Borden Creek to Clifty Canyon Hiking, Sipsey Wilderness, Alabama
Channel: Southeastern Frontiers
Date: 11/02/2024

This is a out and back day hike of a route between the Borden Creek Trailhead and the Clifty Canyon that I had read about, but had never explored.

We began our exploration today at the Borden Creek Trailhead where we descended down to the old bridge over Borden Creek. About 100 yards up Trail 224 from the bridge, we followed a faint side trail north through the beautiful hemlock forests along the Borden and Braziel creeks. Along the way, we were very excited to catch a glimpse of the rare rive otters that inhabit these waterways. We explored a small side canyon and found a deep, damp, and mossy hidden world.  What a special place. After this, we continued up Braziel Creek to the Clifty Canyon which we followed only for a very short distance before deciding we needed to head back home.

The purpose of this hike was to assess the trail conditions for getting to Clifty Canyon.  Now that we know that the route is clear and easy to follow, we will return for a future backpacking trip and do more explorations of the Clifty Canyon and surrounding area.

The Sipsey Wilderness (#sipseywilderness) lies within the Bankhead National Forest in northwestern Alabama. Sipsey was the first designated wilderness area in Alabama in 1975 and now encompasses about 24,922 acres (10,086 ha). Rivers and streams have carved canyons and valleys in the limestone and sandstone of the local plateau resulting in a wide range of micro-climates in a short hiking distance, some amazing natural features, a few historic sites, as well as endless nooks and crannies to explore. Wilderness camping, building campfires, hunting, and fishing are permitted. Drones are not allowed. Sipsey is a "Leave no Trace" area (https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/) with, despite appearances, no designated fire rings, camp sites or facilities.  Unfortunately, there are many traces of the hundreds who hike and camp here every year.  Please be considerate and do not add to the already extensive damage in this special place.

My custom maps of the Sipsey Wilderness: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eD0rMfe5MfF4lMiyd55A4o0KMjIsaIKW

My other videos of the Sipsey Wilderness:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLywQ2umzhEJm9Mn2CaWGVXXZQCkEJeYoQ

Link toTrail info: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-november-26-2023-88b0573

Equipment:
Camera: GoPro Hero8 Black: https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/cameras/hero8-black/CHDHX-801-master.html

Title card music by Lobo-Loco: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco/Welcome/Glueworm_Blues_ID_994

#hike 
#hiking 
#riverotter