The Bankhead National Forest is Alabama’s first national forest, proclaimed in 1918 and originally named the Alabama National Forest. At just over 180,000 acres of public land, the forest is located in Winston, Lawrence, and Franklin counties in northwest Alabama.
Within the boundaries of the forest is the 26,000-acre Sipsey Wilderness, the first wilderness area designated east of the Mississippi River. The wilderness and surrounding forest include more than 12 trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Nearly 90 miles of trails traverse some of the most diverse topography in the state, including limestone cliffs, waterfalls, and canyons, all within the canopy of a dense forest.
Backpackers take advantage of the trails to get deep into some of Alabama’s most pristine backwoods. The Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River is popular for canoeing and is recognized as a National Wild and Scenic River. Paddlers and hikers may see an abundance of wildlife, including the Black Warrior waterdog salamander and the flattened musk turtle, two endangered species that have received special federal recognition. In addition, the National Audubon Society has designated the forest an Important Bird Area.
Latitude: 34.3453574 Longitude: -87.3395429