Hiking_AL-62

Start: Shoal Creek Preserve trailhead

Distance: 3.0-mile lollipop

Hiking time: 1.5–2 hours

Difficulty: Easy with a few climbs bordering moderate

Trail surface: Hard-packed dirt

Best seasons: Fall–spring

Other trail users: None

Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted

Land status: State nature preserve

Nearest town: Florence

Fees and permits: None

Schedule: Year–round, sunrise to sunset

Maps: USGS Pruitton, AL; DeLorme: Alabama Atlas & Gazetteer, page 18 B7; trail maps available online at the Forever Wild website

Trail contact: Alabama State Lands ADCNR, 64 N. Union St., Montgomery, AL 36130; (334) 242-3484; www.alabamaforeverwild.com

Special considerations: Hunting is permitted on the property from fall through early spring. Please visit the Forever Wild website for dates and restrictions.

Finding the trailhead: From Florence at the intersection of US 72 (Florence Boulevard) and Darby Drive, head north on Darby Drive / Old Jackson Highway south 4.4 miles. Turn left onto CR 61 (Butler Creek Road) and travel 2.6 miles. A small sign is at the turn into the preserve on the right. Turn right and head down the gravel road 0.5 mile to the trailhead. GPS: N34 54.437' / W87 37.233'

The Hike

Tucked away in northwest Alabama just north of Florence is the 298-acre Shoal Creek Preserve. This beautiful water-feature-filled property once faced possible development, and it might have ended at that until grant money awarded to Forever Wild by the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, along with several financial and in-kind donations made by the city of Florence and Lauderdale County, put the property out of reach of developers. The property is now managed by Forever Wild.

The goal of acquiring this property was “to preserve natural plant and animal species and habitats while providing opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, canoeing, picnicking, bird watching, photography and nature study.”

Since the acquisition 4.5 miles of trail have been created, including two hiking trails (this hike and the Jones Branch Loop) and a horseback-riding trail. The addition of these trails has made the preserve a popular place, thus fulfilling one of the state’s goals for purchasing the tract. The trail system here was named a National Recreational Trail in 2012.

Like the Jones Branch Loop, the Lawson Branch Loop meanders through several different habitats including mature upland hardwood stands, scenic creek bottoms, and fallow fields. Along the 2.4-mile-long trail you will have a chance to see a beautiful stream, Lawson Branch. Along this section are some really nice cascades, including a horseshoe-shaped one near the end of the loop, and a nice view of the wide Indian Camp Creek from high atop a bluff as it flows into Shoal Creek and eventually Wilson Lake. The best time to take in the view is late fall or winter when the leaves are down.

As you walk the trail, you will have plenty of opportunities to view wildlife. Along the route you may spot white-tailed deer, quail, fox, and wild turkey. And there are plenty of other birds to spot as well, including wood ducks, hawks, and turkey vultures, not to mention a wide variety of songbirds.

The trail begins on the north side of the Shoal Creek Preserve parking lot, sharing the starting point with the preserve’s horse trail and the Jones Branch Loop. This is a huge gravel parking area with ample room for fifty cars.

The path starts out as a wide gravel road but soon turns into a narrow, hard-packed dirt footpath, which it remains for the remainder of the hike. Only a few yards into the hike, the horse trail splits off to the northeast and you will be on a hiking-only trail from here on out. Forever Wild was careful to place large orange signs warning equestrians not to use the trail at each intersection between the two paths.

The trail actually uses the west side of the Jones Branch Loop as an approach trail for 0.6 mile. The entire trail is well blazed, using single red paint blazes on trees along this stretch and an occasional yellow diamond marker tacked to a tree that reads “Lawson Branch Loop” with the image of a red blaze on it. Where the trail crosses the horse trail, you will find the crossing well marked on the opposite side so there is no confusion.

This first section is a nice walk in the woods, especially in the fall when the hardwoods blaze with color. Then you reach the junction with the Jones Branch Loop. Here you will cross Lawson Branch over a log footbridge with a handrail, and the actual Lawson Branch Loop begins. The blazes now turn to double red paint blazes. For a portion of the loop, you will be walking alongside the beautiful wide stream, passing several cascades including a really nice horseshoe of water tumbling over rocks. You will also be treated to excellent views of Indian Camp Creek as it merges with Shoal Creek from a high bluff. The best time for these views is in late fall and winter.

0.0	Start at information kiosk to the north. The trail begins on the left side of the kiosk and immediately splits into two trails. The right is clearly marked for horses. The left is the beginning of the Lawson Branch Trail and the access trail for Jones Branch. Take the left trail, which begins as a wide dirt road.
0.2	The trail narrows to a 2-foot-wide dirt path.
0.4	Cross the horse trail to the north (there is a bench here).
0.5	You are walking next to a nice creek on the left.
0.6	Arrive at Lawson Branch, with great cascades on both sides. This is the intersection with the Jones Branch Loop (to the right). Continue straight to the north, crossing the branch over a felled tree with a flat planed side and handrail. On the other side come to a T intersection. Turn left onto the Lawson Branch Loop (to the right is the return trail). There are excellent views and access to the branch through this section. Blazes are now double red.
0.8	Cross the horse trail to the southwest. There is a yellow Lawson Branch sign here (with double red stripes).
1.2	Cross the horse trail to the east. In 250 feet cross the horse trail to the north.
1.4	Views of Indian Camp Creek on the left (best views in winter/early spring).
1.5	Cross a runoff over a short footbridge.
1.6	Cross a railroad tie footbridge over a runoff channel.
2.0	Come to a T intersection with the horse trail. Turn left onto the horse trail. In a few feet turn right (south) off the horse trail and continue on the double red-blazed Lawson Branch Trail. In 150 feet there will be a cascade to left with a short side trail to the creek.
2.1	Come to a pretty horseshoe cascade in the creek.
2.3	Cross a power line in a field of wildflowers in the spring. You will be walking alongside the creek once again.
2.4	Come to a Y intersection. The left fork takes you to the creek. Take the right fork to the west. In less than 0.1 mile, arrive at Lawson Branch. Cross Lawson Branch again over the log bridge to the south. Once across, continue straight to the southwest on the Lawson Branch Loop and retrace your steps to the trailhead. (Option: Turn left and finish the Jones Branch Loop to make a longer trek.)
3.0	Arrive back at the trailhead.

Hiking Information

Local Information

Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, 402 Sherman St., Decatur, AL 35602; (800) 648-5381; www.northalabama.org

Local Events/Attractions

Jack-O-Lantern Farm Market, 344 Garage Rd., Muscle Shoals; (256) 386-2335; www.jackolanternfarm.com. Shop for certified naturally grown fruits, vegetables, and hydroponically grown lettuce.

Restaurants

Singleton’s Bar-B-Que, 4420 Huntsville Rd., Florence; (256) 760-0802

Hike Tours

Shoals Environmental Alliance, PO Box 699, Sheffield, AL 35660; http://sea.tinywebs.org. An organization dedicated to the protection of the natural resources of the Shoals area, the alliance holds informative hikes and events in the area.