Located on the banks of Lake Martin, Alabama’s largest and allegedly most beautiful lake, the area offers linked loop trails.  Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trails are among the most scenic and diverse hiking trails in Alabama.  The trails skirt the shoreline of beautiful Lake Martin, a 40,000-acre, 700-mile-shoreline lake.  Other areas of the trails are high rocky ridges and bluffs, some with vistas of 6 to 8 miles overlooking Kowaliga Bay, Chimney Rock, and others along rocky shoal creeks, and rippling brooks.  The trails are routed through a variety of flora and fauna.  There are high rocky ridges with mountain long leaf pine, mountain laurel, low and high bush blueberry, and lush hardwood forests that include redbud, sourwood, dogwood, native azalea, umbrella and big leaf magnolia.  Large thickets of Catawba Rhododendron are numerous.  Deer, turkey and numerous bird species, including bald eagles, can be seen along the trail.

The trails are built to blend into nature, free of bicycles, motorized vehicles, horses or other pack animals.  All trails are built on Alabama Power Company land that is set aside as naturally undeveloped. 

The trails are well-marked and maintained, the terrain is varied, and the scenery on a clear day is spectacular.  We will hike about 4 miles.  We will see longleaf pine and mixed hardwood forests, open airy sections, and other trail sections under fuller forest canopy.  We also will see pristine lake views, boats, birds, boulders and deer tracks.

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QxF9MCZcWhX4TFB92

Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

Please wear hiking boots!  Please meet 8:45 a.m. at Publix in the Village at Lee Branch in Greystone.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.

Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age ten and over welcome.

Optional restaurant dinner after.

Info: Dan Frederick, email seoutings@bellsouth.net or phone 205/631-4680

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Publix in The Village at Lee Branch in Greystone– 410 Doug Baker Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35242-2682.  Take U.S. Highway 280 East going away from Birmingham to intersection with AL Route 119, Cahaba Valley Road.  Continue on U.S. 280 through that intersection 9/10 more miles and turn right on Doug Baker Boulevard.  This turn is right after the very large Driver’s Way used car dealer.  Drive 3/10 miles on Doug Baker Boulevard and then see the Publix Super Market on your right.  Please park in front of the Publix, but fairly far out towards 280, not right by the front door.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has about 300 members.  We scheduled eighty-four events during calendar year 2018 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Twenty-two people on average have participated in each hike during the first four months of 2019.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from most of our outings.

Thank you.