Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trail contact: Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association, PO Box 240503, Eclectic,
AL 36024; www.cherokeeridgealpinetrail.org
Finding the trailhead: From Dadeville at the intersection of AL 49 / S. Broadnax
Street and W. Lafayette Street, take W. Lafayette Street west 1.3 miles and turn
left onto Young's Ferry Road. Travel 3.3 miles and turn left onto Smith Mountain
Drive. The parking area and trailhead is ahead in 0.5 mile at the end of the road.
GPS: N32 48.692' / W85 50.119'
The Hike
The summit isn't the highest in the state, only 780 feet, but the view from atop
Smith Mountain along the banks of Lake Martin is spectacular, especially from
the cab of the 80-foot-tall fire tower that graces the peak. More on the tower in a
moment.
The Smith Mountain Loop is only one of several trails built by the Cherokee
Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA). Since incorporating in 2004, its mem-
bers and volunteers have been busy building trails such as this all along the south-
ern shores of the lake. Other trails in their inventory include the 3-mile Chimney
Rock Loop and the Deadening Trail.
The trail itself is located on 10 acres of land that was once an Alabama Forestry
Commission fire lookout from 1939 to 1980. The property was purchased by
Alabama Power and eventually deeded to CRATA so that they could build this
beautiful trail.
The trail is a steady but fairly easy climb to the top over a rock and dirt foot-
path. Along the route you will walk alongside and through some massive gneiss
bluffs and boulders. Wildflowers such as mountain laurel and rhododendron
brighten the path from spring through early summer.
Then there are the views. You are in for some really spectacular vistas as you
walk toward the summit. Heading up from the trailhead on the north side of the
mountain, you will have a panoramic view of the surrounding hills. Then things
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