Johnny Molloy - Explorers Guide 50 Hikes in Alabama

Thanks to everyone who walked with me on the trails, those who helped back at home, and all the land managers who answered my persistent questions. Thanks to Merrell for providing me with great hiking shoes, to Delorme for the Earthmate PN-40 GPS, and to Lafuma for great backpacks and sleeping bags. Thanks to Hunt Cochrane and all the friends and family who joined me on the trail. Most of all thanks to the residents of Alabama, who know why the Heart of Dixie is also known as Alabama the Beautiful.

In writing this book I had the pleasure of meeting many friendly, helpful people, such as local residents proud of the unique lands around them, and state park and national forest employees who endured my endless questions. Even better were my fellow hikers, who were eager to share their knowledge about their favorite spots. They already know what beauty lies on the horizon. As Alabama becomes more populated, these lands become that much more precious. Enjoy them, protect them, and use them wisely.

Being a Southerner, I know Alabama as a scenic place. It wasnt long after discovering the outdoors that I headed into the Heart of Dixie to ply its trails, hiking the Pinhoti Trail in its entirety, fishing Yellow River for bass, and camping on its sandbars during canoe trips. Other river trips followed, including Shoal River and the Choctawhatchee. Later exploits lay ahead, as I branched out by hiking into Alabamas premier wildernessthe Sipsey. The waterfalls there! Hiking and tent camping trips to Payne Lake and the Gulf followed. Later I turned my passion for the outdoors of our great country into a vocation. I kept Alabama in my mind. Visiting select highlights did not sate my desire for Alabama; rather, it made me want to see more. As a writer, I set my sights for the Heart of Dixie. I wanted to capture the unique features of the land for others to enjoy.

I pitched the idea for this guidebook, then I began systematically re-exploring Alabama for the best hikes. It was a real pleasure to travel its trails, from the waterfalls of DeSoto State Park to the rock overlooks of Cheaha to the waters of Lake Martin to the history of Fort Blakeley. Not all the treks I made are included here. Along the way, I found some unexpected hikes that pleasantly surprised this grizzled veteran. And with the joy of completing a book and the sadness of an adventure ended, I finished my research. But I will continue putting my lessons to work, enjoying more of Alabama in future outdoor adventures.

This book details 50 hikes in Alabama, from the Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Plateau of the north to ridges and lakes in the heart of Alabama to the Gulf coastal plain in south Alabama. Specific emphasis was placed on the most scenic destinations and unique places that make Alabama so specialplaces like the Walls of Jericho with its rock formations, or the dunes of Bon Secour. Many hikes in this book take place on the Pinhoti Trail, the master path through Alabamas mountains. Other hikes take place within federal and state lands scattered throughout the state. Hikes of varied lengths and difficulties are includedsometimes we feel like going on a rugged hike, and at other times an easy stroll will do. Time constraints, companions, and time of year are major considerations when choosing a hike. Grandma is not going to feel like fording remote rivers, and a weekend backpack with your old Scout buddy will likely entail challenging terrain.