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The : From Fort Morgan to Tennessee Guide to the Gulf Coast Section

Updated 2013 The Alabama Trail – An Introduction

The Alabama Trail is a proposed long path that will stretch from the at historic Fort Morgan to Florence, Alabama, then to the Alabama-Tennessee state line at the beautiful known as the Walls of Jericho, a trip of over 500-miles.

Figure 1: The Alabama Trail (red line) from Fort Morgan to Tennessee. The other line represents another AHTS project in the works (but not described in this document) the Eastern Continental and Great Eastern .

The Alabama Trail is a work in progress. This document is designed to outline what the trail is, its significance to the state, the different sections of the trail, and in particular focus on the work that needs to be done on the Gulf Coast section. This document also serves as the preliminary guide to hiking the trail along the Gulf Coast. Sections of this document will be completed and changed over time to create the final guide.

There is plenty of work to be done. Building such a trail takes years of careful planning, negotiations, agreements, and partnerships, but in the end will create a unique and beautiful hiking trail for everyone to enjoy.

We invite you to join us and help make this dream a reality. If you would like to volunteer, whether it be planning routes, tracking down possible corridors and negotiating access rights, or doing actual trail building, we would love for you to join us. Contact the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society at [email protected].

The Importance of Creating the Alabama Trail

When people first look at the proposed map of the Alabama Trail they ask why the state needs such a trail. There are many reasons, some obvious and some not so obvious but all equally as important. The Alabama Trail will:

• Create a Wilderness Corridor (Greenway): The creation of this trail up the western third of the state will guarantee that has a natural corridor to use for migration. • Create Day Hiking Adventures for Local and State Residents: The Alabama Trail will not only be a long distance backpacking path, it will also create many day hiking opportunities for individuals and families. This is especially important in such areas as Baldwin County on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, the fastest growing county in the state, where urban sprawl is quickly taking away the last wilderness areas on the coast. • Create a Backpacking Destination for the world wide hiking community: The Alabama Trail will be a premier hiking destination for hikers and backpackers. Alabama is recognized by the scientific community as one of the most ecologically and geologically diverse areas in the country. The trail will be unique in that a hiker can see the entire breadth of Alabama's landscapes –pristine white beaches, maritime wetlands and forests, meandering black water rivers, deep , towering , and of course the mountains. • Eco- Dollars for Local Communities and the State: The trail will bring in tourists from all over the country – and the world – and in turn bring tourism dollars to the local communities the trail travels through

The Trail

The proposed route of the Alabama Trail is not set in stone. It is a work in progress that will take many years to complete and, as is seen with other long paths such as the and Trail, the path will always be fluid, changing as agreements, right of ways, property owners, and easements change. This document will be updated as needed over the years to reflect these changes and will eventually become part of the official Alabama Trail Guide.

There are many interesting features along the proposed corridor that could be incorporated into the trail including mountain vistas, deep canyons, waterfalls, black water rivers, and plenty of history. Once again, it will take discussions and agreements with parties who own or control rights to these areas to allow the trail to be built through them.

The Gulf Coast Section

The following information describes the Alabama Trail through the Gulf Coast region. This information serves as a guide for trail builders and volunteers showing the current status of the trail, the proposed route, contacts, amenities, and the work that needs to be done to complete the section. When completed, this information will become the basis for the official Alabama Trail Guide.

Members of AHTS first investigated the feasibility of building the Gulf Coast section of the Alabama Trail in 2002 and 2003, particularly along the Fort Morgan peninsula. This was followed up with visits in 2009 and 2010 that resulted in several agreements being reached. In the interim, the state’s Forever Wild program purchased large tracts of land along the Perdido River and invited AHTS to help build and maintain trails along this route. Additionally, AHTS has been building and maintaining trails at State Forest near Atmore (formerly Claude D Kelley State Park), which will play an important role in this section of the trail.

This guide includes the following information for each segment of the trail through the Gulf Coast region. Remember, this is a work in progress!

• Length: Trail length in miles. • Surface Type • Features: What you will see along the trail. • Notes: Things you need to know when hiking the section. • Work to be Done: Work that is needed to complete the section. • Contacts: Who to contact for more information on the trail. • Amenities: Lists campsites, restaurants, re-supply areas, etc. • Map: A map of the section. • Mile-by-Mile Description: Trail details for traveling from south to north or the other way.

Figure 2: The Gulf Coast section of the Alabama Trail will be approximately 120-miles in length. There are 9-sections to the trail in this section. They are:

01-Fort Morgan Peninsula West 02-Bon Secour NWR 03-Fort Morgan Peninsula East 04-Fort Morgan Road Extension 05-Foley Beach Expressway to Graham Creek Preserve 06-Graham Creek Preserve to Lillian 07-Lillian Swamp 08-Lillian Swamp to the Perdido River 09-Perdido Connector 10-Perdido River 11-Perdido River to Splinter Hill Bog 12-Splinter Hill Bog to LRSF

Hiking the Alabama Trail Along on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

This section is in progress and will be updated soon with information and tips for successfully hiking the ALT on the Gulf Coast including where to find dates for hunting seasons, weather synopsis for the region, etc.

Additional Information about the Trail and this Manual

• Phone numbers and email addresses for contacts have been left out of this document temporarily until permission is granted to publish them. • More to come. Trail Sections: South to North

# 01 - Fort Morgan Peninsula West (Gulf of Mexico at Fort Morgan Historic State Park to Beach Trail)

Length: Approximately 11.5-miles

Surface Type - 0.5-mile beach walk, remainder road walk

Features: Pristine white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, expansive views of and Navy Cove

Notes • Please adhere to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Regulations on the beach walk (see Appendix A.) • Highway 180 is currently not blazed but will be shortly. It's a straight east-west walk. • Camping; o Available just to the east of Fort Morgan next to the ferry landing (coordinates: N 30* 13.856 / W 088* 00.862.) The campsite is primitive with room for 2 tents (6 people) and was established by the Alabama Scenic River Trail Association. You must reserve the site by calling 251-540-5257. Additional information is available at www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com/pages/?pageID=66. o Additional camping is currently being determined. • Other campsites have not been established at this time along this section

Work to be Done: • Establish campsites - contact RV parks, perhaps at BSNWR office • Blaze road walk • Map section and amenities • Request "Hiker Crossing Signs" be placed at road crossings (see Appendix B) • This will be the last thing to do: o Determine what the southern terminus marker will be and get approval from U.S. Fish & Wildlife o Once marker is approved, purchase and install

Contacts • Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Department • U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Ammenities • Restaurants: Tacky Jack’s Grill and Tavern, Michael DeAngelo’s Pizza, Tequilla Bay Bar & Grill • Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Department

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north)

• Coming soon #02 - Bon Secour

Length: 3.4-miles

Surface Type: Mix of dirt roads, paths, boardwalks

Features: Beautiful walk through maritime wetlands and forests.

Notes • Please adhere to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Regulations on the beach walk (see Appendix A.) • No blazing allowed in the refuge but trails are easy to follow

Work to be Done: • Completed

Contacts • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Amenities: • Composting toilet at the intersection of the Pine Beach and Centennial Trails • Wildlife viewing platform

Mile-by-Mile Description (south to north)

0.0 Start at the Pine Beach Trailhead located at the south end of the parking . The trail is not blazed but is easy to follow over an old dirt and road bed. Be sure to pick up a Pine Beach Trail Guide at the trailhead’s kiosk. Many trees, plants, and landscapes are numbered and identified in the guide.

0.3 Pass a beautiful wetland to the right (west.) The water is dotted with water lily.

0.5 Pass a sign on the left describing how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service perform prescribed burns to enhance the habitat for wildlife. Behind the sign you will see the results of the burns.

0.7 Come to a very spacious and clean Port-a-John. The facility has a solar powered fan for ventilation. In about 100 feet you will come to the intersection of the Jeff Friend / Centennial Trail. Turn left (east) onto the Centennial Trail and continue east. FYI: If you continue down the Pine Beach Trail about another 0.1-miles you will come to an elevated viewing platform with great views of Gator Lake, Little Lagoon, and many varieties of birds.

0.8 Cross a long boardwalk (0.1-miles long) across a beautiful wetland. This boardwalk could be underwater after a heavy rain. If so, skip the boardwalk and follow the wide dirt (probably mud if it has rained) to the right that skirts the wetland.

1.5 Cross a 30-foot boardwalk.

1.6 A dirt road enters from the left (north.) An “Area Closed” sign indicates the road is closed to the public. Follow the arrow on the Centennial Trail sign and continue straight (east.) The canopy thins out here, a disadvantage on hot summer days.

2.0 A dirt road enters from the left (north.) There is an “Area Closed” sign here telling you not to take the road and a Centennial Trail sign with an arrow points the direction (east.) The trail bed is now mostly sand and wide.

2.3 Cross a 100-foot boardwalk.

2.4 Cross a short 30-foot boardwalk.

2.5 Cross a series of 3 short boardwalks. Some of the trail in this area is low lying and can be muddy after heavy rain.

2.8 Come to a “Y” in the trail. This is the intersection of the Centennial Trail with the Jeff Friend Trail. Take the right fork (south.) The trail is gravel.

3.0 Come to a bench on the right and a short boardwalk over a small slough of a very pretty wetland which is on your left. In another 0.5-mile you will come to a long boardwalk that takes you past beautiful views of Little Lagoon.

3.1 Still on the boardwalk come to a small deck on your right with a bench.

3.2 The boardwalk ends and the trail is once again gravel.

3.4 Arrive at the Jeff Friend Trailhead on Highway 180. Cross the highway here to the north. The trail description continues in Section #03-Fort Morgan Peninsula East

#03 - Fort Morgan Peninsula East (Jeff Friend Trail to Highway 59)

Length: Approximately 6.4-Miles

Surface Type - short sand trail remainder paved multi-use trail

Features A nice walk along a multi-use trail, just the right distance from the main highway and tucked away, for the most part, by a good curtain of trees.

Notes • Trail not blazed at this time but it is a straight east-west walk with no intersections or turns

Work to be Done: • Price Alabama Trail signage to be used • Present pricing to Friends of the Backcountry Trail (City of Beach) who have said they could help with purchasing them • Obtain and install signage for section • Request "Hiker Crossing Signs" be placed at road crossings (see Appendix B) • Map section and amenities

Contacts • City of Gulf Shores • Gulf State Park

Amenities • Miscellaneous Stores: Walgreen’s, PNC Bank, Chocolate Corner, Island Quick Mart (convenient store) • Churches: Lagoon Baptist Church, Holy Spirit Episcopal Church

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north) • Coming Soon #04 - Fort Morgan Road Trail Extension (from Highway 59 to Foley Beach Expressway)

Length: Approximately 7.3-miles

Surface Type: Road walk, paved multi-use trail

Features This section begins as a road walk to Gulf State Park. Camping is available at the park just .75- miles south of the trail. The road walk will be replaced by the city of Gulf Shores with an extension of the multi-use Fort Morgan Road Trail (section #03) soon. The Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trail takes through wetlands and beautiful Spanish moss laden trees along a paved multi-use trail.

Notes • Trail not blazed at this time but easy to follow.

Work to be Done: • Signage: Same as Section 3 • Map section and amenities • Obtain permission for camping, preferably free for thru-hikers, at Gulf State Park (contact Kelly Reitz)

Contacts • City of Gulf Shores • City of Orange Beach • Foley Beach Expressway • Gulf State Park

Amenities • • Camping at Gulf State Park • Smokey Blue’s BBQ (restaurant)

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north)

• Coming soon #05 - FBE to Graham Creek Nature Preserve

Length: Approximately 6.1-miles

Surface Type: Road walk

Features: Road walk through farm land. Graham Creek Preserve is over 500 acres of pine forest and wetlands with an amazing array of birds and wildlife as well as acres of pitcher plants.

Notes: Trail is not blazed at this time

Work to be Done: • Determine entrance to Graham Creek and get approval from City of Foley • Determine road walk from FBE to Graham Creek Nature Preserve • See about Perdido Beach becoming a trail town • Blaze the road walk • Map section and amenities • Ask about thru-hiker camping at Graham Creek

Contacts • City of Foley • Graham Creek Preserve • Foley Beach Expressway

Amenities: To be determined

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north): Coming soon #06 - Graham Creek Nature Preserve to Lillian Swamp

Length: Approximately 17-miles

Surface Type: Road walk

Features: Road walk through farm land

Notes • Trail not blazed at this time

Work to be Done: • Determine road walk from Graham Creek Nature Preserve to Lillian Swamp • Map section and amenities • Work on making Lillian a trail town • Blaze the road walk

Contacts • Graham Creek Nature Preserve • City of Lillian

Amenities: The town of Lillian

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north)

• Coming soon

#07 - Lillian Swamp

Length: Approximately 5.5-miles

Surface Type: Dirt roads, dirt and sand footpaths

Features The trail through this Forever Wild property will travel through coastal and freshwater marshes, cypress-tupelo forests, Atlantic white cedar forests and pine savanna. Several rare and federally listed species are known to occur within the area. Review of existing data indicate six federally listed threatened or endangered, eighteen state protected and twenty-seven rare species have been reported to inhabit the Perdido River wetland system. Several historic sites are also located here.

Notes • The trail has not been surveyed or approved yet by the state

Work to be Done: • Survey a corridor for the trail through the property • Send map and waypoints of the route to state for approval • Upon approval begin building and mapping trail • In the meantime we need to blaze a road walk around the tract

Contacts • Alabama DCNR / Forever Wild - Chris

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north)

• Coming soon

#08 - Lillian Swamp to Perdido River

Length: Approximately 14-miles

Surface Type: Part road walk, dirt roads, dirt and sand footpaths

Features: Road walk through farm land, possible forest trail on timber company property.

Notes • The trail route has not been determined through this section at this time

Work to be Done:

This section is divided into two areas: Part A from Lillian Swamp to Highway 90 and Part B from Highway 90 to the southern end of Section 9 (reference maps in Appendix D.)

Part A: Lillian Swamp to Highway 90

• Determine a road walk from the north end of Section 7 to Highway 90. • Blaze road walk and map section and amenities. • Try to make Seminole a trail town?

Part B: Highway 90 to Section 9:

• There are two possible routes for this section: o Timber Company Land  Contact timber companies about routing a trail through their property from the south end of the state's Perdido River tract to Highway 90 o Road walk  Determine road walk  Blaze road walk, map section and amenities

• Whether or not the timber companies grant approval for the trail, item 2 - a temporary road walk – needs to be determined and blazed. If the timber companies do not grant permission to route the trail through their land then the road walk becomes permanent.

Contacts • Timber companies

Amenities: To be determined

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north)

 Coming Soon

#09 - Perdido River

Length: 13-miles

Surface Type: Dirt and sand footpath, some road walk

Features: The first wilderness trail on the Gulf Coast, this section takes you through beautiful cedar forests and pine savannah as it follows the black water river and white sandbars that border Florida and Alabama. The trail has many interesting plants along the route including pitcher plants and rare species of rhododendron. There are plenty of opportunities to camp on the sandbars and swim in the river. Some of the wildlife you may see include American alligator, deer, and black bear.

Notes • Be aware of the dates for hunting season. Visit http://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/season-limits/ for dates and information.

Work to be Done: This section of the Alabama Trail currently has two section: the south and north.

South Section (Figure 3): South Perdido Trailhead / Canoe Take-Out to Barrineau Park (4.08-miles) • The trail has been cut and blazed with yellow blazes. • Need to re-map section (some changes were made to the original route.)

North Section (Figure 4): Barrineau Park to North Trailhead / Canoe Put-In (8.9-miles) • Begin building and blazing route • Re-map section when completed

Contacts • Forever Wild: Chris Smith • Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Amenities: Camping on any sandbar is permitted

Figure 3: Section 9 from south trailhead to Barrineau Park

Figure 4: Section 9-Barrineau Park to north trailhead

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north) • Coming soon #10 – Perdido River to Splinter Hill Bog

Length: Approximately 17-miles

Surface Type: Road walk, eventually a forest route through Splinter Hill Bog

Features: The bulk of this section is a road walk along the back roads of Baldwin County through farm land and thick forests. Splinter Hill Bog is an amazing property owned by the Nature Conservancy where hundreds of pitcher plants bloom each spring. The state’s Forever Wild program purchased adjoining property to help protect the bog. While we can build trail on the state property, permission to route the trail through the Nature Conservancy section will be needed.

Notes: • Route not yet determined.

Work to be Done: • Contact Nature Conservancy about routing trail through bog (could be issues because of the bog is only open certain months) • Survey a route through the Forever Wild Tract • Send map and waypoints to state for approval • Finalize the road walk to Splinter Hill Bog • Blaze and map road walk to Splinter Hill Bog (until permission is granted from Nature Conservancy, determine and blaze a road walk around the bog.)

Contacts • Nature Conservancy • Forever Wild – Chris Smith • City of Perdido

Amenities: • City of Perdido

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north)

• Coming soon

#11 – Splinter Hill Bog to Little River State Forest

Length: Approximately 25-miles

Surface Type: Road walk, dirt and grass foot path in Little River State Forest

Features: The majority of this section is a road walk until it arrives at Little River State Forest where it uses two of the parks trails, the Bell and Gazebo, through a wonderful pine forest with some views of the surrounding hills and the 25 acre Little River Lake. We would like to have the trail exit Little River to the north of the CCC gazebo and route through 300 acres owned by Debbie Quinn of Fairhope. Debbie is on the Alabama Trails Commission. This will be the end of the Gulf Coast section.

Notes: • The road walk to Little River State Forest as well as the exit trail has to be determined. • The trails within LRSF are completed and blazed. • We have provided an overview map of the section with a detailed map of LRSF below

Work to be Done: • Finalize the road walk to Little River State Forest • Blaze and map the road walk to LRSF • Get permission to use the dirt service road off of Highway 21 to enter LRSF • When permission granted, blaze the dirt road from Highway 21 near the south boundary of the forest that connects to the Bell Trail at the pit (junction of Bell Trail and CCC Trail.) ‘ • Visit with Debbie Quinn about routing the trail north through her property and obtain official permissions • Extend the Gazebo Trail at LRSF into loop trail with access out of forest to the north and Debbie Quinns property.

Contacts • Alabama Forestry Commission – Gary Cole • Iron Men Ministries (manages LRSF) – Don Odum • Debbie Quinn

Amenities: • Towns of Lottie and McCullough (possible trail towns) • Camping at LRSF • Drinks and snacks at LRSF (and swimming in the lake)

Figure 5: Overview of distance between the beginning and end of Section 11

Figure 6: The Alabama Trail through Little River State Forest The dotted yellow line is the current route of the trail into LRSF where it connects to the Bell Trail, circles Little River Lake, then heads northeast on the Gazebo Trail. The dark blue line is a “proposed” extension of the trail out of LRSF onto adjoining property. The Gulf Coast section will officially end (the north terminus) at Little River however the remainder of the trail will continue northward using the proposed trail and will be maintained by other chapters.

Mile-by-Mile Description (south and north)

• Coming soon

APPENDIX

Appendix A: List of “Hiker Crossing” signs to be placed on Highway 180:

1. At Dune Road next to Fort Morgan Historic State Park and north side of Highway 180 2. North side of Highway 180 and Pine Beach Trailhead 3. At Jeff Friend Trailhead and north side of Highway 180.

Appendix B: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Trail Rules and Regulations:

Appendix C: Trail Contacts:

Appendix D: Section 8 Detail Maps:

The following maps detail section 8 of the Alabama Trail on the Gulf Coast. The maps were created with the use of official Baldwin County plat maps and include:

Figure A: An overview of the entire section

Figure B: Plat Maps from the Southern Trailhead (section 9) on River Road to Highway 112: The blue areas are state owned (DCNR), the red are owned by Seven States Timber. The yellow dot is the southern Perdido trailhead.(The blue at the extreme bottom of the map is not state land. See figure C.)

Figure C: Plat Maps from Highway 112 to Interstate 10 Blue areas are owned by Seven States Timber, orange by Sustainable Forests

Figure D: Plat Maps from Interstate 10 to Highway 90 Blue areas are owned by Timber Harvest Partners, red areas are private landowners.