Alabama · Hiking

Pinhoti Trail

46.1 mi
round trip
10,973 ft
climb
2,335 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–Jun, Sep–Dec
best months

Is Pinhoti Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in Alabama. It doesn't name Pinhoti Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · National Forests in Alabama. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Pinhoti Trail is a long, steep out-and-back hike in Alabama's National Forests, within the Shoal Creek Ranger District. The route is about 92 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 6,911 feet, and it rises from a starting point of about 1,000 feet to a high point of 2,335 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated expert. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Heflin show October highs around 74°F with lows near 48°F, and April is similar at about 73°F by day and 46°F at night. That station sits roughly 1,300 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. Heflin is about 0.2 miles away, and the Mountain Street hike is about 2 miles off. Paddlers can reach Snake Creek, about 3.5 miles away, and anglers can head to High Rock Lake, about 4.7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Feb–Jun, Sep–Dec

    Best time to visit Pinhoti Trail

    Best months: February–June and September–December. 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

      53° / 30°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      58° / 33°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      66° / 39°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      73° / 46°

      10 wet

    5. May

      80° / 55°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      85° / 63°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 67°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 66°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      84° / 60°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      74° / 48°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      64° / 37°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      56° / 33°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Heflin, AL, 1.3 mi away at 1,000 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors