Chinnabee Silent Trail

The Chinnabee Silent Trail is one of Talladega National Forest's, and the state's for that matter, most popular trails, and it's easy to see why. Over this easy footpath you will be treated to a water spectacular.

The trail is named after Creek Indian Chief Chinnabee, an ally of Andrew Jackson during the Creek Indian Wars. The "Silent Trail" part comes from the trail's creators, Boy Scouts from Troop #29 of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. With the aid of the US Forest Service, between 1973 and 1976 the Troop built this masterful trail.

Starting at Chinnabee Lake, you will walk along the banks of Cheaha Creek as it flows into the lake. Here the icy-cold mountain stream creates several large, deep pools, perfect for swimming during the hot, humid days of summer.

Just past the pools the water show begins as the creek tumbles down rock ledges. While you are keeping your eyes on the show you may not realize that you are heading up the side of a cliff on a wooden catwalk. Part of the Boy Scouts' project, this walkway will take you high above the creek to a vantage point so that you can take in the splendor of Devil's Den, a series of falls and rapids in the creek that churn it white. The best time for viewing the gorge is during the fall or early spring when leaves are thin.

Continuing on you will leave the creek for a time and scamper up the side of a mountain. At the top you will arrive at the Cheaha Falls Shelter, a first come, first served backpacking shelter. If you're doing the day hike, this would be a great place for lunch.

Heading down the hill a short distance you will come to the last of the falls – Cheaha Falls, a three-tiered cascade that plummets over 70 feet to yet another gorgeous mountain pool.

Many people, especially those with smaller children, make this a short trip by hiking to Devil's Den and turning around; otherwise Cheaha Falls is the turn-around for the 5-mile out-and-back.

If you would like to make this into a two- or three-day, 17-mile backpacking trip, you can do so by continuing on to the Pinhoti Trail. Take the Pinhoti West to the Skyway Loop, then the Skyway North back to Chinnabee Lake. There are some really nice views from atop the ridges of the Skyway Loop Trail.

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Trail Type:: Can be a 5-mile out-and-back or a weekend 17-mile loop backpack trip
Difficulty:: Easy
Hours:: Closed November 15 to April 15 due to freeze potential.
Maps:: Brochures available free at Cheaha State Park camp store