Cheaha Mountain

Cheaha Mountain is the highest point in Alabama. While it's possible to drive all the way to the summit, I chose to hike from the Cheaha Trailhead instead.

The hike begins on the Cave Creek Trail and quickly connects to the Pinhoti Trail, which is marked with sky-blue rectangles. Follow the Pinhoti for about a quarter mile until you see a sign on a tree directing you to another connector trail on your left. This connector leads you directly to the park gates.

From the gates, I took the Cheaha Express Trail, marked with yellow rectangles. This is a multi-use trail for both hiking and biking, and I saw several bike tire tracks in the dirt— so be mindful of your surroundings.

Watch for the fork where the Deer Run Trail (marked with purple) continues straight. I stayed on the Cheaha Express Trail.

As you near the summit, take another connector on your left — a dirt and gravel road that leads up to the towers. Following this road will bring you to the very top of the mountain.

Along the way, I encountered several deer, one tick, and a lot of mosquitoes.

At the summit, there’s an observation tower you can climb, as well as a nearby radio tower. The survey mark is located just to the left of the observation tower.

For the descent, I considered taking the Big Foot Trail or the road. I opted for the road to shorten my trip.