretches south across Cheaha State Park and into Cheaha Wilderness.
Best known for its elevated terrain and overlooks with panoramic views, the Cheaha Wilderness attracts
hiker
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
s to its section of the Pinhoti Trail
This stretch of the trail runs from northeast to southwest across the entire Wilderness, a distance of about . Primarily following a ridge system through
Talladega National Forest
The Talladega National Forest is located in the U.S. state of Alabama and covers 392,567 acres (613.39 sq mi, or 1,588.66 km2) at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains.
Before it was bought by the federal government in the 1930s, th ...
, the Pinhoti crosses the top of Cheaha Mountain.
In total, the long
Pinhoti Trail passes through both the Cheaha and
Dugger Mountain Wilderness
Dugger Mountain Wilderness is Alabama's third and newest wilderness area. Dedicated April 2000, Dugger Mountain Wilderness covers of Talladega National Forest in Calhoun County and Cleburne County in Alabama.
Geography
Dugger Mountain, the sec ...
areas, and connects with the
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian Tr ...
in Georgia.
References
External links
Wilderness.netTopoQuest Map
{{Authority control
Protected areas of Clay County, Alabama
IUCN Category Ib
Wilderness areas of Alabama
Alabama placenames of Native American origin