Five-Star Trails: Birmingham by Thomas Spencer

Author:Thomas Spencer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
Published: 2020-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

The rustic cabins had fallen into disrepair until local Boy Scout troops took an interest. A series of Eagle Scout projects has restored many of the cabins, which are once again used for Scout camping.

Before you actually emerge on the banks of the lake, you’ll first see a swampy backwater formed by a beaver’s dam. The 28-acre lake is cupped by the mountains and surrounded by dense forest. Turning left across a wooden bridge, the Yellow Trail travels along the lake’s southwestern shore. The trailside is rich in wildflowers and ferns and offers several spots where you can look out over the expanse of lake and appreciate the timbered mountainsides or the fall colors, depending on the season. You may see people riding horses along this stretch.

As you make your way around the lake, you’ll come upon the rock dam. Excess water spills over it into a creek below. You’ll see a dirt road on the opposite side of the dam—you want to get there. Follow the Yellow Trail as it crosses the dam and descends to the creek. In drier times, it’s easy to rock-hop across the creek and climb the opposite bank to the dirt road, but sometimes the water is high and there’s really no good place to cross. In that case, follow the Yellow Trail another 0.1 mile and exit into the pavilion and picnic area. From there, turn right on the gravel road and continue past the BMX track to a small building with a soda machine. Walk downhill behind the building and you’ll hook up with the dirt road.

Follow the dirt road along the creek and around the lake to the rental cabins. Go left on the paved road past a playground until you see a medium-size building on the right. Turn right and pass the long side of the building to head into a grassy field. On the opposite side of the field, following white blazes, continue straight into the woods and intersect the main White Trail. Bear northeast for the final mile of the walk toward the trailhead and parking lot. This stretch of the White Trail follows a creek through a moist, low-lying valley. On our jaunt, we saw multiple varieties of colorful mushrooms. You’ll reconnect to the Yellow Trail and retrace your path toward the parking lot.

Directions

From I-65, follow the directions. After entering the park, you’ll drive almost its entire length to get to the North Trailhead.

From US 280, follow the directions. About a mile past the back entrance to the park, the North Trailhead parking lot will be on your right, along the main park road.

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