Hiking enthusiasts and novices both have many options when choosing a hiking spot near Auburn.
From the Pinhoti Trail in Cheaha National Park near Talladega to the start of the Appalachian Trail in north Georgia, there are trails for hikers of every skill level within a day's drive.
Greg Lang, manager of Southern Trails, said for beginners, the 20-mile trail in Pine Mountain, Ga., is the best place to start.
"It's pretty easy-on, easy-off, so if you get halfway and don't really like it, you can bail off of it pretty fast," Lang said.
The most advanced trail within a reasonable distance of Auburn is the beginning of the Appalachian Trail, which starts in Springer Mountain, Ga., a four-hour drive from Auburn, Lang said.
"The southernmost part of the A.T. is pretty rough," Lang said. "It's a lot of up and down. All the thru-hikers on the A.T. say the worst part is in North Georgia."
The Pinhoti Trail is a popular destination because it is the highest point in Alabama, Lang said.
"The Pinhoti Trail is beautiful, especially this time of year and in the fall," said Gloria Nielsen, district ranger in Talladega. "There are so many more vistas available when the leaves are off the trees."
Lang also recommended Sipsey Wilderness Area in Walker County.
"The cool thing about that place is it is the last old growth forest in Alabama," Lang said.
There is a huge poplar tree that is well-known and frequently visited, Lang said. There is also a land bridge near Sipsey.
For day hiking, Little River Canyon is a good choice, Lang said.
"It's one of the deepest canyons this side of the Mississippi," Lang said. "It's a really impressive hole in the ground."
Lang said the hiking can be brutal there. " Yo u' v e g o t t a b o u l d e r scramble a lot," Lang said. "You better be ready to jump around."
A relatively new hiking spot in north Alabama is Walls of Jericho, a nature conservatory.
"They're still working on a trail system, but this is a really cool place," Lang said. "It's got a lot of cool features."
Nielsen said there are several highlights to remember before hiking any trail.
Bring water and pick up trash, Nielsen said.
"Make sure you have time to do your hike before it gets dark or plan accordingly and bring a light source," Nielsen said. "Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, and hike with someone rather than by yourself."
In many national parks or trails, there are limits on how many people may camp at one time.
At Cheaha, in Clay and Cleburne counties, groups larger than 10 are not allowed, Nielsen said.
Lang said it is extremely important if hiking for a long period of time to have quality gear--most importantly a good pair of boots and a fitted hiking pack.
"Ordering a pack online is probably the biggest mistake you can make," Lang said. "Also, anything that's unisex, consider it men's."
It is important to be prepared for accidents by bringing a small first aid kit, Lang said. Checking the weather is also a good idea.
Joe Harmon, freshman in civil engineering, said he went to the Pinhoti trail about a year ago.
"We were out there for two nights, and the first night we were going to stay in a shelter because it was going to rain really hard the first night," Harmon said.
The first two shelters they visited were full, and Harmon and his friend had to hike back in the rain.
"The storm had turned really bad, and it was getting late," Harmon said. "We had to hike back, and we both started getting hypothermia." When they finally reached the car, Harmon said his friend couldn't get the keys out of his pocket because his fingers were too numb. Harmon said they stayed in the car that night and continued the hike the next day.
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