Cheaha State Park

Regardless of what time of year you choose to visit Cheaha State Park, you will find a fascinating trip lies ahead of you.

Come on I will take you on a tour.
Lets stop at the store located just inside the Park entrance. We'll get a snack and maybe some bottled water to take with us. Lets don't forget to get a trash bag to take with us. I will show you what that is for later on in our journey.

Now we head for Bald Rock. From Bald Rock, you can see right downtown Oxford, Alabama. Almost 30 miles away. As one of the northern most points you can also on a very clear day see much farther to the north.

We actually have a couple of options on this trip to Bald Rock. We can either take one of the several footpaths that lead us out behind the old Cheaha Hotel (Now the Group Lodge), and along the ridge toward what was many years ago the only Pony express Trail up this side of the mountain.
Or we can take the boardwalk that provides access to those who may not feel like such a hike or may be restricted to other means of travel. No matter what your choice, you will find a wonderful journey to Bald Rock with much beautiful landscape and encounters with many different forms of wildlife.

Bald rock is normally only a small portion of the journey to Cheaha for most people. But if you take the time to explore around the area a bit you will find what is left of several ancient sites of the first inhabitants. There is little left of the remains but even at that, it is not difficult to feel the presence of those who so very long ago walked the silent mountain paths of Cheaha Mountain.

Well now we head back out the trail. Unless of course you are very adventuresome. Then we just head right down the rock formations and go cross-country. Ok...so you are not that adventuresome. Then we stick to the trail. Our Next stop is what is officially know as Devils Pulpit(But today more popularly know as Pulpit Rock) I like this much better.

Pulpit Rock is the center of three wonderful points that each has different views and different personalities. Yes personalities. When you stand there silent and listening, you will have little trouble feeling those special qualities of each of these promontories that give each it's own personality.

The trail to Pulpit Rock is the most difficult of the three formation trails. It passes through a small hollow so it leads up hill and down hill in both directions. It is somewhat more challenging than the other two Formation Trails.

Next on our Agenda is Rock Gardens. Rock Gardens is one of the photos featured here on this web site. From Rock Gardens you can look down almost 1500 feet below to the lake. And farther to your left and up, is the resteraunt.
We will slow down a bit as we travel from Pulpit Rock To Rock Gardens, and as we look we will see some of the cabins that make staying at Cheaha an even more exciting adventure. Some of these cabins were built as far back as the 1930's by the CCC's.

OK, the morning is past now and the sun is climbing higher. We will travel down the Lake Trail from Rock Gardens and maybe go for a swim or who knows...Maybe we will get lucky and catch enough fish for lunch in the lake.

Here is where our trash bags come in handy the first time.
Many people who come here, throw their water bottles, cans etc... on the ground. I always take a trash bag with me on the trails and try to bring as much of this out with me as I can. I know..it does not get it all, but if we all bring out just a little bit maybe we can get it all sooner or later.

Cheaha is not littered any worse than most places where people collect to vacation, but it is home to me and I really hate to see it like this.

Before we reach the lake lets sit on some rocks and rest for a bit. I will tell you about some of the accommodations provided by the Park.

When you first enter the Park if you are coming from I-20, you will see the Nature Center on the left-hand side and the Park Office on the Right side.

As we turn right into the entrance we pass the store on the left. Whoa, we have to stop at the booth and pay our entrance fee, which is $1.00 per person. Often it is on the honor system but I always like to make sure that I get my dollar in the box any way. Not just because it isn't honest to go through without paying, but this money will help to keep the Park in beautiful condition.

Now up the mountain. Once again on our left we will see a small garden with a gazebo. A nice place to sit and watch the sun set.

Next on our left hand side we see the motel. Made of native stone from Cheaha, it is a very nice place to spend the night or a week. I was thankful for it the several times that I was snowed in there while I worked up there. You will always find the Staff to be very courteous, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the area. The rooms are neat and very roomy.

Now we head on up the mountain. A little farther up we come to an intersection in the road. To the left is the road that goes to the tower. An old Fire Observation tower. Up top there is a wonderful observation deck where you can see the whole world it seems. I might also add that at the bottom of the tower are the disks embedded into the ground that mark the triangulation, marking the highest point in the state of Alabama.

On past there are the pavilions where lots of folks come for outings and family reunions.

This road leads on down past part of the Chalets. Similar to the cabins but more modern to a degree. I prefer the cabins myself.

But since we want to take the whole tour we will not turn left. We head on up the mountain. Soon we come to another intersection. You remember it, right? That is where we turned to go to Bald Rock. The group Lodge is up there on the right next to the trailhead.

As we turn left we see the Cheaha Chapel on the left side. It is open to all denominations and has services there every Sunday for those who visit.

Just past there is the Upper campground. Complete with Full hookups as well as camping pads. Bathhouse and full services. It often looks like a neighborhood up there but always has a nice feel to it.

well as we head down the mountain now on our one way trip, we come to a sharp curve where we found the Pulpit Rock trail head. It is located right next to the Park Rangers Cottage so be nice there...

Just past the Rangers cottage is a road that bears back sharp to our right. It leads past the first of the cabins and out to the Rock Gardens trailhead.

Soon after we pass this road we come to an old cistern on the right side with the wildflower garden next to it.

Next we see on the right side the rest of the cabins, and to the left we see the road leading up to the Chalets.

We are almost there now...we slow down now as we enter the area near the motel entrance. To the right side is the swimming pool perched on the very side of the mountain. A Pool with a view.

Next on the right is the resteraunt with its full observation deck and across from it the Motel entrance.
I can smell the food from here.

I think this is enough for today. It will give you some idea of what is up on the mountain and the lay of the land.
I will share more about the outlying area soon.

I surely hope that you like the tour and will come back for the rest. Of course I am saving the very best for last.
So if you want to hear about the rest, you have to come back from time to time to see where we are at.

Cheaha is just over 6,000 acres of State Park, nestled within the boundaries of the Talladega National forest.
Which makes it the ideal place for hiking and camping. The 370,000 some odd acres of National Forest provide excellent primitive camping as well as full accommodations in Cheaha State Park.

Cheaha is located in several counties. Clay, Cleburne, Calhoun, and Talladega all come together there.

Perhaps some day we will see each other up on my wonderful mountain.
I hope so any way.