Miles to explore

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

If every step on a great hiking trail holds a memory, Lake Martin forests echo with a thousand moments passed in silent awe by hikers who have walked in great expectation here. For an hour or two of their time, hikers at Smith Mountain, Horseshoe Bend, Wind Creek State Park, Yates Lake and Russell Forest are rewarded with memories born on breathtaking vistas or realized on the precipice of history. On the scenic trails at Wind Creek State Park, Nature’s Way and the Overlook, laughter rings true, and surprise waits at every turn. The wing of an eagle, the breath of the breeze or the turn of a leaf – all create moments of pause in which memories are made.

Nearly 200 miles of hiking trails wind through the forests surrounding Lake Martin. Some of them are accessible only in low water. Most are open for day-use free of charge, so strap on a pair of hiking boots, pack some snacks and a bottle of water and prepare to be amazed. Go make some memories on a lake area trail today.

The Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association has designed and built more than 26 miles of marked and well-maintained footpath-only trails in the Lake Martin area with the assistance of Alabama Power and Forever Wild. In addition, this all-volunteer nonprofit organization has enhanced the educational value of its trail system with exhibits showcasing the history, geology, flora and fauna of the region. CRATA volunteers restored an abandoned fire tower at Smith Mountain and continue to make improvements to the trails in four main locations.

The Smith Mountain Fire Tower is located outside of Dadeville off of Youngs Ferry Road. Turn west at Lafayette Street in Dadeville and follow the signs. From the parking lot at the base of the mountain, follow the Walker Bynum Smith Mountain Tower Trail. Climb the 90-foot fire tower for a panoramic view of the lake and beyond. Educational exhibits in the tower cab point out landmarks, some of which are many miles away. Use the Return Trail to the west of the tower for the fastest route back to the parking lot. Wear shoes for rugged terrain.

Catch the Lakeshore Trail at the tower base for a longer, winding, scenic walk back to the parking lot. At 2.4 miles, this trail meanders along the undeveloped shores of the lake.

The Island Hop Trail leads hikers from the parking lot at the base of the mountain to a boat dock on the lake and beyond. At winter pool level, the lake allows access to another quarter mile of trail that crosses the outlying islands.

The Little Smith Mountain Loop Trail at 2.6 miles offers spectacular views and rock formations but follows sheer cliffs and traverses rugged terrain. Hikers on this trail should be mature and experienced, as well as sure-footed.

About a mile north of Martin Dam on the east bank of the lake, the Overlook Trail System makes up CRATA’s first trail construction project in 2004. The routes here interconnect, creating a 7.2-mile walk through longleaf pine stands, native azaleas and mountain laurel.

Named for the Montgomery attorney who has been instrumental in his support of the lake area’s trails, the James M. Scott Deadening Trail makes a 4.2-mile loop that opens to a mountaintop view of Lake Martin’s Chimney Rock and allows hikers to pass through the Needles Eye and Jasmine Bluff formations. The trail is not recommended for children under the age of 12, and hikers are urged to stay on the path and use the utmost caution. Visit crata.org for the trail’s location and additional information.

The trails at Yates Lake Forever Wild Management Area are CRATA’s most recent addition to the trail system. Located off Goldmine Road just south of the dam’s westside entrance, this wildlife management area includes two trails on 6,000 acres of Forever Wild holdings.

The John B. Scott Trail at 4.7 miles follows the Tallapoosa River through old growth forest on a path of moderate difficulty, immersing hikers in an experience rich in wildlife abundance and diversity. The trail is named for John B. Scott, the brother of James who was a conservation leader and key figure in the legislation creating the Alabama Forever Wild program.

The Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail is built on the railroad beds that supplied the Martin Dam construction site some 100 years ago. The Highline track brought materials to the dam workers, and the Lowline returned trains to Montgomery and Wetumpka. The Lowline hiking trail is a 2.7-mile out-and-back hike for a total of 5.4 miles. Trail work in this area continues to progress.

About 10 miles south of Alexander City on state

The Lake Martin area offers many hiking options, including those at Yates Lake below the dam

Route 63, Russell Forest includes more than 100 miles of trails on 25,000 acres designated as a living forest. These picturesque trails are open to bicycle riders and horseback riders, as well as hikers. The trails wind through valleys, over streams and up to the top of Heaven Hill. Lovely spots for picnics, bird watching and taking photographs are sprinkled throughout the forest. Download the Russell Lands app for an interactive trail map.

The Alabama Reunion Trail at Wind Creek State Park traverses 3.8 miles of hardwood bottoms and pine forest. This loop trail passes an old home site, beds of ferns and an abundance of bird and animal life.

Also at Wind Creek, the Campfire Trail, rated as a moderate hike with several steep areas, is 1.8 miles through dogwoods, rock outcroppings, streams and a variety of tree species. To learn more about navigating through the woods, join the Vulcan Orienteering Club on one or both of their orienteering events held in spring and fall. Visit alapark.com and choose the Wind Creek State Park option under the Parks tab to learn more.

At Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, take a walk through history. This national park commemorates a pivotal battle in our nation’s history. A 2.8-mile trail takes hikers near the site of a 1800s Creek camp and then to the top of a hill at the edge of the woods, an excellent vantage point to view the battlefield below. It was here in 1814 that Andrew Jackson’s troops trapped and then decimated 800 Red Stick Creeks in a war that ceded most of the land that now makes up the southeastern United States, opening the frontier. Download the official National Park System app for directions and other details.

In Alexander City, a 3-mile walking trail roughly outlines the perimeter of the 212-acre Charles E. Bailey Sportplex on state Route 22 near U.S. Route 280. Built by a Lake Martin Leadership team more than 10 years ago, the trail passes a variety of wildlife habitats and offers excellent siting opportunities along the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail.

Keebler Park in Dadeville offers a paved quartermile loop through a beautiful forest where a number of the trees have been identified and marked to help strolling patrons learn about the forest. Festivals and sponsored events in this city park are scheduled throughout the year.

Alabama Power recently opened the new Nature’s Way Trail, a 3-mile stroll through a 74-acre park adjacent to the Kennebec Laketown development. Nature’s Way is one of Alabama Power’s Preserves properties, which are found on lakes all around the state. Open and free to the public, Nature’s Way features a nature trail, lake overlooks and interpretive signs to assist families and individuals in learning more about their natural environment.

Sounds an awful lot like memory making, doesn’t it?