Hiking_AL-37

Start: Smith Mountain trailhead on north side of parking lot

Distance: 0.9-mile loop

Hiking time: About 1.5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate up rocky hillsides and bluffs

Trail surface: Dirt and rock

Best seasons: Sept–May

Other trail users: None

Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted

Land status: Deeded Alabama Power land

Nearest town: Dadeville

Fees and permits: None

Schedule: Year-round

Maps: USGS Dadeville, AL; DeLorme: Alabama Atlas & Gazetteer, page 39 G7

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 members and volunteers have been busy building trails such as this all along the southern 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 footpath. 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 get rockier as you make your way up and over the rocks past those bluffs and come to views of Lake Martin far below.

The trail then heads straight up one of those bluffs using a set of wood and stone stairs until you reach the top of the mountain for even better views—but it doesn’t end there. An 80-foot fire tower stood here at the top of the mountain for many years, giving forest rangers a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding forests for spotting fires. Along with acquiring the property, CRATA was granted permission to rebuild the tower, and under the supervision of a structural engineer, the organization set about refurbishing the structure, making it better than new. The tower was completed and installed in late 2011 and is now the centerpiece of the hike, where you can climb the ninety-seven steps and twelve landings to check out such lake scenery as Chimney Rock, Hog Mountain, Pleasure Point, and Sandy Creek, and the many boaters plying the lake’s waters.

There is an excellent gravel parking area waiting for you at the trailhead that can easily accommodate twenty cars. The surrounding property is owned by Alabama Power. You will see roads heading up toward the top here. Heed the signs that ask you to not use those roads. It is private property.

The trail begins on the northeast side of the parking lot. A large white sign reading “To Tower” points the way. The path is well blazed with white paint markings. CRATA uses standard double blazes (“dit-dots”) to indicate turns in the trail.

A couple of warnings are in order. While the climb is fairly easy, you do have some drop-offs around the rocky bluffs. Use caution. And being the tallest structure in the area on top of an open mountain top means that the tower is not the safest place to be in a thunderstorm. If bad weather starts moving in, move down off the mountain.

There is one other thing of interest at the summit. Once you get to the top, you will see the foundation of an old building. This building was once the ranger station for the fire tower. CRATA has plans to rebuild the structure in the future and set up a museum.

0.0	Start at the trailhead on the north side of the parking lot. The entrance to the trail is clearly marked with a white-and-red sign reading “To Tower.” In 400 feet come to a kiosk with basic rules for hiking the trail. A large wood sign reads “To Tower / To Little Smith Mountain Trail.”
0.1	Cross the dirt road to the south.
0.3	The trees begin to thin out and you start seeing views of the surrounding hills to the north along a nice rock bluff and outcropping. There is an Alabama Power No Trespassing sign here. The path is a 2-foot-wide rocky bed and lined with mountain laurel.
0.4	Come to a Y at a sign that points the direction to the tower and the Smith Mountain / Lakeshore Trail. Take the left fork to the south (to tower). In less than 0.1 mile, come to another Y at a sign that points the direction to the boat landing / Island Hop Trail / Little Smith Mountain Trail (to the right). Take the left fork to the south. In a few yards climb a set of wooden stairs to the east, up a rock outcropping.
0.5	Arrive at the top of the mountain, passing a foundation with a brick chimney. There is a cement bench on the north side. Follow the ridge to the southwest to the fire tower. There is a kiosk here with a list of climbers and summit toppers and a register (please sign in). Great views here and, of course, atop the tower. After exploring, return to the trail (it continues under the tower to the south).
0.7	Come to a sinkhole in the trail. A short wooden bridge crosses it. It’s best to walk around the hole.
0.8	The trail leaves the outcroppings and ducks back into the forest. In 100 feet pass a sign showing the direction to the tower and parking lot. Continue straight to the northeast.
0.9	Arrive back at the trailhead.

Hiking Information

Local Information

Tallapoosa County, 125 N. Broadnax St., Dadeville, AL 36853; (256) 825-9242; www.tallapoosa.infomedia.net

Accommodations

Wind Creek State Park, 4325 AL 128, Alexander City; (256) 329-0845; www.alapark.com/windcreek

Restaurants

Uncle Nick’s Smokehouse, 7051 AL 49 South, Dadeville; (256) 307-1405; www.nicksmokehouse.com. Great barbecue with a beautiful view of Lake Martin.