Sipsey Wilderness Area

PURPOSE: The purpose of this guide is to help those who know little about the SWA (Sipsey
Wilderness Area) plan a hiking or backpacking trip.

SCOPE: Some of the interesting features of certain areas and trails are pointed out. The list of
points of interest or terrain features is not meant to be complete, but only a guide.

WHAT IS THERE: In the center of the SWA the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior river runs
through the Sipsey Gorge with vertical and near vertical cliffs on the North side of the river. This
is indeed one of the drawing cards which makes the SWA popular and unique. The river
normally runs cold and clear. It varies from slow sections with sandy beaches to rock and boulder
strewn areas which add to the beauty and uniqueness of the area. The river is filled with bream
and bass, though the clear water may make them difficult to catch. What is said to be the largest
tree in the state is located in the Bee Branch Area of the SWA. It is a Yellow Poplar tree often
called the "Champion Tree". Hemlock trees also thrive here. This is the southern most range of
the Hemlock tree and the SWA is the terminus point for this tree in the Appalachian range.
Because of the geological makeup of the area, there are many waterfalls here and some of them
are located on the trails.

FORDS: There are several trails which necessitate wading. Crossing at normal water levels is
neither difficult nor dangerous, however at higher water levels it can be both. The fords are less
than knee deep and the bottom is soft and sandy. They are no more than an inconvenience which
adds to the wilderness experience. These are some of the fords you may cross. Trail 202 cresses
the river where it joins 209. There are three fords on 209, the first is near the East end where it
crosses Borden Creek. The second is crossing Bee Branch and the last across Sipsey Fork to join
201. There is also a ford where trail 201 and 206 join.

ERRORS ON THE MAPS: Many of the maps for this area have errors on them as to what you
will actually find on the SWA. The most accurate is published by Cart-O-Craft. I recommend
you get this map. It is not available directly from them online, but is available at many outdoor
shops and can be purchased from many web sites. It will cost your from $6 to $11 but is a
bargain form a plastic coated waterproof map. The topographic maps available from USGS do
not have the trails on them. The map you can get from the ranger station in Double Springs is
very small. This is a wilderness area and few if any trail markers remain once you leave the trail
head.

COMMENTS: I am in no way associated with the Forest Service or any agency and what ever
you read here are my own biased opinions. Have a great hike. Respect others. Be careful with
fires. Treat all your drinking water. Pack out all trash. Enjoy God's creation, there is a lot more
there than trails. Leave it a wilderness for me to enjoy; Aaron Bruce.

TRAILS:
200 - The North end of this trail starts at the bridge crossing Borden Creek. This bridge is
blocked to vehicles, but you can drive to in on FS road 224. The South end of the trail joins 209
at the ford of Borden Creek. Soon after the trail leaves the parking area at the bridge, the trail
goes under a rock which is difficult or next to impossible to negotiate with a frame pack. If you
do not have a large pack this is a cool feature on this trail. If you have a large pack it is a small
problem. If there are two people you can hand your pack past the narrow tight squeeze. Or you
can climb over the rock, but that is a hazardous route. The safest and easiest way around this
obstacle with a large pack is to enter the creek and wade around it. There is a large camping area
about one half mile North of the jct with 209.

201 - This trail and 202 start from the trail head, a paved parking area located on Cranal Road.
The trail starts following an old road and goes through typical southern forest on its way to the
Sipsey Fork. There is a ford at the Northern end of this trail no matter which way you go. You
must ford to join 206 or 209.

202 - It starts from a common point with 201. 0.4 mile from trail head parking lot on Cranal
Road the trail takes the right fork. This trail also follows an old road and starts out ordinary, but
turns rather beautiful as it nears the Sipsey Fork. There is a nice water fall beside the trail when
there is enough water flowing in the unnamed branch which creates it. This trail in conjunction
with 201 and 209 make a nice loop. NOTE: during midsummer and fall, ticks infest parts of this
trail. It is the worst place I have ever seen. I feel it should be avoided from mid June until cold
weather. This is a real nice loop for other times of the year.

204 - This was once the most used trail in the SWA before the blocking of FS road 224 to
vehicles when the wilderness area was doubled in size. It leads to the Bee Branch Scenic Area.
This trail head may not be marked as well as the others. Trail 204 starts from FS road 224 which
is blocked to vehicles at Borden Creek Bridge and is now trail 224. This trail as it is marked on
older FS maps is incorrect. There is a fork in this trail just less than one mile from the trail head.
The left fork is on all maps, but the right fork, which goes to Bee Branch may not be. I will call it
204A and deal with it next. 204 goes to the left at the fork and is an easy trail as it passes through
hardwood forests which also contain large hemlock trees. It has some nice views of the area just
before it descends into the gorge and joins trail 209. Trail 204 or 204A in conjunction with 209,
224 and 202 make a nice loop.

204A - This trail may not be on your map. Just less than one mile down trail 204 there is a fork
at a trail marker. The trail to the right, trail 204A, leads to the Bee Branch Scenic Area. In this
area there are two water falls, a huge yellow poplar tree which is said to be the largest in the
stare, and many unique rock formations. All of which are visible from one place. This area was
once very popular as a day hiking area, and saw heavy use on weekends. You will not want to
miss this area of remarkable natural beauty. The trail is steep where it descends into the gorge of
Bee Branch and care should be used when wearing a loaded back pack. Because of the heavy use
this area gets, the trail South may be difficult to find. It goes down stream and stays on the left
side of the branch. Almost any trail you take will turn into the correct one and lead you down the
branch several miles to trail 209 and the Sipsey Fork. There are several good camping spots
along this trail before it gets to trail 209. If you are traveling on trail 209 this trail is not marked
but is the trail which goes north from 209 along the East side of Bee Branch. If you do not take
this trail you will ford Bee Branch to go North on 209.

205 - I do not know if this trail is still open. I will field check it. The trail head for 205 is on 224
about one mile from the trail head of 204. This trail follows an old road then descends into a
beautiful hemlock forest near the river. Trail 205 was heavily used in the past, but the blocking of
FS 224 may have caused it to be lost.

206 - Often called the Thompson Creek Trail, it starts where FS 208 is blocked at the trail head
parking area. This trail is a very easy walk and crosses a small section of private land. There is a
sign which restricts use to a ten feet wide trail right of way. About 1.5 miles down the trail South
from the trail head there is fork in the trail. The right fork closely follows Thompson Creek. The
left for leads up the branch to a water fall and an interesting area with large overhanging rocks. It
looks as if it belongs in the Smoky Mountains. Both trails later rejoin. There are many place to
camp along this trail some larger campsites are nearer the Sipsey Fork.

209 - The trail head is in the Sipsey River Recreation Area located where Cranal Road,
Lawrence County Rd 6 and Winston County Rd 60, crosses the Sipsey Fork. About 1/3 mile
North of the start. It fords Borden Creek. This is a very nice trail as it follows along the river. A
striking water fall is right on the trail where it crosses Fall Creek. There are nice camping spot
before 202 joins it. There are a few decent camp spot between where 202 and 204 join trail 209,
four very nice camping places lie between junction of 204 and the ford at Bee Branch. These are
large enough for at least three tents each, and two of the would hold more. These camp site are
heavily used and care should be taken to make as little impact as possible on them. They all have
good access to the river to get water, good swimming places, and decent fishing near by. Where
209 crosses Bee Branch, sometimes can be a ford and sometimes can be jumped across,
depending on how much rain there has been. The trail is very beautiful from Bee Branch to its
end as you walk through a young hemlock forest. There are some places to camp on this section
of the trail also. Several springs are located on this section. A notable one is above the trail under
a large overhanging rock and has a clear trail leading up to it. Trail 209 does continue through the
section of private land. Because the trail does not actually end and cross the river as most maps
show, the place where it fords the Sipsey Fork can be difficult to locate. A difficult to see trail
marker marks the ford if it is still there. You can continue on 209 to where it joins 206 without
fording the Sipsey twice as some maps show.

207, 208, 210, 223 - I have not yet walked these trails, but will post information for them as soon
as I do.

224 - This is the old Forest Service Road 224 and follows a ridge top after ascending from the
bridge at Borden Creek. Nature is taking the road back. After the blizzard of 1993 there were
hundreds of trees across this road. Most of them have rotted out. This trail is open to horse rider
use so it tends to wash worse than some of the other trails. When this road was open to vehicles
FS 224 was a key route to accessing the North side of the SWA. Now this trail is a key trail to
loops in conjunction with the other trails of the SWA.

BLOCKED ROADS: Some of the blocked roads South of the Sipsey Fork are not easily found
since they have been blocked for over 25 years. The ones which are now trails 201 and 202 are
easy to find because of much foot travel. Others will not be so easy. The blocked roads north of
and including old FS 224 and FS 208 were blocked in 1990 and are clear and open to foot and
horse travel only. FS 224 and FS 208 once formed the Northern border of the SWA and now run
through the center of it. Some of these blocked roads on the northern half will make good walks
and hikes, but some follow ridge tops and water is not available on them.