Wild Alabama Guided Hikes and Forest Bathing in the Bankhead National Forest and the Sipsey Wilderness
Wild Alabama staff and volunteers lead hikes in the Bankhead National Forest and Talladega National Forest year round.  Driven by our mission to inspire people to enjoy, value and protect the wild places in Alabama, our hikes introduce people of all ages to their National Forests and Wilderness Areas.  The essence of our guided hikes is to infuse our beings with the spirit of the living forest, to create a deeper connection that will propel us toward realization of the infinite value of wild places.  Accordingly, our hikes are not power hikes but rather an opportunity for taking the time to experience and explore the elements of the forest, from the miniscule to the majestic.

We limit the group size of our hikes and rigorously monitor sign-ups, communicating with each person individually.  The minimum number on a hike is two not including the guide. If registered hikers fail to show up for a hike without cancelling in advance, bringing the group size down to one or two, the Wild Alabama guide reserves the right to cancel the hike for safety reasons, even at the trailhead the morning of the hike.  

All are invited to join us! 

See below for hikes and forest bathing in Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness.
To get on our email list, sign up on our homepage!  Please scroll down to read Important Information For All Hikes.

All hikes and forest bathing are free of charge thanks to the generosity of individual donors and grants from the Walker Area Community Foundation, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, Alabama Mountain Rivers and Valleys RC&D, 


First Saturday and other Hikes: 
Wild Alabama staff and volunteers lead hikes in the Bankhead National Forest or Sipsey Wilderness on the first Saturday of every month and other times.  These hikes vary in length and level of challenge.  Children are welcome!  

Upcoming guided hikes:

Saturday, February 4, 2023
Sipsey Wilderness
Borden Creek (Trail 200)
9:30 a.m. at the Borden Creek Trailhead on Bunyan Hill Road
Group size is strictly limited and advance sign-up is required for participation.  Sign up and ask questions at janice@wildal.org
Leader:  Jonathan Kelly
Distance:  Approx. 2.5 miles roundtrip
Level of Challenge:  Moderately challenging (read description carefully, please)
All ages welcome!
Come explore with us on Borden Creek in the Sipsey Wilderness!  The hike guided by Wild Alabama intern Jonathan Kelly traverses a sandstone canyon with rock shelters, venerable hardwoods and Eastern hemlocks, spectacular bluff and rock formations.  The route is on Trail 200 which is a maintained but rough trail that includes the Squeeze, a 30 foot long, narrow (as the name implies) dark tunnel formed by two gigantic boulders leaning into each other, creating an opening big enough for humans to squeeze through standing up.  It is very muddy on parts of the trail and in the squeeze.
Be prepared for some uphill terrain, mainly the one-half mile from the creek back up to the trailhead.  
Bring:

• a daypack with all the food and water you'll need for about 3 hours
• a walking stick or trekking poles if there are balance or lower body joint issues
• a small trash bag for personal trash such as used toilet paper, food wrappers and scraps
• personal items such as toilet paper
• Other optional items:  journal, sketch pad, field guides or app, camera.

Wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather  and comfortable for hiking.  Footwear needs to be sturdy with good  reliable traction that will keep you upright on slick rocks and  uneven terrain.  Trekking poles or a hiking stick are highly recommended if there are balance or lower-body joint issues.
No dogs and no smoking, please

Saturday, January 14, 2023
Wild Alabama and Sierra Club Partnership Hike in the Sipsey Wilderness
Thompson Creek Trail (#206)
Group size in Sipsey Wilderness is strictly limited to 10 and advance sign-up is required.
Guides:  Janice Barrett (Wild Alabama) and Bob Locklear (Sierra Club)
Distance:  Approx. 6 miles roundtrip
Level of Challenge:  Moderately challenging

The Thompson Creek Trail follows Thompson Creek on the western side of the Sipsey Wilderness.  The tall sandstone bluffs that form the canyon create just the right conditions for species such as Eastern hemlock and a host of other plant species that make this area a botanical wonderland even in winter!  Our route will take us to the confluence with Hubbard Creek, and the birthplace of Sipsey Fork, Alabama's only Wild and Scenic River.  The huge boulders at the cascades on Sipsey Fork will be our lunch and turn-around point.  This hike also includes Eye of the Needle, an opening created in the sandstone bluff by an earthquake in the 1920's, Ship Rock and a beautiful waterfall.  

This hike will be an exploration in which we experience the wonders of the forest.  As such, the pace will be conducive to observation, photography, discussion and enjoyment while also getting out before dark!  We should be back to the trailhead around 2:30.

The trail is maintained (by Wild Alabama!) but it is a Wilderness so expect some downed trees to climb over or duck under, mud from all this rain, several shallow stream crossings, slick rocks and uneven terrain.  The main stream crossing will be White Oak Branch which gets over ankle high during rainy times, sometimes necessitating the removal of hiking boots to cross.   There is little elevation change but a few briefly steep climbs. 

Bring:

• a daypack with all the food and water you'll need for 5 or 6 hours
• a walking stick or trekking poles if there are balance or lower body joint issues
• a small trash bag for personal trash such as used toilet paper, food wrappers and scraps (we don't leave anything out there)
• personal items such as toilet paper
• a bandana or washcloth to dry feet after creek crossing
• Other optional items:  journal, sketch pad, field guides or app, camera/phone, dry socks and shoes for the ride home

Wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather  and comfortable for hiking.  Footwear needs to be sturdy and warm with good reliable traction that will keep you upright on slick rocks and uneven terrain.
 
No dogs and no smoking, please

Forest Bathing:
Alternating between Friday and Saturday typically (but not always) on the last weekend of the month, Wild Alabama’s Janice Barrett teams up with writer and teacher Anne Markham Bailey, founder of the Creative Awareness Institute to offer sessions in what the Japanese call Shinrin Yoku, or literally translated, wood-air bathing, or forest bathing. This is not a typical hike but is rather an opportunity to open deeply to the awareness of being in the forest, in one’s self, and in the shared and sacred space. We move in silence, have opportunity for deep connection to the earth, the water, the trees and to our own interiority. Time for writing, sketching, movement or meditation is built into the schedule for the day. 
For ages 16 and over.  Contact us for arranging a session with  younger participants.
Please watch this short video by Anne Bailey about Forest Bathing.
The recorded Forest Bathing webinar that Wild Alabama hosted in early July 2021 may be viewed here.

Next Forest Bathing Sessions: 
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Friday, February 24, 2023
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (time may be adjusted according to weather and location) 
Sign up is open at  janice@wildal.org
​Location in the Bankhead National Forest will be revealed to those who sign up. 
This month's forest bathing walk will be a total walking distance  of about 1.25 miles roundtrip on a trail that is unmaintained, uneven and sloped (gradual downhill most of the  way  in, gradual uphill most of the way out).  The route will be easily doable for most people who hike.  Bring lunch, snacks, drinking water, a journal and/or sketchbook and pen, a small pad or cloth for comfortable sitting or lying down.  A detailed list of what to bring and directions will be emailed to those who sign up.  Participants in this contemplative forest immersion will enjoy guided meditation, silence,  invitations and suggested techniques for connection to the elements through the senses, deep rest, reflection and tea.  Group size is limited to six.
​No dogs and no smoking, please.

Wild Wednesday Nature Hikes for Kids and Families and Field Trips for School Groups:
Wild Alabama's Wild Wednesday Nature Hikes for Kids and Families are a fun and safe way to explore the Bankhead National Forest.  Wild Alabama staff lead guided hikes for kids and their adults every Wednesday from the last week in June through the first week in August to some  of the easiest to get to, spectacularly beautiful, wet and wondrous places in the forest! 

Participants learn about Leave No Trace, the natural and cultural history of the  area, what lives  in the water and on the land, and adults learn of places to take their children on their  own.  A family group must  include at least one child or teenager under the age of 18. 

Wild Wednesdays are over until next summer, but we lead field trips for schools - public, private and homeschool - and groups year round.

 For more information, contact Janice Barrett at janice@wildal.org.

Important Information for All Hikes
Wild Alabama practices coronavirus protection protocols as advised by the CDC and strongly encourage all adult participants in our events to be fully vaccinated.
What to bring on a Wild Alabama hike:

• a daypack with lunch, snacks, drinking water
• a mask
• an Epi Pen if severe allergy to insect stings is an issue
• walking stick or trekking poles 

What to wear:  Clothing that is appropriate for the weather and comfortable for hiking.  Shoes or boots should be sturdy with good traction for slopes and slippery rocks and stream crossings.
Tick protection:  If protection against ticks is desired, we recommend permethrin products such as Permanone or Sawyers.  Spray on clothing at least 4 hours before wearing.  It only takes a little!