Hiking_AL-30

Start: Parking lot at north Conecuh Trail trailhead on AL 137

Distance: 3.8-mile lollipop

Hiking time: About 2 hours

Difficulty: Easy over flat to mildly rolling hills

Trail surface: Dirt footpath, sandy service road

Best seasons: Late fall–late spring

Other trail users: Cyclists

Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted

Land status: National forest

Nearest town: Andalusia

Fees and permits: None

Schedule: Year-round, sunrise to sunset

Maps: USGS Wing, AL; DeLorme: Alabama Atlas & Gazetteer, page 58 F4

Trail contact: Conecuh National Forest, 24481 AL 55, Andalusia, AL 36420; (334) 222-2555; www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/alabama/recreation/picnickinginfo/recarea/?recid=30107&actid=71

Special considerations: Hunting is permitted in all of Alabama’s national forests and may restrict access to trails. Please visit the Forest Service website for dates and restrictions.

Finding the trailhead: From Andalusia at the intersection of US 84 (River Falls Street) and US 29, take US 29 south 11.2 miles and turn left onto AL 137 South. Travel 1.7 miles and turn left onto Hogfoot Road. Immediately after turning, turn right onto a short dirt road. The trailhead is only a few yards ahead. GPS: N31 09.225' / W86 34.413'

The Hike

Conecuh National Forest not only provides backpackers with a rare opportunity to do an overnight trek in south Alabama on the 20-mile-long Conecuh Trail, but also gives day hikers some interesting opportunities to explore the longleaf pine forest and its wonders. One of those day trips is the Nellie Pond Loop.

The Nellie Pond Loop is an easy 3.8-mile lollipop hike. The trail is a small section of the 13-mile North Loop of the Conecuh Trail. The trip to Nellie Pond described here is the perfect day hike that will take you to two of the standout features of the longer trail, Gum and Nellie Ponds.

The trail leads you through a thick longleaf pine forest. Dogwoods and magnolias can be seen blooming here in the spring. At the right time of the year, a little extra color is added to the scene with white-topped pitcher plants blooming in the bogs, white water lilies blanketing the surface of Gum and Nellie Ponds, and black-eyed Susans, honeysuckle, and blackberry bushes dotting the landscape.

The area in which the trail travels, with all of its water features, makes it another one of those great wildlife-viewing trails. At the ponds and bogs you will see great blue herons, yellow-throated warblers, yellowthroats, and quail, plus hear many different varieties of songbirds.

Several species of frogs can be seen, and heard, along the trail around the ponds. These include the dusky gopher frog and the pine barren tree frog. Not long ago the dusky gopher frog came close to being named the official state amphibian, but lost out to the red hill salamander. While you will hear frog song most any time of the day, the best time to hear it is in the early evening when the chorus crescendos and echoes through the forest.

You are also likely to come across salamanders, box turtles, and snakes like corn snakes, black racers, and timber rattlers. Remember that most of the time if you stand still (at a safe distance, of course) and wait, a snake will move off on its own. And, as always, when there is a freshwater pond, there is always a chance that you might catch a glimpse of an alligator. With the trail being far removed from campgrounds and picnic areas, you may also see red or gray foxes, white-tailed deer, armadillos, and turkeys.

For the most part the trail is a 3- to 4-foot-wide dirt footpath, with the exception of the loop itself around Nellie Pond, which uses a sandy forest service road for three-quarters of the loop. There are a few benches along the way where you can take a break. You will also pass through two old abandoned cattle gates. Years ago cows grazed this land, providing income to farmers and the forest itself from leasing of the land to cattle farmers.

I know several hikers who like to use this short route for a quick overnight getaway. They’ll throw a few things in their car after work on a Friday afternoon, hike in, and spend the night under the stars at Nellie Pond. There are some really nice areas to pitch a camp just off the trail to the east of the pond. Remember, campfires are not permitted. Use a backpacking stove.

Mosquitoes can be a problem along the bogs during the summer months, so hose down with insect repellent. Also keep in mind that hunting is allowed in the forest in the fall and winter. Visit the Conecuh National Forest website or contact the ranger station for dates and recommendations on hiking the trail at this time of year.

0.0	Start from the north trailhead on AL 137 to the east. A sign here tells you that Nellie Pond is straight ahead. The trail is blazed with white diamond reflector markers.
0.1	Gum Pond is on the right (east).
0.3	Best view of Gum Pond to the right (west) at a bench.
0.4	Pass through an old cattle gate. In about 100 feet cross a dirt forest service road to the east.
0.6	Pass a bench.
0.7	Pass through another cattle gate. In 100 feet the trail narrows as it heads through a tunnel of thick shrubs and hardwoods.
0.9	Cross a 30-foot footbridge over a seasonal creek.
1.2	Cross a 100-foot footbridge over a seasonal wetland. Be looking for pitcher plants.
1.3	Pass between two small ponds on each side of the trail.
1.4	Pass a bench.
1.5	Come to the beginning of the loop. Cross a forest service road to the northeast. An orange alligator warning sign is posted here.
1.6	Arrive at Nellie Pond. (FYI: If you would like a nice, short overnight trip just to get out for a night under the stars, this is an excellent place to pitch camp. Be sure to follow USFS guidelines, especially the one about not building fires.)
1.9	Turn left onto a sandy forest service road to the north. Some nice views of the pond will be had on your left along this section (southwest). (FYI: The Conecuh Trail and North Loop Trail continues to the east here.)
2.1	Pass a side trail to the left (southwest) that leads to the pond. Continue straight (northwest) on the forest service road.
2.4	Arrive at the end of the loop at mile 1.5. Turn right here into the woods (the turn is clearly marked) onto the white-diamond-blazed trail and retrace your steps to the trailhead.
3.8	Arrive back at the trailhead.

Hiking Information

Local Information

City of Andalusia, PO Box 429, Andalusia, AL 36420; (334) 222-3312; www.cityofandalusia.com

Local Events/Attractions

World Championship Domino Tournament, 200 Kiwanis Dr., Andalusia; (334) 222-2030. More than 300 competitors from around the world compete for the world title and over $20,000 in cash prizes.

Lodging

Open Pond Recreation Area, Conecuh National Forest, Open Pond Road, Andalusia; (334) 222-2555; www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama; 65 improved sites with water and electricity and 10 primitive sites

Restaurants

Larry’s Bar B Que, 1309 MLK Expressway, Andalusia; (334) 427-0140