Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Sweetwater Lake area consists of three lakes in the portion of the forest north of I-20
and Heflin. Coleman Lake provides an excellent camping area, and the Pinhoti Trail con-
nects that lake with Sweetwater Lake and Highrock Lake. These lakes and the surround-
ing woods provide good spring and summer bird habitat for belted kingfisher, broad-winged
hawk, yellow-throated warbler, black-and-white warbler, pine warbler, worm-eating warbler,
and brown-headed nuthatch. Check clearcuts and other recently logged areas along the forest
roads for prairie warblers. To reach Coleman Lake and the campground, take Forest Road
553 northwest from US 78, north of Heflin; when FR 553 hits FR 500, follow FR 500 to the
right and to the lake (there are signs). I have found that broad-winged hawks around Coleman
Lake are very easy to call up with a good hawk call. Also, early evenings in the spring and
summer provide a good display of bats over the lake as they drink and eat insects.
CHEAHA STATE PARK
Containing Alabama's highest point, 2,407-foot Mt. Cheaha, Cheaha State Park is home to
a number of hawk species, and it provides the southernmost known nesting area of the black-
throated green warbler. The park has a modern lodge and restaurant, campgrounds, a small
recreational lake, and a number of cabins and chalets. Many short trails lead to beautiful cliffs
overlooking the valley 1,200 feet below and give views into the Cheaha Wilderness area to
the south in Talladega National Forest. Indeed, the entire 2,700-acre state park is surrounded
by the national forest, and an extensive drive through the forest is required to get to the park.
