Highest natural point in Alabama, located in Cheaha State Park, which offers a lodge, a restaurant, and other amenities
General Information
Senior 62 years+: $2.00
Child 4-11: $2.00
Child 0-3: Free
Military/Veterans: Free with ID
State Park admission fees can be paid at the Mountain Gate or Mountain Store
Overview
Cheaha Mountain often called Mount Cheaha, is the highest natural point in Alabama. It is located a few miles northwest of the town of Delta in Cheaha State Park, which offers a lodge, a restaurant, and other amenities.
The highest point is marked with a USGS benchmark in front of Bunker Tower, a stone Civilian Conservation Corps building with an observation deck on top. The CCC also constructed a road to Cheaha, but the road has been closed for years. The old road is known as CC Road and contains interesting ruins. Near the peak is Bald Rock, which was recently improved with a wheelchair-accessible wooden walkway that provides an impressive overlook of the surrounding region. The entire area gives an impression of being at a much higher elevation than it actually is, in part because of the relatively low elevation of the adjacent area to the west.
Cheaha Mountain is part of the Talladega Mountains, a final southern segment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, unlike other elevations of the Appalachians in north Alabama, which are part of the Cumberland Plateau. The mountain is the highest point in the eastern portion of the Sun Belt (east of the Mississippi River, south of Interstate 20, and north of the Gulf of Mexico). The mountain was opened to the public as part of Cheaha State Park on June 7, 1939.
Cheaha State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located in northern Clay and southwestern Cleburne counties in Alabama. The park's 2,799 acres (1,133 ha) include Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the state. The park adjoins Talladega National Forest and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It is Alabama's oldest continuously operating state park. Facilities include lodgings, a restaurant, campsites, and hiking trails.
Things to Do
Stand on Alabama's Highest Point
Cheaha State Park is home to Cheaha Mountain, the highest natural point in Alabama at 2,407 feet above sea level. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from scenic overlooks that showcase the Talladega National Forest and surrounding Appalachian foothills.
Enjoy Scenic Overlooks and Historic CCC Features
The park is known for its stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s, including Bunker Tower and Bald Rock. These historic landmarks provide some of the most spectacular viewpoints in Alabama and are popular destinations for sightseeing and photography.
Experience Outdoor Recreation
Cheaha State Park offers hiking, mountain biking, camping, rock climbing, birdwatching, and nature observation. The park also serves as a gateway to the Talladega National Forest and portions of the renowned Pinhoti Trail.
Top Trails
Pinhoti Trail – Cheaha Section
Length: Variable distances available
Elevation Gain: Moderate to Strenuous
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
This section of the long-distance Pinhoti Trail traverses mountain ridges, forests, and scenic overlooks while offering some of the finest hiking opportunities in Alabama. Hikers can enjoy rugged terrain and impressive views of the surrounding landscape.
Bald Rock Boardwalk
Length: Approximately 0.3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
This accessible boardwalk leads to Bald Rock, one of the park's most popular overlooks. The short walk rewards visitors with sweeping mountain vistas and excellent opportunities for photography, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Sources: Alabama State Parks official Cheaha State Park information, including Alabama's highest point, scenic overlooks, CCC history, outdoor recreation opportunities, accommodations, and visitor amenities. https://www.alapark.com/parks/cheaha-state-park Additional trail and recreation information verified through Alabama State Parks hiking resources and Talladega National Forest trail information. https://www.alapark.com/parks/cheaha-state-park/trails
History
The park opened to the public in 1933. From 1933 to 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps was active in the park creating Cheaha Lake and building numerous structures including a stone bathhouse, eleven stone cabins, two stone pavilions, Bunker Tower, the Bald Rock Group Lodge, and several hiking trails. A hotel, restaurant, and five chalets were added to the park in 1973.
In 2020, the park's Doug Ghee Accessible Trail was named a National Recreation Trail.
Day-use: The park has day-use areas for picnicking, swimming, and fishing.
Scenic overlooks: Cheaha Mountain is topped with Bunker Tower, a stone building with an observation deck on top. A wheelchair-accessible wooden walkway on the Bald Rock Trail provides another overlook of the surrounding region.
Hiking: The park features the Cheaha Trailhead of the Pinhoti Trail system which weaves through the Talladega National Forest and connects to the Appalachian Trail.
Overnight stays: The park has 73 modern campsites and a smaller number of semi-primitive campsites. Accommodations also include a 30-room hotel, chalets, and cabins. The Bald Rock Group Lodge is used for conferences and weddings.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles "Cheaha Mountain", and "Cheaha State Park" which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
