The cloud-shrouded mountain rises above Cheaha Lake.
A foggy view on Alabama's highest
A lookout tower on the top of Cheaha Mountain
Rounding the building to find the highest natural point
On the cold and windy summit
Outcrop near the top
The name, "Cheaha," means "High Place" in the native tongue of the Creek Indians; this moniker is especially apt given that Cheaha Mountain is the highest point in the state of Alabama. Located in the Talladega National Forest, a campground, picnic area and hotel complete with convenience store all sit near the summit. The main draw to Cheaha State Park are the craggs which provide great opportunities for toprope rock climbing.
Approach Road
(Grade I, Class 1.0)
Starting Elev: 2400ft
Summit Elev: 2418ft
Elevation Gain: 18ft
Distance: 0.1mi
2005.03.16 - After getting a few hours' sleep on the way from Florida's Britton Hill, I stretched out my stiff joints from the night of car camping. The nearby truckstop provided a convenient place to wash up and get some breakfast. After the much-needed time out of the car, I was soon ready to continue the journey to winter highpoint no. 23.
The drive wasn't too difficult, though I did have to snake between several different roads in order to get to Cheaha State Park. I found that Rand McNalley had printed an error on my atlas, as a road that supposedly connected with the east side of the Park didn't even exist! Instead, I simply followed the brown signs and took a long but somewhat scenic road from the north. Passing Cheaha Lake toward the end of the drive, it was clear that the summit would be socked in with dense fog.
The visitors' center was closed, but the top was not difficult to locate; there was another car in the parking lot with a couple returning to it as if they had been visiting the highpoint. As they drove away, I put on my rain parka and began looking for the marker. The main benchmark was in the middle of the walkway up to the tower, but was obviously not on the highest natural point. I began circling the building and found several boulders which seemed as if they could be the true summit, but finally settled on one that was clearly 5ft higher than the survey point. I set-up shop and spent only a few minutes on the rainy and windy top of Alabama.
No longer trusting the smaller routes shown on my map, I went back out on the same twisty road I had taken on the way in. Making my way to Interstate-20, I concluded the Alabama portion of the trip and turned my attention to yet another state; in the northeast corner of the state, Mississippi's Woodall Mountain was the new objective.
The Texas Mountaineer
)
)
)
)
)
)