Alabama · Hiking

Cherokee Bluffs Railroad Trail

1.0 mi
round trip
339 ft
climb
515 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Oct–May
best months

Cherokee Bluffs Railroad Trail is a short, easy hike in Alabama's Yates Lake West Wildlife Management Area, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail is about a mile long and rises and falls roughly 340 feet on a rolling out-and-back route, with the start at about 509 feet and the high point at about 515 feet. The steepest part comes within the first sixth of a mile, where the grade reaches about 8%. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Milstead weather station show October highs around 77°F and April highs around 75°F, while July and August average about 90°F. The Lowline Railroad Trail and the John B Scott Forever Wild Trail both start about 0.1 mile away. Cherokee Bluffs, a climbing area, is under a mile off, and Lake Martin, about 9 miles away, offers river fishing.

  • Best time to go · Oct–May

    Best time to visit Cherokee Bluffs Railroad Trail

    Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      57° / 34°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      61° / 36°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      68° / 42°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      75° / 49°

      7 wet

    5. May

      83° / 59°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      88° / 66°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 70°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      90° / 69°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 64°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      77° / 52°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      67° / 41°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      59° / 36°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Milstead, AL, 15.3 mi away at 215 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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